WELCOME to the latest edition of ‘This Week in Spanish History’, written by Michael Coy.
19 JULY 1808 – THE BATTLE OF BAILEN
With very few resources, Andalucia was able to put an army into the field against Napoleon.
The small, poorly-equipped Spanish force not only performed well – it inflicted on the French invaders their first defeat in open battle since Napoleon launched his bid to conquer Europe in 1792.
By preventing the Grande Armée from reaching Cadiz, the victors of Bailen (near Jaen) opened the way for the Duke of Wellington to arrive with fresh British troops.
19 JULY 1978 – ADULTERY NO LONGER A CRIME
We thought it best not to provide a photo for this one.
Spain was modernising in the late 1970s. Franco was dead, and the authority of the Church was in steep decline.
Visiting tourists were showing the locals that ‘Nation, Work, Duty’ weren’t a patch on having fun.
The new, post-Franco government decided to scrap the Adultery Law (just as well, really – quite a few expats were spared embarrassing court appearances!)
19 JULY 2017 – THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF MIGUEL BLESA
A few days before his 70th birthday, Miguel Blesa de la Parra was found dead on a farm in Cordoba. He had a shotgun wound to his chest.
A senior official at the Caja Madrid bank, he had just been found guilty of fraud, and sentenced to six years in custody.
He was out, waiting for the result of his appeal. Did this avid hunter commit suicide?
19 JULY 2023 – GUNPLAY IN PUERTO BANUS
At six in the evening on a normal Tuesday, the Cristarmar Shopping Centre of Puerto Banusvwas rocked by gunfire.
At least three bullets were fired, but no-one was injured.
Though the incident took place in plain daylight and was captured on security video, police say that no arrests were made.
20 JULY 1936 – SANJURJO DIES
The black-and-white photograph shows General Jose Sanjurjo moments before his death.
It is the summer of 1936 and Sanjurjo (in the light suit, smiling) is about to climb aboard the light aircraft which is intended to carry him to Burgos, and power.
The plane crashed as it took off.
Some commentators say that Sanjurjo’s rival, Franco, had the plane sabotaged.
Others blame Sanjurjo’s vanity. The aircraft was overloaded with flashy uniforms.
20 JULY 1972 – ‘EL LUTE’ WOUNDED IN MALAGA
In July 1972, Eleuterio Sanchez Rodrigues was 30 years old. He was a convicted armed robber.
Known as El Lut”, he became notorious for his repeated escapes from prison.
On this occasion, he broke out of San Fernando (Cadiz) and made it to Malaga.
As he tried to acquire money at Cartama railway station, he was ambushed and shot twice by the Guardia Civil before being hunted down and recaptured.
20 JULY 2004 – DEATH OF ANTONIO GADES
The legendary flamenco dancer Antonio Gades was, like most Spanish men of his generation, a heavy smoker.
Born in the Valencian town of Elda in 1936, Gades established himself as a household name when he made three very successful dance films – Bodas de Sangre, Carmen and El Amor Brujo in the 1980s.
He died of lung cancer, aged 68, in 2004.
20 JULY 2005 – ‘EL CHOCOLATE’ DIES
The flamenco singer, Antonio Nuñez Montoya, was known as El Chocolate.
Born into the gypsy community in Jerez in 1931, he was raised in Sevilla.
Well-known among the flamenco aficionados, he became more widely famous after appearing in the Carlos Saura film Flamenco in 1995.
20 JULY 2010 – SPAIN DOES NOT BAN THE BURKA
“It is very difficult to understand how some of our Muslim citizens can claim they are in favour of liberty, when they force their women to hide behind veils.”
Thus said the conservative Partido Popular (PP) as it called for a vote in parliament, proposing a burka ban.
162 MPs voted for the prohibition, 183 against.
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