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Portuguese-stylebullfighting (Portuguese:touradas) differs in many aspects fromSpanish-style bullfighting, most notably in the fact that the bull is not killed in front of an audience in the arena. Thecavaleiros and theforcados are unique to the Portuguese variety of bullfighting, as well as the participation of horsewomen (cavaleiras) in the routines.
Most Portuguese bullfights (corridas de touros) are held in two phases: the spectacle of thecavaleiro, followed by thepega. In Portugal, the main stars of bullfighting are thecavaleiros, as opposed to Spain, where thematadores are the most prominent bullfighters. Nevertheless, bullfights with matadores are frequent, notably with Portuguesematadores who practice their trade in Spain and who, when in Portugal, replace the sword in their final strike with abandarilha, a small type of spear. Examples of famous Portuguesematadores areVítor Mendes andPedrito de Portugal.
The spectacle starts with thecavaleiro, a horseman on aLusitano specially trained for the fights, fighting the bull from horseback. The purpose of this fight is to stab three or fourbandeirilhas in the back of the bull.
In the second stage, called thepega, theforcados, a group of eight men, challenge the bull directly without any protection or weapon of defense. The front man provokes the bull into a charge to perform apega de cara orpega de caras (face catch). The front man secures the animal's head and is quickly aided by his fellows who surround and secure the animal until he is subdued.
The bull is not killed, at the end of thecorrida, leading oxen are let into the arena and twocampinos on foot herd the bull along them back to its pen. After the fight the bull may be either killed by a professional butcher or, after a good performance, restored to health and released to pasture for breeding.[citation needed] Nevertheless, tradition was so strong at the small frontier town ofBarrancos, where the bull was illegally killed, that the government was forced to relent and permit the town to follow its ancientmatador tradition and kill the bull.
There are other forms of traditional bullfighting in Portugal, some differing markedly from the version described above. In theAzores, bullfighting is often reminiscent of the running of the bulls inPamplona, Spain, in the respect that those most at risk are human beings, not the bulls themselves. The Azorean style involves a group of people vying in atug-of-war with a young bull by holding fast to a long stout rope tied around the bull's neck. This is called thetourada à corda (bull-on-a-rope 'game'). Portuguese immigrants from the Azores also practice "tourada a corda" in the city ofBrampton, southernOntario,Canada.[3]
In Portugal, some bulls have their horns trimmed, or simply covered, in a way that will not present any sharp points. This practice is believed to have been introduced in the 1700s by KingJoseph I of Portugal, presiding atSalvaterra de Magos, after having witnessed a tragic accident during a bullfight; the son (and heir) of theMarquis of Marialva IV was fighting a bull on horseback when the animal wounded his horse, causing the young man to fall to the arena floor. He was then trampled and kicked to death. The Marquis himself, then around 70 years of age, leapt down from the royal seats that he shared with the King, drawing his sword and killing the bull, albeit several seconds too late.
Some southern and central regions of Portugal (such asRibatejo and parts of theAlentejo), includingTerceira Island,Azores, are traditionally more interested in thecorrida de touros (running of the bulls) as opposed to bull-baiting or fighting. In the country’s northern regions, bullfighting has a much lower prevalence, except forPóvoa de Varzim, where bullfighting arenas have been known to exist in several areas since ca. the 18th century.
Some Portuguese municipalities have declared bullfighting “immaterial cultural heritage”, becoming members of the Section of Municipalities with Tauromachic Activities of the National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (ANMP); others have implicitly or explicitly refused to do so.[4]
RTP has historically shown bullfights in prime-time; the practice has been widely criticized, with left-wing parties proposing legislation to prevent bullfighting being shown on thepublic broadcasting network[5] or changing the rating of the show to an adults-only classification.[6]RTP ceased to broadcast bullfights since 2021.[7]
QueenMaria II of Portugal prohibited bullfighting in 1836 with the argument that it was unbefitting for a civilised nation. The ban was lifted in 1921, but in 1928 a law was passed that forbade the killing of the bull during a fight.
In 2001, matador Pedrito de Portugal controversially killed a bull at the end of a fight after spectators encouraged him to do so by chanting "Kill the bull! Kill the bull!"[8] The crowds gave Pedrito a standing ovation, hoisted him on their shoulders and paraded him through the streets.[8] Hours later the police arrested him and charged him with a fine, but they released him after crowds of angry fans surrounded the police station.[8] A long court case ensued, finally resulting in Pedrito's conviction in 2007 with a fine of €100,000.[8]
In 2002, after a national referendum, the Portuguese government gaveBarrancos a dispensation from the 1928 ban. In 2014, the same exception was granted toReguengos de Monsaraz, where a festivity featuring the killing of bulls took place every year despite the ban; the annual event was then recognised as a tradition by aBeja Court, which guaranteed access to the exception.[9]
In 2009, the northern city ofViana do Castelo prohibited bullfighting in all instances when a municipality's permit was required.[10] This decision was contested in 2012 by aBraga court and bullfighting was permitted again in the municipality.
In June 2018, thePóvoa de Varzim municipality announced a bullfighting ban starting January 1, 2019;[11] pro-bullfighting groups interceded against this prohibition and in September 2019, a court in Porto ruled that the ban was unconstitutional.[12][13] The city of Póvoa de Varzim has approved the demolition of thePóvoa de Varzim Bullfighting Arena, its municipal bullfighting ring.[14]
In July 2018, animalist partyPAN presented a proposal at the Portuguese Parliament to abolish all types of bullfighting in the country. Left-wing partyLeft Bloc voted in favour of the proposal but criticised its lack of solutions to the foreseen consequences of the abolition. The proposal was however categorically rejected by all other parties, that cited freedom of choice and respect for tradition as arguments against it.[15][16]
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