José Falcón
Encyclopedia
José Carlos Frita Falcão, known as José Falcón (August 30, 1944 – August 11, 1974) was a Portuguese
matador
whose bullfighting
career spanned just over a decade. As of 2011, he was the last matador to be killed in the ring.
Born in Aldeia de Póvoas, Vila Franca de Xira, Falcão made his first public appearance at a bullfighting event in Montijo
, Portugal
, close to his hometown on May 20, 1962. He became a popular matador and on May 15, 1967 he appeared in a Spanish
bullfight at Mérida
with Juan Carlos Beca Belmonte and Gabriel de la Casa. During a professional 12 year bullfighting career he headlined many events including 30 in Spain
between 1969 and 1970 alone and afterwards showcased his talents in México
on December 13, 1970 in an event with Joaquín Bernadó and Antonio Lomelín.
Falcão's career came to an abrupt end in August 1974 in Barcelona
, after being gored in the leg by the bull
while working with the muleta
. He might have survived the ordeal had he not insisted on killing the bull, Cucharero, before being treated for his wound, which worsened as the fight continued and the artery in his leg ruptured. He died a few hours after being gored.
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = August 30, 1944
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Aldeia de Póvoas, Vila Franca de Xira
, Portugal
| DATE OF DEATH = August 11, 1974
| PLACE OF DEATH = Barcelona
, Spain
}}
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
matador
Matador
A torero or toureiro is a bullfighter and the main performer in bullfighting, practised in Spain, Colombia, Portugal, Mexico, France and various other countries influenced by Spanish culture. In Spanish, the word torero describes any of the performers who actively participate in the bullfight...
whose bullfighting
Bullfighting
Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries , in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment...
career spanned just over a decade. As of 2011, he was the last matador to be killed in the ring.
Born in Aldeia de Póvoas, Vila Franca de Xira, Falcão made his first public appearance at a bullfighting event in Montijo
Montijo, Portugal
Montijo is a town in Montijo Municipality in Portugal.The town has a population of 25,719.-References:...
, 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...
, close to his hometown on May 20, 1962. He became a popular matador and on May 15, 1967 he appeared in a Spanish
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...
bullfight at Mérida
Mérida, Spain
Mérida is the capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura, western central Spain. It has a population of 57,127 . The Archaeological Ensemble of Mérida is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1993.- Climate :...
with Juan Carlos Beca Belmonte and Gabriel de la Casa. During a professional 12 year bullfighting career he headlined many events including 30 in 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...
between 1969 and 1970 alone and afterwards showcased his talents in México
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
on December 13, 1970 in an event with Joaquín Bernadó and Antonio Lomelín.
Falcão's career came to an abrupt end in August 1974 in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, after being gored in the leg by the bull
Bull
Bull usually refers to an uncastrated adult male bovine.Bull may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Bull , an original show on the TNT Network* "Bull" , an episode of television series CSI: Crime Scene Investigation...
while working with the muleta
Muleta
Muleta is the name of the stick that the red cloth hangs from in the final third of a bullfight. It is different from the cape used by the matador earlier in the fight ....
. He might have survived the ordeal had he not insisted on killing the bull, Cucharero, before being treated for his wound, which worsened as the fight continued and the artery in his leg ruptured. He died a few hours after being gored.
See also
- ForcadoForcadoA forcado is a member of the team that performs the pega de cara or pega de caras , the final event in a typical Portuguese bullfight...
- Portuguese bullfighting
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = August 30, 1944
| PLACE OF BIRTH = Aldeia de Póvoas, Vila Franca de Xira
Vila Franca de Xira
Vila Franca de Xira is a municipality in Portugal with a total area of 317.7 km² and a total population of 133,224 inhabitants. Situated on the west bank of the Tagus River, just 32 km north-east of the Portuguese capital Lisbon, Vila Franca de Xira is said to have been founded by French...
, 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...
| DATE OF DEATH = August 11, 1974
| PLACE OF DEATH = Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
, 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...
}}