[EN] Iberian cruelty or barbarity has been fueling the anti-hispanic Black Legend since the 16th century. In the 18th century, the Age of the Enlightenment, French travellers arrived in Spain bearing in mind that the Spaniards were violent, barbarian and cruel beings and they attempted to demostrate that this was so by taking a close look at three aspects of Spanish society: bullfighting, the Inquisition and bloody murders. However, the reactions were not as identical as one might think: some relentlessly condemned the cruel Spaniards, while others adopted a more moderate attitude, trying to analyse the situation objectively and critically.

[ES] La crueldad o barbarie ib?rica alimenta la Leyenda Negra antihisp?nica desde el siglo XVI. En el siglo XVIII, Siglo de las Luces, los viajeros franceses llegan a Espa?a con la idea de que los espa?oles son seres violentos, b?rbaros y crueles e intentan demostrarlo, bas?ndose en el examen de tres aspectos de la sociedad espa?ola: las corridas de toros, el tribunal de la Inquisici?n y los cr?menes con navaja. No obstante, las reacciones no ser?n un?nimes como se pod?a pensar: unos seguir?n condenando a los crueles ib?ricos, otros adoptar?n una actitud m?s moderada, intentando analizar la situaci?n con objetividad y sentido cr?tico.