On the morning of May 2nd, 1808, the Spanish capital witnessed an unprecedented popular revolt. The spark that ignited the uprising was the French forces' attempt to remove the infant Francisco de Paula from the Royal Palace. A cry of “Treason!” echoed through the crowd, unleashing an unequal struggle where the people of Madrid, armed with everyday objects like knives and flowerpots, confronted a professional army.

Among the anonymous heroes of that day, Clara del Rey stood out, fighting bravely alongside her husband until she fell to a cannon shot. This uprising, born out of the necessity and hunger of a people surviving on meager resources, surprised all of Europe due to its spontaneous nature and the absence of pre-established leaders or strategies. Its example quickly spread throughout Spain, marking the beginning of resistance against the Napoleonic occupation.

The significance of these events was captured by Francisco de Goya in his famous painting The 3rd of May 1808, a work that, far from idealizing war, denounces it with shocking rawness. Painted in 1814 at the artist's own initiative, the painting is considered by many historians to be the first modern anti-war painting, anticipating later artistic movements.

Goya's work presents notable curiosities, such as the white-shirted protagonist, whose posture evokes a secular martyr, illuminated by a lantern on the ground. The French soldiers, dehumanized and faceless, form a killing machine that cuts through the composition, reflecting the brutality of the repression. Despite his patriotism, Goya sympathized with French Enlightenment ideas, but the violence of those days deeply moved him, possibly having witnessed similar scenes to those he immortalized.

Today, the Florida Cemetery and the 2nd of May Square in Madrid are visible reminders of that historic day, whose date was not an official holiday in the Community of Madrid until 1983.