José Gómez Ortega

This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Gómez and the second or maternal family name is Ortega.
Joselito

Joselito
Personal information
Born José Gómez Ortega
May 8, 1895(1895-05-08)
Gelves, Andalucia, Spain
Died May 16, 1920(1920-05-16) (aged 25)
Talavera de la Reina, Spain
Alias Joselito
Nickname Gallito
Joselito el Gallo
Relatives Fernando Gómez García
Rafael Gómez Ortega
Ignacio Sánchez Mejías
Career
Role Matador
School Sevillan
Début novillero 1 October 1912
Fuente de Berro
Alternativa 28 September 1912
Seville
Godfather Fernando Gómez García

José Gómez Ortega (8 May 1895 — 16 May 1920), commonly known as Joselito (Spanish pronunciation: [xoseˈlito]), was a Spanish matador in the early twentieth century.

Joselito was considered a child prodigy and was the youngest bullfighter to receive the title of matador de toros, at the age of 17. Joselito followed in arch-rival Juan Belmonte's footsteps and the two ushered in bullfighting's "Golden Age". Joselito was fatally gored in the ring at the age of 25 during a competitive bullfight with his brother-in-law, the matador Ignacio Sánchez Mejías.

Belmonte and Gómez are widely considered to be the two of the most famous bullfighters of all time.[1]

Contents

Biography

Early life

José Gómez Ortega was born on 8 May 1895 in Huerta de El Algarrobo, Gelves (Andalusia, Spain) to Fernando Gómez García (1847 — 1897), a bullfighter, and Gabriela Ortega Feria (1862 — 1919), a flamenco singer.

Joselito was a third-generation bullfighter. His father Fernando Gómez García, known as El Gallo (The Rooster) - Joselito's previous nickname, Gallito, was a diminutive form of this nickname; His elder brother Rafael Gómez Ortega, was also a bullfighter known as El Gallo.[1]

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ a b Death and money in the afternoon: a history of the Spanish bullfight. pg 67