Diego Corrientes Mateos
Encyclopedia
Diego Corrientes Mateos (August 20, 1757 – 1781) was a Spanish
bandit
famous for his generosity to the poor.
He was born in Utrera
, Seville
on August 20, 1757 and died by hanging
in the same city in 1781.
In 1780, Charles III of Spain
offered 100 gold pieces to anyone who captured Corrientes Mateos dead or alive. Corrientes Mateos fled to Portugal
but was captured by the governor of Seville and a band of Portuguese under Captain Arias. After being brought back to Seville, he was tried and sentenced to death by hanging. After his death, his body was cut into pieces and sent to the different provinces where he had been active. His head stayed in Seville and was buried in the Church of San Roque, where it was found in the 20th Century during restoration work. A metal hook was found in the cranium.
An article was published in 1999 denouncing the irregularities in the extradition process from Portugal to Spain.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
bandit
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
famous for his generosity to the poor.
He was born in Utrera
Utrera
Utrera is a municipality in south-west Spain. It is in the province of Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. As of 2008 it has a population close to 50,202....
, Seville
Seville (province)
Seville is a province of southern Spain, in the western part of the autonomous community of Andalusia. It is bordered by the provinces of Málaga, Cádiz, Huelva, Badajoz, and Córdoba.Its area is 14,042 km²...
on August 20, 1757 and died by hanging
Hanging
Hanging is the lethal suspension of a person by a ligature. The Oxford English Dictionary states that hanging in this sense is "specifically to put to death by suspension by the neck", though it formerly also referred to crucifixion and death by impalement in which the body would remain...
in the same city in 1781.
In 1780, Charles III of Spain
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
offered 100 gold pieces to anyone who captured Corrientes Mateos dead or alive. Corrientes Mateos fled to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
but was captured by the governor of Seville and a band of Portuguese under Captain Arias. After being brought back to Seville, he was tried and sentenced to death by hanging. After his death, his body was cut into pieces and sent to the different provinces where he had been active. His head stayed in Seville and was buried in the Church of San Roque, where it was found in the 20th Century during restoration work. A metal hook was found in the cranium.
An article was published in 1999 denouncing the irregularities in the extradition process from Portugal to Spain.