When the Spaniards Were Here

When the Spaniards Were Here
Costume drawing by Edvard Lehmann for the play: Two Spanish soldiers
Written by	Hans Christian Andersen
Date premiered	6 April 1865
Place premiered	Royal Danish Theatre, Denmark
Original language	Danish
Genre	Comedy
Setting	Middelfart

When the Spaniards Were Here (Da Spanierne var her) is a romantic, comic play by Hans Christian Andersen. It premiered on the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen on 6 April 1865, just a few days after the celebration of Andersen's 60th birthday.

Composition

Andersen's first childhood memory involved Spanish soldiers on Funen. The first time they appear in his writings is in the poem Soldaten (The Soldier) from 1830. The male protagonist of his play Skilles og mødes was also a Spanish soldier.^[1] In 1835. Amdersem wrote a vaudeville totæed Spanierne i Odense (The Spaniards in Odense) which never premiered. In 1865, he adapted it into the play When the Spaniards Were Here, changing the setting from Odense to Middelfart.^[2]

Production history

The play premiered at the Royal Danish Theatre on 6 April 1976. The theatre was sold-out and members of the royal family were present at the event. It played seven times.^[3] The cast included;^[2]

• Fritz Hultmann as Carl Bryske
• Louise Sahlgreen as Madam
• Agnes Lange as Herminia
• Louise Phister as etatsrådinde Prip

Image gallery

• 
  Fritz Hultmann as Carl Bryske
• 
  Louise Sahlgreen as Madam
• 
  Louise Phister as Madam
• 
  Agnes Lange as Herminia

References

• v
• t
• e

Hans Christian Andersen

Bibliography

Short story collections

• Fairy Tales Told for Children. First Collection. (1835–1837)
• Fairy Tales Told for Children. New Collection (1838–1841)
• New Fairy Tales. First Volume (1843–1845)

Short stories

• "The Angel" (1843)
• "Blockhead Hans" (1855)
• "The Elf Mound" (1845)
• "The Emperor's New Clothes" (1837)
• "The Fir-Tree" (1844)
• "The Flying Trunk" (1839)
• "The Galoshes of Fortune" (1838)
• "The Garden of Paradise" (1839)
• "The Goblin and the Grocer" (1852)
• "Golden Treasure" (1865)
• "The Ice-Maiden" (1861)
• "Little Claus and Big Claus" (1835)
• "The Little Match Girl" (1845)
• "The Little Mermaid" (1837)
• "The Most Incredible Thing" (1870)
• "The Nightingale" (1843)
• "Ole Lukoie" (1841)
• "The Princess and the Pea" (1835)
• "The Red Shoes" (1845)
• "The Shadow" (1847)
• "The Shepherdess and the Chimney Sweep" (1845)
• "The Snow Queen" (1844)
• "The Snowman" (1861)
• "The Steadfast Tin Soldier" (1838)
• "The Story of a Mother" (1847)
• "The Sweethearts; or, The Top and the Ball" (1843)
• "The Swineherd" (1841)
• "The Tallow Candle" (1820s)
• "The Teapot" (1863)
• "Thumbelina" (1835)
• "The Tinderbox" (1835)
• "The Travelling Companion" (1835)
• "The Ugly Duckling" (1843)
• "What the Old Man Does is Always Right" (1861)
• "The Wicked Prince" (1840)
• "The Wild Swans" (1838)

Novels

• The Improvisatore (1835)
• O.T (1836)
• The Two Baronesses (1848)

Plays, operas

• Little Kirsten (1846)
• When the Spaniards Were Here (1865)

Poems and songs

• Barn Jesus i en krybbe lå
• Danmark, mit fædreland
• Hist hvor vejen slår en bugt

Other works

• Christine's Picture Book (art book)

Works inspired by
Andersen's life and works

• Hans Christian Andersen (1952)
• The Daydreamer (1966)
• The World of Hans Christian Andersen (1968)
• Andersen Monogatari (1971)
• The Fairytaler (2002–2003)
• Hans Christian Andersen: My Life as a Fairytale (2003 miniseries)
• Young Andersen (2005 serial)

Related

• Hans Christian Andersen Museums
• Pleated Christmas hearts
• International Children's Book Day
• Hans Christian Andersen Award
• Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award

Category