This legend tells of the Christian reconquest of Jaca Jaca in the eighth century when the people of the town faced a mighty Muslim army lead by four Arab kings. The victory holds an important place in Aragonese history, so much so that the heads of the four vanquished kings occupy one quarter of the Aragonese coat of arms.

After the Christian recapture of Jaca, lead by Count Aznar in 758, the Muslims decided to win the city back and lay siege to Jaca with an army of more than 90.000 men. Faced with this threat the Christians, instead of waiting, decided to do battle. Before leaving to face the Arab army the Count and his captains went to pray to the Virgin in the castle chapel.

They attacked the Arab camp on a stormy night, taking their enemies by surprise. However, it was not possible to overcome them that night and the Count and his men soon returned to the safety of Jaca. And so battle began again, a crual and bloody fight in which, from time to time a woman with a snowy white veil carrying an infant could be seen walking amongst the men. The Christians recognised her to be the Virgin. At the same time the people who had remained in Jaca went to the chapel to pray to the Virgin and were alarmed to see that she had disappeared. So women, the eldery and children felt that they must go out to help the men. Coming out of the city in the light of dawn the saw the christian troops on the hillside with the image of the Virgin; the same woman that had been seen crossing the battlefield. The victory over the Muslims was celebrated with great joy every year and even now the people of jaca commemorate the victory every year.

© Prames