There are many famous Andalucian people, from classic artists like Picasso to world famous modern actors like Antonio Banderas. . However some Andalucians a more infamous than famous, and one of those is the 19^th Century bandoleros, (bandits) José María Pelagio Hinojosa, popularly known as “El Tempranillo”,

He was born in 1805 in the village of Jauja in the Anttequera region where he lived until he killed a neighbor at the tender age of 13. It is unclear the reasons why his carried out the killing but many belive it was to do with his mother.

He fled to the mountains to evade justice and after a while he formed his own gang based in a cave near the Despeñaperros pass, the main route into Andalucía from the north.

Over the next few years his gang carried out daring daylight raids on rich travelers to ensure their safe passage. He became famous for his charm and he is known to have once said to one woman ‘Ah, señora! A hand so beautiful as yours does not need adornments!’ while relieving the woman of her rings and other jewellery, before kissing her hand and biding her a safe journey onward

He also soon acquired the reputation of been the Spanish Robin Hood, as he gave his bounty to the poor. Due to this he soon became a cult figure in Andalucia and during his reign Don Vincente Quesada, Captain General of Andalucía’s armed forces, offered a reward of six thousand reales to the soldier, royal volunteer or private individual who apprehended El Tempranillo dead or alive

He was also known for his famous speech where he declared while the king may rule Spain, El Tempranillo ruled the sierra. His nickname was King of the Sierra Morena

It is known that married a young woman, María Gerónima Francés, from the village of Torre Alháquime in Cádiz region, but she died in childbirth in 1831, “El Tempranillo” took his son to the mountain village of Grazalema north-west of Ronda, along with 50 horsemen to baptize their son in the village’s Nuestra Señora de la Aurora church, while the authorities looked on helplessly

Due to his popularity amongst many of the people King Fernando VII granted the bandit a pardon in 1832 and even went as far as appointing him chief of the Escuadrón Franco de Protección y Seguridad Pública de Andalucía (the free squadron for the protection and public security of Andalucía). Under his command sixty mounted guards who wore a uniform similar to that of Spain’s army he was entrusted with the job of capturing criminals

Then on September 22 1833 while chasing another bandit, “El Barberillo”, “El Tempranillo” was wounded during a shoot out and was taken to the Parador de San Antonio in calle Granada in Alameda, but died the next day, 23 September 1833.

He was layed to rest in a tomb in the village church . He was 28 years old when he died

The raids by “El Tempranillo” and his outlaw band mainly concentrated on the localities of Alameda, Badolatosa, Jauja and Corcoya, which today are points making up the “El Tempranillo Route”. In each of these villages, the places most frequented by the famous bandit are marked and the most outstanding events in which he participated are recounted.

You can learn more about this famous Andalucian Bandit at the Museo de Bandolero (Bandit Museum )in Ronda www.museobandolero.com