Miguel de Cervantes

Date of Birth: September 29, 1547

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Date of Death: April 22, 1616

Biography

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a Spanish writer widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the Spanish language and one of the world’s pre-eminent novelists. Born in Alcalá de Henares, Spain, he was the fourth of seven children in a family of modest means. Cervantes is best known for his magnum opus, “Don Quixote,” a work that is often considered the first modern novel and one of the most important works of fiction ever written. Cervantes led a remarkably eventful life, marked by military service, captivity, and financial struggles. He fought in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, where he sustained injuries that left his left hand permanently maimed, earning him the nickname “El manco de Lepanto” (the one-handed man of Lepanto). After being captured by Barbary pirates in 1575, he was held as a slave in Algiers for five years until his family could ransom him. Upon his return to Spain, Cervantes struggled to establish himself as a writer. Though he produced numerous plays and poems, it was the publication of “Don Quixote” in 1605 that brought him lasting fame. A second part was published in 1615, cementing his legacy. Despite his literary success, Cervantes continued to face financial difficulties and died in relative poverty.

5 Interesting Facts about Miguel de Cervantes

1. Cervantes was captured by Barbary pirates and spent five years as a slave in Algiers.

2. He fought in the Battle of Lepanto, where he sustained a permanent injury to his left hand.

3. “Don Quixote” is often considered the first modern novel and has been translated into more than 50 languages.

4. Cervantes had a contentious relationship with the Spanish Inquisition, which scrutinized some of his works.

5. Despite his literary success, Cervantes died in relative poverty and was buried in an unmarked grave in Madrid.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Miguel de Cervantes

1. “The pen is the tongue of the mind.”

2. “In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd.”

3. “When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies?”

4. “The truth may be stretched thin, but it never breaks, and it always surfaces above lies, as oil floats on water.”

5. “Too much sanity may be madness and the maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Miguel de Cervantes never achieved significant wealth during his lifetime. He died in relative poverty and did not accumulate any notable net worth.

Children

Miguel de Cervantes had one known illegitimate daughter, Isabel de Saavedra, born in 1584. Isabel was the result of an affair with a woman named Ana Franca de Rojas.