Drama en Cuatro Actos, set in the Middle Ages and exploring the life of a legendary hero of Spain.

His mother died when the boy was quite young, and his father married a "celebrated actress", Antera Baus, so Antonio grew up in the world of theatre in Madrid.

After returning to Spain, initially Gil y Zárate entered Spanish politics, like other young men of his class, but he soon started writing dramas.

At the turn of the 20th century, the American scholar Sylvester Primer characterized this play as full of "irreligious and obscene sentimentalism," and Gil y Zárate tried to recall it.

Although named after his friend and mentor, Pedro José Pidal, Spain's Minister of the Interior, who implemented the plan, it was actually drawn up by Gil y Zárate.