As many of his other dramatic works, Andersen’s last work for the stage, the comedy When the Spaniards Were Here [Da Spanierne var her] from 1865 is based on personal experiences and autobiographical themes. It is founded on his earliest childhood memories of the Spanish auxiliary corps drafted during the alliance with Napoleon in 1808 and deals with their stay at Funen and in Jutland and the complications involved in relation to the local inhabitants.

Andersen had dealt with this theme a number of times earlier in his writing, and now as his very last play for the stage it was treated in a dramatic form. The plot is a love affair between Hermania, the daughter of the titular Councillor of State, and the Spanish officer Don Juan de Molino, and describes how the French forces were considered arrogant and proud whereas the Spanish auxiliary troops are thought of with true warm feelings by the population. The play ends with the departure of the Spaniards just as the two main characters declare their love for each other, but there is still hope left for a happy reunion.

The Norwegian poet Bjørnstjerne Bjørnsson wrote in awe of the work in a letter to Andersen: “Your work has impressed me, the first act is the fullest and freshest poetry Denmark has written for many years”.