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Manuel Laureano RodrÃguez Sánchez (July 4, 1917
in Córdoba, Spain – August 28, 1947 in Linares, Spain), better known as
Manolete, was a famous Spanish bullfighter.
He rose to prominence shortly after the Spanish Civil
War and is considered by some to be the greatest bullfighter of
all time. His style was sober and serious, with few concessions to
the gallery, and he excelled at the 'suerte de matar'—the kill.
Manolete's contribution to bullfighting included being able to
stand very still while passing the bull close to his body and,
rather than giving the passes separately, he was able to remain in
one spot and link four or five consecutive passes together into
compact series. He popularized a pass with the red cloth called the
"Manoletina" which is normally given just before entering to kill
with the sword. In addition to all of the major bullrings of Spain, he had very important
triumphs in Plaza Mexico. He died following a goring in
the right upper leg as he killed the fifth bull of the day, the
Miura bull Islero, an event
that left Spain in a state of shock.
Manolete received his fatal goring in the town of Linares where he appeared
alongside the up-and-coming matador Luis Miguel
DominguÃn, who, after Manolete's death, proclaimed himself to
be number one. In response to Manolete's death, General Francisco
Franco, then dictator of Spain, ordered three days of "national
mourning", during which only funeral dirges were heard on the
radio.
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