History of Bullfighting and the Spanish Tradition

Introduction

Bullfighting (tauromaquia in Spanish, tauromachie in French, tauromaquia in Portuguese) is one of the most distinctive Iberian and Hispano-American cultural traditions, with continuous documented practice from ancient Iberian and Roman origins through the modern corrida tradition. The bullfighting tradition has been shaped by ancient Iberian Celtiberian cultural tradition, Roman amphitheater traditions, medieval Spanish caballeros' equestrian bull-baiting tradition, and the 18th century modern Spanish corrida codification. The modern global bullfighting landscape is anchored by the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla (established 1761), the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas in Madrid (established 1931), the Plaza México (the world's largest bullring, established 1946 in Mexico City), and other principal Spanish, Portuguese, Mexican, French, and South American bullrings. The bullfighting tradition continues in Spain, Portugal (with restrictions on killing the bull), Mexico, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, France (in southern French bullrings including Nîmes and Arles), and other countries. This article surveys the full history of bullfighting from ancient origins through the modern tauromaquia tradition.

Ancient and Medieval Origins

Bullfighting extends from ancient Iberian and Roman origins. Ancient Iberian Celtiberian bull worship traditions, with the Iberian bull as one of the principal Celtiberian religious symbols, established the foundational Iberian bull cultural tradition. The Roman amphitheater bull-fighting tradition, with the Hispania Romana provinces hosting various Roman bull-fighting events, extended the Iberian bull cultural tradition. The medieval Spanish caballeros' equestrian bull-baiting tradition (the knightly bull-fighting tradition with Spanish nobility fighting bulls on horseback as military training and knightly entertainment) extended the principal medieval Spanish bullfighting tradition. The 1090 Burgos recorded bullfighting event (in celebration of the marriage of King Alfonso VI's daughter to Prince Ramon Berenguer III) is widely regarded as one of the earliest documented medieval Spanish bullfighting events. The 1567 Pope Pius V Salutaris Hostiae bull excommunicating Spanish nobility engaged in bullfighting was substantially ignored. The 1726 Pope Benedict XIII withdrawal of the Salutaris Hostiae excommunication extended the modern Spanish bullfighting tradition.

Francisco Romero and the 1726 Modern Corrida

Francisco Romero (1700-1763), the Spanish matador from Ronda, established the modern corrida tradition through his 1726 codification at Ronda. Francisco Romero's 1726 modern corrida codification replaced the medieval equestrian bull-baiting tradition with the modern on-foot corrida tradition (with the matador fighting the bull on foot rather than on horseback) — the foundational modern corrida innovation. The 1761 Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla bullring opening (the principal Spanish bullring at Seville) extended the modern Spanish bullfighting tradition. Pedro Romero (1754-1839), the grandson of Francisco Romero and matador from Ronda, killed approximately 5,600 bulls during his 28-year career — the most bulls killed by any matador in any era. The continued Spanish bullfighting tradition through the 18th and 19th centuries has continued through subsequent decades. The 1845 Plaza de Toros de Madrid (subsequently replaced by Las Ventas in 1931) established the modern Madrid bullfighting tradition.

The Golden Age — Belmonte, Joselito, Manolete