Miguel de Cervantes

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was a world-famous Spanish writer.

He was born in Alcalá de Henares. His father, Rodrigo de Cervantes, was a humble surgeon; his mother was Leonor de Cortina. Their large family lived constantly in poverty, which did not leave the future writer throughout his sorrowful life. Very little is known about the early stages of his life.

Miguel de Cervantes took part in military campaigns in Italy (he was in Naples), Navarino (1572), Tunis, Portugal, in naval battles (Lepanto, 1571), and also made official trips to Oran (in the 1580s); he served in Seville.

There are several versions of his biography. The first, generally accepted version states that “at the height of Spain’s war with the Turks he entered military service under the banners. In the Battle of Lepanto he was everywhere in the most dangerous place and, fighting with truly poetic inspiration, received three wounds and lost an arm.” However, there is also another, unlikely version of his irreparable loss. Owing to his parents’ poverty, Cervantes received only a scant education and, finding no means of livelihood, was forced to steal. It was for theft that he was deprived of his hand, after which he had to leave for Italy. However, this version is not trustworthy—if only because by that time thieves were no longer having their hands cut off, since they were sent to the galleys, where both hands were needed.

The Duke of Sessa, presumably in 1575, gave Miguel letters of recommendation (lost by Miguel upon his capture) for His Majesty and the ministers, as he stated in his testimony of 25 July 1578. He also asked the king to show mercy and aid to the brave soldier.

On the return journey to Spain from Naples he was taken captive in Algiers, where he spent five years (1575–1580), attempted to escape four times, and only by a miracle was not executed. In captivity he was often subjected to various torments.

According to a petition dated 17 March 1578, Rodrigo de Cervantes stated that his son “was captured on the galley Sun under the command of Carrillo de Quesada