Curro Guillén

Francisco Herrera Rodríguez known as “Curro Guillén” , born with Utrera (Spain, Province of Seville) the November 16th 1783, died with Ronda (Spain, Province of Málaga) the May 21st 1820, was a Spanish Matador.

Presentation

Curro Guillén was the third of a dynasty of matadors, started with Francisco Herrera his/her grandfather, contemporary of Pedro Romero, and continued by his/her father, Francisco Herrera Guillén. His/her maternal uncles (Cosme Rodríguez and Jose María Rodriguez) were Banderillero S; his/her maternal grandfather was the uncle of “Costillares”.

He is born in Utrera, but before he is five years old, its family will settle in Seville. As of its more young age, it expresses the desire to be a matador: it torée “of living room”, achieving all the phases of the Lidia in front of a “phantom bull”. Whereas it is only fifteen years old, it constitutes a “Cuadrilla infantil” which gains many successes in all the area of Seville.

It takes the alternate with Seville the June 22nd 1799, with like godfather Jerónimo Jose Candido, alternative which it confirms with Madrid the September 3rd according to.

In 1811, because of its opposition marked to the French occupation, it leaves Spain and is established with Lisbon with the Portugal. It continues its career then and becomes a true idol in country lusitain.

In 1814, it turns over to Spain and continues a triumphal career, until its death in 1820.

May 21st, 1820, he is announced in the arenas of Ronda, at the sides of another sévillan, Juan León, to face bulls of Jose Rafael Cabrera. At that time, the two “capitals” of the bullfighting are Ronda and Seville, the matadors originating in these two cities imposing each one the specific style of toreo to their town of origin. This competition was exacerbated among certain spectators who behaved more in “supporters” modern than in “Aficionado S”, also both sévillans were acueillis at the time of the Paseo by marks of hostility on behalf of a certain part of the public. According to the legend, whereas Curro Guillén prepared with the Estocade, certain Manfredi, “líder” of a group of particularly hostile spectators, challenged it bruyamment: “Mr Curro, will be able to see itself you making a little more efforts? ” the challenged matador sought glance the agitator on the steps. This one challenged it again: “receive yourself this small bull? ” Peut-être this Manfredi there never existed; perhaps the climate of hostility which reigned on the steps it was exaggerated by the “supporters” sévillans. Always it is that Curro Guillén estoqua precipitately the bull which planted its horn in the right thigh to him, then precipitated it against the barrier and then took again it on its left horn. Juan León precipitated with its help, and itself was encorné by the bull with its right horn. The two matadors remained several seconds suspended each one with a horn, before being thrown on the ground by the bull. Juan León was very only slightly wounded, but very seriously reached, Curro Guillén was to expire with the infirmary a few minutes later.

According to the tradition, Curro Guillén would have been buried under the sand of the plaza which had seen it dying. It was allowed a long time that it was only one legend, but at the time of renovation works of the arenas in the years 1990, one discovered a body buried under the track, allowing to suppose that the unhappy sévillan was really buried out of ground rondeña.

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