FERNANDO VILLALÓN: BIOGRAPHY AND WORKS - LITERATURE - 2025

Fernando Villalón-Daoíz y Halcón (1881-1930) was a Spanish poet, linked to the aristocracy, who came to possess the title of Count of Miraflores de los Ángeles. Some scholars of his work have considered that he has been condemned to oblivion, and sometimes ignored.

Now, Villalón made his poetry known belatedly, although from his youth he was related to the Spanish avant-garde movement. The poet made friends with several intellectuals from the Generation of '27, and was sometimes a participant in some of the activities they organized.

Source: mathematolivares.blogia.com

One of the great passions of Fernando Villalón was livestock, especially bull breeding. However, several financial problems led him to sell his properties. That situation transported him to take refuge in literature, and he dedicated himself to writing poetry.

Biography

Birth and family

Fernando was born on May 31, 1881 in Seville. He came from a family with a solid economy and linked to the Spanish nobility. His parents were Andrés Villalón-Daoíz y Torres de Navarra, count of Miraflores de los Ángeles, and Ana Halcón y Sáenz. The poet's maternal grandparents were the Marquises of San Gil.

Villalón's childhood

Villalón spent much of his childhood in the town of Morón de la Frontera, breathing country air and surrounded by animals. It was in that rural land where he learned to ride a horse, hunt, and acquired knowledge of agriculture and livestock, which later led him to have his own lands.

Academic training

Fernando Villalón studied primary school in the regular schools of the town where he grew up. Later he went on to study baccalaureate at the San Luis Gonzaga School of the Jesuits, which meant loss of freedom for him. There he had as a companion the poet Juan Ramón Jiménez.

San Luis Gonzaga School. Source: Puertomenesteo, via Wikimedia Commons

When he finished high school he entered the university, more to please Ana Halcón and Sáenz, than for his own interest. His mother tried to convince him to study as a diplomat, but Fernando refused. So in 1901 he began his law degree, and shortly after finishing it he abandoned it, to make a trip to Paris.

Rural life

Villalón was passionate about rural life, most of his life was spent in Andalusia dedicated to country activities. In 1915 his father died, it was perhaps on that date that he received the title of Count of Miraflores de los Angeles.

The exact date or year of the appointment is not known because there is little information about his life.

Your life partner

The poet lived deeply in love with the woman who was his life partner, called Concepción Ramos Ruiz. It is known that he was a lady of humble origin, dark and with gypsy features; the relationship was harmonious and full, although the couple had no offspring.

The witch poet

After having dedicated himself for a long time to raising bulls, in 1926 the poet fell into a severe economic crisis, a situation that forced him to sell his land and livestock. It was that episode that urged him to make his way into the literary world.

It should be noted that his good performance as a writer was due to the fact that he was always an eager reader.

Fernando Villalón combined his literary activity with Freemasonry and the occult, hence he was also known as “the witch poet”. He began to develop the theory of the "sylphidoscope", which was the creation of a tool that allowed him to see nymphs or fairies, to solve some problems.

At the same time, with his two friends, the poets Rogelio Buendía and Adriano del Valle, he founded the literary magazine Papel de Aleluyas, of which he was also director. Later he began to interact with the writers of the Generation of 27, where his friendship with Rafael Alberti emerged.

Last years of life

Fernando Villalón's life left him in the blink of an eye. Barely three years after starting his life as a poet, and publishing three of his books in succession, he died in the city of Madrid on March 8, 1930, of a kidney disease.

Plays

Villalón's brief poetic work was characterized by dealing with themes related to Andalusian folklore, as well as traditions and customs. His language was simple, and he enjoyed harmony and musicality; he was compared to Luís de Góngora for the use of metaphors and the way he described.

The following were the published works:

- Andalusia la Baja (1927).

- La toriada (1928).

- Romances of the eight hundred (1929).

- Complete poems (1944).

Brief description of the most representative works

Andalusia the Baja

It was Villalón's first book of poetry, and, as its title indicates, it was related to Andalusia, the place of his childhood and youth. Some scholars of his work have considered that the poems were written about ten years before being published.

In this work an evolution towards the avant-garde and innovative is observed. However, in several of the writings there are features of modernism, such as, for example, in the language, the measurement of the verses and in the rhythm. Humor is also present.

Juan Ramón Jiménez, friend and mentor of Fernando Villalón. Source: See page for author, via Wikimedia Commons

It is important to note that the poet not only refers to the Andalusia of his adventures, he also developed mythical and historical themes, religion and the value of the family. In addition, as expected due to their trades and passions, livestock and the image of the bullfighter played a leading role.

Fragment of "With his two podencas bitches"

“… Bear in mind, hunter, what civilians have I felt;

of his restless horses

I've felt the neighs

Throw the shotgun into the bush

and hide the basket well, whistle bitches come

and sit on the road ”.

The thoriad

In this work the poet reflected his passion for bulls, but directed it towards a story of myths and legends. In addition, Villalón, through his pen, tried to defend these animals and their vital area, criticizing the way they lost their lives in bullfights. This work is composed of a silva of 521 verses.

Fragment of the "La toriada"

"That giant that lowers advances

headlights for eyes, wheels for hooves

that hurting our mother with her nails

Wheat makes him give birth with his strength

it is an inert monster that is moved

with coal extracted from your forests ”.

References

1. Villalón, F. (2019). Spain: Wikipedia. Recovered from: wikipedia.org.
2. Cuevas, A. (2018). Fernando Villalón, an Andalusian passion. Spain: The Blog of Antonio Cuevas. Recovered from: antoniocuevas.blogspot.com.
3. Carnero, G. (2019). Poet, count and rancher. Spain: Book Magazine. Recovered from: revistadelibros.com.
4. Tamaro, E. (2004-2019). Fernando Villalon. (N / a): Biographies and Lives. Recovered from: biografiasyvidas.com.
5. Fernando Villalon. (2019). Cuba: Ecu Red. Recovered from: ecured.cu.