Tauromaquia
Bull fighting (La Corrida) in Spain is a part of culture, it's been extreme popular since centuries, some believe that bull vs man (on horse-back) fights first came to Spain during the Moorish occupation (711 AD) others think it's introduced by the Romans. It soon became a symbol of courage. While initially practiced by the aristocracy on horseback, it later changed and became a sport for the common people and because they didn´t own horses they began to fight the bull on foot (around 1724).
The first recorded bull fight was held in Varea in 1126, in honor of the crowning of King Alphonso VII (1104-1157).
Later King Alphonso X (1221-1284) issued a decree which actually meant that those who fight the bull for money were despicable...This did mostly affects the common people.
The aristocracy, however, could just continue, they didn't perform for money but to show their courage and gain respect.
During the reign of King Filip II (1527-1598), Pope Pius V (1504-1572) prohibited bull fighting, however, 8 years later it was abolished by his successor, Pope Gregorius XIII (1502-1585) on request of King Philip II.
The oldest still existing (stone) arena stands in Ronda, southern Spain, Andalusia. It dates back to 1785 and is still in use. Two of the most famous arenas are the Real Maestranza in Sevilla (Andalusia) and the Las Ventas in Madrid. Not only in Spain but also in southern France, Portugal and Latin America bull fighting was extremely popular. The world's biggest arena's are found in Mexico, La Monumental in Tijuana (27000 seats) and Plaza Mexico in Mexico City (50000 seats).
The first recorded bull fight was held in Varea in 1126, in honor of the crowning of King Alphonso VII (1104-1157).
Later King Alphonso X (1221-1284) issued a decree which actually meant that those who fight the bull for money were despicable...This did mostly affects the common people.
The aristocracy, however, could just continue, they didn't perform for money but to show their courage and gain respect.
During the reign of King Filip II (1527-1598), Pope Pius V (1504-1572) prohibited bull fighting, however, 8 years later it was abolished by his successor, Pope Gregorius XIII (1502-1585) on request of King Philip II.
The oldest still existing (stone) arena stands in Ronda, southern Spain, Andalusia. It dates back to 1785 and is still in use. Two of the most famous arenas are the Real Maestranza in Sevilla (Andalusia) and the Las Ventas in Madrid. Not only in Spain but also in southern France, Portugal and Latin America bull fighting was extremely popular. The world's biggest arena's are found in Mexico, La Monumental in Tijuana (27000 seats) and Plaza Mexico in Mexico City (50000 seats).
Nowadays more and more opponents of bull fighting stands up and international animal protection organizations take actions against it for years now. In some areas of Spain, like Catalunya, bull fighting already is banned.
For centuries dogs were also used to fight bulls, in contrary to English bull baiting, in Spain the dogs often assist human fighters. In 'Manual de Tauromaquia' (1882), Juan Sanchez Lozano mention the assistance of 10 to 12 Perros de Presa...
According to Sanchez de Neira, author of the 'Gran diccionario Tauromaco' (1886), the dogs being used for bull baiting were called Alanos: courageous, fearless dogs with a big, strong heads. They became rare at the time and many times mixed with or replaced by English Bulldogs.
However, besides the English Bulldogs came to Spain it's also known that Spanish Bulldogs were imported to Britain. A well-known dog peddler, Bill George (1802-1881) got a dog from Spain around 1840 named Big Headed Billy. Later two more imports were made by Macquart (1868, Lisbon and Bonhomme) and Adcock (1873, Toro and Alphons). These imports however, were not much used in breeding programs. Also in the Netherlands they were apparently known, as evidenced by a newspaper ad from 1796 where 'een extra groote Spaansche Bulhond' (an extreme big Spanisch Bulldog) is offered for sale.
For centuries dogs were also used to fight bulls, in contrary to English bull baiting, in Spain the dogs often assist human fighters. In 'Manual de Tauromaquia' (1882), Juan Sanchez Lozano mention the assistance of 10 to 12 Perros de Presa...
According to Sanchez de Neira, author of the 'Gran diccionario Tauromaco' (1886), the dogs being used for bull baiting were called Alanos: courageous, fearless dogs with a big, strong heads. They became rare at the time and many times mixed with or replaced by English Bulldogs.
However, besides the English Bulldogs came to Spain it's also known that Spanish Bulldogs were imported to Britain. A well-known dog peddler, Bill George (1802-1881) got a dog from Spain around 1840 named Big Headed Billy. Later two more imports were made by Macquart (1868, Lisbon and Bonhomme) and Adcock (1873, Toro and Alphons). These imports however, were not much used in breeding programs. Also in the Netherlands they were apparently known, as evidenced by a newspaper ad from 1796 where 'een extra groote Spaansche Bulhond' (an extreme big Spanisch Bulldog) is offered for sale.