Bullfighting, defined as the practice of confronting bulls, has been performed for thousands of years. Its name comes from the Greek words: ταῦρος (bull) and μάχομαι (to fight).
This custom has a millennia-old origin dating back to the Bronze Age, although at that time it was more of a sacred act than a spectacle. In various ancient cultures, such as the Babylonian, Scandinavian, Hebrew, and Iranian, bulls were used in rituals and sacrifices. The practice of killing bulls represented a sacred or maturation rite for these civilizations, where the animal symbolized new life. The bull was considered a symbol of fertility, virility, strength, and fecundity, and in certain cultures, it was a deity associated with agriculture, procreation, and nature.
In Ancient Rome, emperors offered bullfights and other animal spectacles, like those with lions, in what was known as the Roman circus. These events had a political character, aiming to entertain the people and distract them from social shortcomings, while also portraying the emperor as a strong and powerful man. This was achieved through a confrontation between the bull and the ruler. The confrontation was dishonest and staged, as the bull was weakened and presented to the emperor in a nearly dying state; however, the public was unaware of this, leading them to acclaim the strength, bravery, and valor of their ruler.
During the medieval period, bullfighting was primarily practiced on the Iberian Peninsula, particularly in Spain. There, it became a festive event, organized to celebrate almost any occasion. It also became a pastime for the nobility. Aristocrats developed the technique of killing the bull while mounted on horseback, which allowed them to approach the animal more safely. During this time, foot lancers also emerged, who threw their weapons at the animal to weaken it, although the «privilege» of killing it belonged solely to their noble masters, as this act represented power and superiority. However, nobles could, if they wished, delegate this task to their footmen or lancers, who later became known as picadores.
In the 16th century, bullfighting gained strength and popularity in Spain and some regions of France, thanks to cattle ranchers dedicated to herding and slaughtering in urban slaughterhouses. These ranchers began to perform acts of «bravery» in their work of herding cattle, specifically in transporting fighting bulls, and thus developed creative and aesthetic ways of doing so. People began to take an interest in these acts and gathered around these ranchers. Thus, a slaughterhouse in Seville became, for the first time, something resembling a bullring. Consequently, during that century, bullfights became so famous across Europe that Pope Pius V and the Catholic Church condemned the act as diabolical; however, later on, the Church accepted these celebrations, as bullfighting became a highly lucrative economic activity for both the State and the clergy. In this same century, specifically in 1526, several fighting bulls were transported from Navarra to Mexico, where they were presented in a bullfight held in celebration of the feast of St. John. This event marked the beginning of bullfighting in what was then called New Spain. From then on, the practice gradually gained popularity in other Central and South American countries, such as Peru, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Nicaragua.
The «fashion» of bullfighting among the nobility lasted until the 18th century when the new ideals of the Enlightenment led to several changes in the political, cultural, and religious organization of Europe. Philip V of Spain condemned bullfighting as a tasteless, barbaric, and cruel practice, officially ceasing to be a «noble activity» and relegating it to the common people. However, in reality, both the nobility and ordinary people maintained a great fondness for bullfighting.
Since the late 18th century, bullfighting underwent several changes and began to be regulated. Although bullfighting had gained much popularity, it had also resulted in many deaths and injuries, as bullfights were held without order and in places that did not ensure the safety of spectators or bullfighters. Thus, during the 19th century, with increasingly strict regulations, the practice began to professionalize: bullfighters and their assistants became specialists and began to wear distinctive costumes; the venues where bullfights were held were standardized. Consequently, the first great names in bullfighting emerged at the end of that century, such as Paquiro (to whom the use of sequins and the montera in the classic bullfighter’s costume is attributed), Cúchares, Lagartijo, and Frascuelo.
The 20th century is considered the most significant century for bullfighting. During this time, the most renowned figures of bullfighting appeared, such as Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez, better known as Manolete, and Manuel Benítez, also known as El Cordobés. Numerous publications and programs (first radio and later television) specializing in bullfighting also emerged, increasing the number of fans of this practice worldwide. This popularity persisted until the first decade of the 21st century, with figures like Enrique Ponce and Julián López, known as El Juli.
Today, bullfighting has been totally or partially banned in most countries around the world; however, it is still practiced in some nations. Even in Spain, the country where it originated and is recognized as part of its culture, bullfighting has been banned in several regions, as it remains a controversial issue that generates ethical debates.
Armando Acosta
Novelista mexicano, dedicado a escribir ficción realista y ensayo. En diciembre de 2021 publicó su primera novela, El martini azul y en 2024 su segundo libro, La mesa equivocada.