Podcast Summary: Todo Concostrina — "¿Quién mató al conde de Villamediana?"

Host: Nieves Concostrina (with Carlos, as co-host)
Date: February 20, 2024
Podcast: SER Podcast | Todo Concostrina
Episode Theme:
A deep dive into the mysterious murder of Juan de Tassis, the Count of Villamediana, an infamous satirical poet and nobleman of 17th-century Madrid. Nieves Concostrina explores the historical context, scandalous rumors, and long-standing speculation over the true motive and perpetrators of his assassination.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode looks at the unsolved assassination of the Count of Villamediana—one of Madrid’s most notorious, witty, and polarizing nobles of the early 1600s. With her characteristic irony and wit, Nieves revisits the vibrant but dangerous world of Madrid’s Golden Age court, focusing on the overlapping intrigues, possible motives, and cultural footprint left by the Count’s dramatic end.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Context and Transition (00:19–02:51)

• The episode continues from a previous discussion about high-profile court murders, specifically following yesterday’s story of Rodrigo Calderón.

• The Count of Villamediana’s murder occurred on August 21, 1622 in Madrid, a few years after Calderón’s execution.

• Nieves:

  “Seguimos y con mucha sangre, seguimos en el siglo XVII... pues así seguimos situados en la época y en el lugar y no nos despistamos.” (00:27)

• Villamediana was notorious for his sharp satirical poetry targeting everyone from royals to clerics, as well as his flamboyant lifestyle (“ligón, jugador, fiestero”).

2. Scandals and Rumors: The Motive for the Crime (02:51–04:36)

• Persistent rumor: Count’s alleged romantic involvement with Queen Isabel de Borbón, wife of Philip IV.
• Origin of the phrase “picar alto” explained with a court anecdote — double entendre during a bullfight when the queen praised Villamediana’s prowess, to which the king replied, “a su pica bien, pero pica muy alto, bonita” (03:23).
• Nieves reminds the motive and guilt are lost to history:

  “Nunca se ha sabido ni el móvil ni se ha conocido a los asesinos.” (01:46)

3. The Assassination: What Happened? (04:36–06:40)

• Well-documented due to many witnesses and widespread documentation.
• Description: On a hot Sunday night, Count and friend Luis de Haro ride a phaeton (open carriage) down Calle Mayor. At the corner with Calle Coloreros, an attacker leaps out and delivers a fatal wound (accounts differ: side or chest).
• Nieves references a famous painting of the aftermath:

  “Hay una famosísima pintura… de Manuel Castellano titulada Muerte del Conde de Villamediana.” (04:46)

• The killer escapes with help from accomplices; the Count dies after being carried to his father’s house.

4. The Sea of Suspects: Who Could Have Done It? (07:01–09:14)

• Potential Motives Summarized:

  • Royal jealousy: If the king did order it, it was over supposed infidelity.
  • Political satire: He was a relentless satirist, alienating powerful figures.
  • Debt and lifestyle: He owed large sums from gambling and led a scandalous life.
  • Political ambition: Possibly “picar alto” in politics.
  • Personal enemies: Especially the Count-Duke of Olivares (Conde Duque de Olivares), whom he mockingly called “Conde Olivete”.

• Notable Quote (about Villamediana’s legendary verses):

  “El mayor ladrón del mundo para no morir ahorcado se vistió de colorado.” (08:47)
  This satirical quip about the Duke of Lerma contributed to Villamediana’s many enemies.

5. Aftermath & Complicated Legacy (09:14–13:45)

• The Count’s assassination inspired numerous poetic tributes (some admiring, others less kind), from Lope de Vega, Quevedo, and Góngora.

• It’s speculated that Olivares or the king orchestrated the crime, but no definitive proof ever surfaced.

• Alternate Theories Discussed:

  1. Sodomy Scandal: Months later, five of Villamediana's servants were executed for “pecado nefando” (sodomy). Some historians assert the Count may have been bisexual—a “Spanish Oscar Wilde”—but he is absent from the records, possibly to spare the family’s honor (11:43).
  2. Postal Power Struggle: Another theory is that rivals wanted to seize the lucrative hereditary post of Correo Mayor de España (Chief of Postal Service). After years of litigation (the “pleito de las estafetas”), the family eventually retained the title.

• Closing Irony (12:57):

  “Entre todos lo mataron y él solito se murió.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Villamediana’s reputation:

  “Era un ligón, era jugador, era fiestero… Debía pasta a un montón de gente por deudas de juego… Hacían cola para matarlo.” (05:52; 07:18)

• About persistent rumors:

  “Si la reina se la pegó con el conde de Villamediana, bien pegada está, tampoco pasa nada…” (03:11)

• On never learning the truth:

  “Nunca se ha sabido ni el móvil ni se ha conocido a los asesinos.” (01:46)

• Political satire that cost him dearly:

  “El mayor ladrón del mundo para no morir ahorcado se vistió de colorado” (08:47)

• Summing up the confusion and theories:

  “Esto está claro, o la orden la dio el rey o la dio el conde duque, o el conde duque convenció al rey para que diera la orden. Es que no hay otra.” (11:43)

• Wry Conclusion:

  “Entre todos lo mataron y él solito se murió.” (13:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:19–02:51 – Introduction and setup; character sketch of Villamediana
• 02:51–04:36 – The “picar alto” legend and possible motives
• 04:36–06:40 – The assassination: facts and dramatic aftermath
• 07:01–09:14 – List of suspects, motives, and Villamediana’s satirical career
• 09:14–10:36 – Literary responses and further consequences
• 11:43–13:45 – Alternative theories: sodomy trial and postal office intrigue
• 13:45–end – Humorous wrap-up and sign-off

Style & Tone

• The episode maintains a sardonic, lightly irreverent tone characteristic of Nieves Concostrina.
• The narrative both informs and entertains, relying on direct quotations, playful asides, and barbed historical commentary.

Conclusion

This episode delivers an engaging, witty, and insightful historical detective story, carefully balancing the sensational rumors and factual ambiguities of the Count of Villamediana’s untimely death. It is as much a lesson in the dangers of courtly life and satire as it is an ongoing mystery, with Nieves inviting listeners to appreciate both the color and chaos of Spain’s 17th-century aristocracy.