El Tempranillo; the King of the Sierra Morena
All countries have their scallywags, men and women who prefer to live outside the law. Existing on their wits in a hostile and lonely environment, although it sounds like an excellent training ground for marriage, it has brought fame to some, infamy to others but very short careers usually with a bloody end to most.
From the North American outlaws such as Jesse James to the metal clad antipodean Ned Kelly, bully-boys, thugs and murderers were idealised by latter generations. Their crimes whitewashed and their limited humanity elevated. Some have been attributed exploits of others, Dick Turpin never made the famous ride to York, it was John Nevison, alias Swift Nick half a century earlier. The legend of Robin Hood is certainly based on at least two individuals, considering the brutality and uncertainty of the age labelling his men as Merry is extremely questionable. Mr Hood’s rather strange fiscal policy of taking from the rich and giving to the poor, was nothing more than bribes granted in order to secure his base of operations.
Bandits can only operate where conditions allow, there must be a certain amount of law and order to enable the movement of people and goods. Hordes of baddies moving through the countryside are synonymous with a developing nation. When national organisation is such as to restrict their activities, it would appear that the task of daylight robbery is handed over to gas, electric and banking concerns.
Spain has had its share of rapscallions operating in all of its regions; in 19th century Andalucía it was even an early tourist attraction to be held up by one of the many bands of bandoleros. British and other Europeans were known to pay for the privilege of being stopped by one of the ubiquitous troops of brigands. One can imagine the heroic stories that were told over roaring fires on cold winter nights. In any event it was probably safer than a Club18 to 30 bargain weekend.
Arguably the most famous Andalucian bandolero was José Maria Hinojosa Cabacho El Tempranillo, his epithet probably refers to his early entry into banditry at the age of 13.
El Tempranillo had all the characteristics necessary for local hero status. The first perquisite is to be outlawed after the righting of some wrong; in El Tempranillo’s case he appears to have committed murder while just in his teens. Born on the 21st of June 1805, this would mean the incident took place in 1818 after the French occupation but still uncertain times. There are some references to him protecting his family and in particular his Mother. In 1818 the village of his birth, Jauja, would have been a remote place, adding some weight to the anecdote of his downfall. It was probably the need to escape the law that he joined a band of outlaws.
Like all successful highwaymen a highway is, by definition, required, José Maria’s was the Despeñaperros Pass, roughly translated as ‘the place where dogs fall off rocks’, implying treacherous cliffs or genetically stupid dogs. The pass is on the Andalucían northern border, an ideal location for a young bandit chief and his gang, with regular through traffic but sufficiently isolated so as to make a quick response by the authorities difficult. He practised his art in broad daylight demanding 10% of a traveller’s wealth in return for safe conduct through the pass, thereby establishing himself as a bona fide highwayman in the best tradition. José’s ability to obscure the most felonious and seedy events in a fog of spin, self righteous justification and lies would have made him a welcome member of any of today’s political parties. Whilst keeping the local population loyal with liberal doses of cash, had the added benefit of giving the El Tempranillo myth a veneer of benevolence.
The gallantry of such English men of the road as Captain James Hind and Claude Duval are legendary and our José wasn’t going to be outdone! He is reputed to have relieved a female traveller of her jewellery with the words a hand so beautiful as yours does not need adornments, her words regarding the loss of her trinkets are not on the record. The encounter was certainly embellished if not completely fabricated by our Bandit.
A short man with only one hand, the other was lost after an accident with a pistol, he became a cult figure in Andalucía because of his ability to separate travellers from their loose change and a flair for public relations. It was said that while the King ruled Spain El Tempranillo ruled the mountains, the title King of the Sierra Morena was bestowed on him, probably by José Maria himself. Soon he warranted a bounty of 6000 reales dead or alive, José was becoming an embarrassment to the authorities.
Unlike the archetypical highwaymen of northern Europe José married, his wife María Gerónima francés died during childbirth. José’s Son survived and was indirectly responsible for El Tempranillo’s most conspicuous act. In 1831 along with 50 of his men he took control of the mountain village of Grazalema baptising his offspring at the church of Nuestra Señora de la Aurora. The local authorities were outnumbered and outgunned looking on helplessly as the bandolero completed his religious observances.
José’s reputation spread beyond southern Spain, the British writer John Ford said of his time, When Fernando VII was King of Spain and José Maria was the love of Andalucía.
With an expansion of his fame, so his presence became almost universal. Simultaneous sightings occurred in venues separated by dozens of kilometres. The provenance of caves were attributed to him, local town’s people invented tales and encounters with the famous bandolero just so they could claim association.
The momentum of his popularity seemed unstoppable; along with his other misappropriations he stole the Kings limelight and vied with him for acclaim. The monarch had to act but he was presented with a problem. On the one hand he had a criminal on the loose, committing crimes in broad daylight and with ever increasing audacity, on the other, he had a man who was revered by the population of Andalucía, a man who was almost worshipped by the common folk.
Fernando VII was in this instance very astute or at least his advisers were, he had to neutralise the bandit as well as avoid civil unrest which would undoubtedly occur if El Tempranillo was hunted down. His solution was to pardon the outlaw and put him at the head of a force of 60 men, whose role was to hunt down and capture bandoleros, a classic example of setting a thief to catch a thief. The unit was called the Escuadrón Franco de Protección y Seguridad Pública de Andalucía (The free squadron for the public protection of Andalucía), the impressive title implying that government pay was not at all good.
Ironically El Tempranillo met his end whilst trying to bring the bandolero El Barbarello to justice. José Maria Hinojosa Cabacho died on the 23rd of September 1833 from his wounds; he left very little in the way of tangible wealth but a fortune in folklore of Andalucía.
Why do seemingly respectable people admire highwaymen and others of their ilk, these people robbed, murdered and were generally antisocial, usually meeting their end in a ditch or on the gallows. Is it a reaction to the over organised life we lead today, a yearning from every person worth his salt to be free, to control his own destiny?
If I thought I had half a chance of success I for one would be out there stalking the open road, El Gordo, demanding money with menaces or perhaps with the threat of a Chinese burn but certainly carousing in some jovial inn with my cronies.