Rodolfo Gaona

"El Califa de León" redirects here. For the taqueria, see Taquería El Califa de León.
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Gaona and the second or maternal family name is Jiménez.
Rodolfo Gaona
Personal information
Birth nameRodolfo Gaona y Jiménez
Nicknames
  • El Indio Grande
  • La Califa de León
Born(1888-01-22)January 22, 1888
León, Guanajuato, Mexico
DiedMay 20, 1975(1975-05-20) (aged 87)
Mexico City, Mexico
Spouse(s)Carmen Ruiz Moragas (1917-1917)
Enriqueta Gómez Abascal (married 1925)
Sport
SportBullfighting
RankMatador
Bullfighting career
Début novillero1 April 1908
Puerta de Hierro, Madrid

Rodolfo Gaona y Jiménez (22 January 1888 – 20 May 1975), was a Mexican bullfighter who performed from 1905 until his retirement in 1925, primarily in Madrid.[1][2][3] Known as El Indio Grande (The Big Indian) and La Califa de León (The Caliph of León), Gaona was part of the Golden Age of bullfighting in Spain[3] alongside Juan Belmonte and Joselito.[4] He invented the gaonera and pase del centenario moves.[2][5]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference amoresydesamores was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference saltillo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference elruedo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "El excelso arte de Rodolfo Gaona" [The excellent art of Rodolfo Gaona] (in Spanish). El Universal. 2005-06-28. Retrieved 2023-10-12.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference taurologia was invoked but never defined (see the help page).