Other+Renaissance+Writers+Facts+1-5

Back to Other Renaissance Writers = = = = == =Miguel de Cervantes = = =

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1547-1616 Alcala de Henares, Spain =**Background **=

 Cervantes was born in Alcala de Henares, Spain, a small village close to Madrid. Ever since he was little his family was oppressed with debt. There is little known about his education but it is believed that he probably studied with the Jesuits. The knowledge that he gained over his years was because of his devotion to independent reading. Cervantes was a brave fighter and fought in two big battles. The naval battle of Lepanto and was in the fight between the Spanish and the Ottoman Turks. On his way back to Spain Cervantes ship was captured by pirates. He and his brother Rodrigo were sold into slavery in Algiers. They were held for ransom but it was five years before his family managed to raise the money to get him back.

=**Accomplishments**= Cervantes became a civil servant and later a tax collector but he had been writing the whole time. One of his popular books about his life was called "The Exemplary Novels of Cervantes." His most famous novel is called Don Quixote it was not only popular then; it is also influential in today's society.