For thirty minutes, the heart of the capital will be transformed to commemorate the events that marked the beginning of the Peninsular War. The performance, directed by the Historical-Cultural Association Volunteers of Madrid 1808-1814, will feature two narrators who will guide the audience through the unfolding events.
The square will be converted into a period market, where citizens will appear oblivious to the impending conflict. The scene begins with the arrival of a French sergeant and a platoon, tasked with transporting Infanta María Luisa and Infante Francisco de Paula by carriage to France.
“"It is then that the locksmith Blas de Molina alerts the people of Madrid that the Royal Family is being taken away, triggering the first shots and the commotion in the square."
From that moment, hundreds of residents spontaneously confront the Napoleonic troops. The reenactment will depict the irruption of a French column, the firing of a cannon, and the panic of the crowd, with wounded and deceased scattered across the square. The main objective is to bring one of the most decisive episodes in Madrid's history closer to the public.
The Historical-Cultural Association Volunteers of Madrid 1808-1814 has been reenacting the Regiments of Volunteers of Madrid for over two decades, formed in 1808 and present in various battles of the conflict. Their work has been fundamental in keeping alive the memory of these events that transformed the city.
This performance is part of the commemorative acts of Dos de Mayo, a festivity that recalls the popular resistance of Madrid against the French occupation and has become a symbol of the region's identity.
