Fuenteovejuna

Rapid change took place in Spain in the years between the historical incident at Fuenteovejuna in 1476 to the writing of Lope's play in 1614.

At the time of Lope's writing, Spain was still in the midst of a Siglo de Oro ("Golden Century"), which saw growth in all fields of the arts and academics.

In 1469, seven years before the events at Fuenteovejuna, Princess Isabella I of Castile married Prince Ferdinand II of Aragon.

The same year, Ciudad Real was attacked by knights of the Order of Calatrava under the leadership of its Grand Master, 20-year-old Rodrigo Téllez Girón, who supported the claims to the throne by Alfonso and Juana.

[3] The first act opens in Almagro at the home of the Grand Master of the Order of Calatrava, Rodrigo Téllez Girón.

Here, a commander of the order, Fernán Gómez de Guzmán, urges his superior to seize the town of Ciudad Real in the name of Juana and Alfonso of Portugal.

The Commander enters and attempts to take two of the women, Laurencia and Pascuala, back to his castle, but they resist and escape.

A soldier enters and begs the Commander to return to Ciudad Real (Royal City) which has just been surrounded by the forces of Ferdinand and Isabella.

Laurencia, having been beaten and subject to attempted Droit du seigneur (though she beats off her attackers and escapes) enters, but is not immediately recognized.

The commander, responsible as liege lord under feudal law not to oppress his vassals in exchange for their loyalty, failed to "shelter and protect" those pledged to "help and advise" him.

The deaths of the Commander and Ortuño were not mere murders but mutiny against authority – an insurrection against the Crown to which the villagers also aligned themselves as against their oppressive lord.

While Ferdinand and Isabella declined to find the town guilty since they pledged obedience to the Crown of Spain and not to the Prince of Portugal; they struggled with the decision, not pleased to pardon a revolt that was carried out by an insubordinate and brutal mob.

[6] Fuenteovejuna was produced as a play in three acts, in English translation by William Colford, at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in 1972.

The play was produced at London's Royal National Theatre in 1989, as adapted by Adrian Mitchell and directed by Declan Donnellan.