1560: Baron de Castelnau, for the Amboise Conspiracy 1777: James Molesworth, in the words of the Founding Fathers

1781: Diego Corrientes Mateos, Spanish social bandit

March 30th, 2016 Headsman

On this date in 1781, the Spanish social bandit Diego Corrientes Mateos was hanged and quartered in Seville.

A robber who plied the roads from Portugal to his native Seville, Corrientes (English Wikpedia entry | Spanish) was said to be of farmworker stock himself. His consequent good treatment of the rural common folk enabled him to operate with great freedom and situated him as a Robin Hood character; folklore has consequently inflated the valor of his exploits and the bile of Sheriff of Nottinghamesque pursuers like the lieutenant governor of Seville. For example, surprising his adversary on one occasion, Corrientes is supposed to have remarked, “I have learned that you boast you will be able to capture me.”

“Yes, and hang you,” shot back Francisco de Bruna.

“Then I must spare your life so you can fulfill your promise,” the sporting Corrietes allowed. (The reader will discern that Francisco de Bruna soon made good his threat.)

By the 19th century, he’d become a positive fixture of romantic and nationalist literature.

On this day..

Entry Filed under: 18th Century,Arts and Literature,Capital Punishment,Common Criminals,Crime,Death Penalty,Dismembered,Execution,Famous,Hanged,History,Outlaws,Popular Culture,Public Executions,Spain,Theft

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One thought on “1781: Diego Corrientes Mateos, Spanish social bandit”

  1. Ellen Debackere says:

    Dear,

    I would like to use this picture (the yellow one, on top of the page) for an article describing the history of Diego Corrientes (intended for publication in a history mag). Where can I find it, or can you sell it to me in high resolution (and conform copyright rules)? Thank you for your answer! Kind regards,

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