Saint Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins
A big British rally against San Juan came in 1797. When word of General Abercomby's victory over the Spaniards in Trinidad reached Puerto Rican shores, Governor Ramón de Castro prepared for battle. Ammunitions were distributed and the bridge linking San Juan to the mainland was cut.
Seven thosand troops under Abercromby landed with the British fleet which soon conquered the coast fron Boca de Cangrejos to the Condado, to the east of the city, but the men were unable to take the city. After two weeks of fighting the battle seesawed...
De Castro asked the island's Bishop to perform a rogativa or prayer procession to invoke heaven's help in the matter.The Bishop dedicated the procession in part to Saint Ursula and her 11,000 virgin handmaidens, of whom he was a special devotee.That night the entire city carried candles or torches through the streets in a prayer of supplication.The legend says that Abercromby hearing the bells tolling, already disheartened, mistook the procession and the large number of lights sen from accross the bay for a gathering of fresh troops from the mainland of the island. Fearing a stronger attack, he ordered his men to raise anchor; by morning, the fleet was gone...
Thus, a British Christian princess(Saint Úrsula) had saved the Spanish colony.
