Bullfighting through the Ages

Bullfighting: An international pass time

The game of bullfighting can be traced to prehistoric times and chronicles many eras of ancient European history.  The Mysteries of Mithraic, an ancient Roman military religion dating between the 1st and 4th century, included the ritual killing of bulls to signal the beginning of spring.  Some historians believe that Roman Emperor Claudius introduced bullfighting to the Hispania territory after he banned gladiator games for a short period of time.  In the years predating the early 1700s matadors were positioned on horses and used javelins to cut down the bulls.  In these days bullfights took place on special celebrations in town plazas.  The earliest know bullfighter who fought on foot with the iconic red cape was Francisco Romero in 1726.  Before those atop horses had been mainly nobleman.  Now that there was more danger bullfighting became the sport of the common man while the nobles watched from a safe distance.

       The bullfight in the modern sense developed in large part to the style of Juan Belmonte.  He would approach the bull within inches and remain motionless.  Bullfighters today try to emulate Belmonte’s very dramatic style.  In 1567 bullfighting was for several years banned on order from Pope Pius V because it was unnecessary endangerment of life.  The next pope repealed the ban.  Under the fascist regime of Franco bullfights were state supported as an emblem of national pride.