Toledo Travel Forum

At the kind suggestion of ATLC this question is re-asked in the Toledo forum as well as the world - thanks ATLC

I'm trying to finish off my Toledo page and hope someone with knowledge can assist please.

In the lead up to our trip that included the fascinating city of Toledo, Spain, I read of an incident from maybe 1000 years ago (or there-abouts) where a conquering group decided to try and make peace with the locals. They hosted a huge banquet and invited most of the city to attend. The locals all turned up in their finery and couple by couple was lead down a staircase and be-headed. Apparantly some 5000 lives were lost. That night is commemorated as "the night of the pit."

OK that's the story I got from somewhere (travel guide, book, whatever) and no amount of internet research can shed any light on the story, so I'm wondering if its one of those urban myth tales.

Can anyone help with any info please.

Thanks

David

You're welcome!
As I said: interesting story.
Reminds me of The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.

So this is in effect a bookmark :-)

I do not recall ever hearing this story on any of my visits to Toledo.I have found no reference to it in the Rough Guide to Spain.

Could it possibly have happened in another City - perhaps also beginning with T?

The story does have a ring of familiarity. Our local castle in Abergavenny was, in 1175, the scene of the infamous massacre of Welsh chieftains by the representative of the occupying Normans, Lord William de Braose.
He had invited the rebellious Chieftains and their wives for Peace talks at a Banquet --- the story continues in much the same way as yours.

Seven miles away at Raglan Castle, I have heard something very similar....

Could it be one of those apochryphal stories that find their way into the mythology of castles and then in to the history and guide books?

Or perhaps it is such a clever way of getting rid of your enemies, that is repeated with success time and time again...
Bartholomew's night really happened...

I remembered to have heard about this, so I did some research....

It seems it happened on 807 AC, during the times of the Moorish kingdom of Toledo:

http://www.toledo-spain.info/history.html

If you can read Spanish:
http://www.zocodover.com/z/Leyendas/Leyenda.asp?Id=3

I think that part of the history is true, even probably the number of deaths were exaggerated over the years. But I sure was a terrible massacre, as there is still a popular expression "pasar una noche toledana" (when someone had a very bad nigh), even most people using this expression probably have no idea of its origin.

But "IT" sure was a terrible massacre... not me! :o)

Thanks very much Isa. After the previous poster, I was starting to think the story was almost like the "smoking guns" story of today in Iraq.

When in Toledo I did ask quite a few locals about the truth of the story and none had heard it before - just amazing history. Toledo seemed more interested in "Man of La Mancha" and the 2 characters in the novel judging by all the paraphanilia on sale in the shops - and yes the Spanish seemed to be going overboard buying up minitures of Don Quixote and his fat little offsider.

Thanks again Isa and to the other posters too.

Well done Isa!

Well, I'm a history freak.... just love finding info like this.

Probably most Spaniards never heard of this, or they had forget. Our history is far too complex and places like Toledo have zillions of historical events, legends, tales and anecdotes. Difficult to get track of all, especially 1200 years after they happened :)