Don Caesar of Bazan

Don César de Bazan is a romantic historical drama written by Adolphe d’Ennery and Philippe Dumanoir in 1844.

Description of the PlayThe play is set in Spain during the reign of Charles II of Spain. It tells the story of Don César, a brave but poor nobleman who values honor, courage, and generosity despite his poverty.

Don César meets Maritana, a beautiful but poor street singer. A powerful and corrupt minister, Don José, wants Maritana to become the king’s mistress. To make this possible, he arranges a secret marriage between Don César and Maritana, planning to have Don César executed immediately after the marriage so Maritana will become a widow with a noble title.

However, Don César survives and later returns, creating conflict and eventually exposing the corruption and injustice.