Miguel de Cervantes 1547–1616

1547: Born in Alcalá de Henares, near Madrid

1569: Moves to Rome, works as chamber assistant to Cardinal Giulio
Acquaviva

1570: Enlists as soldier in Spanish infantry regiment in Naples – then
under Spanish rule

1571: Takes part in Battle of Lepanto between Catholic states and
Ottomans for control of Mediterranean

Cervantes suffers three gunshot wounds, one of which permanently cripples his left hand

1575: Cervantes sets sail for Spain but is captured by Barbary pirates
and taken to Algiers

1580: Ransomed by relatives and Trinitarian friars after five years of slavery

1581-84: After returning to Spain, Cervantes has only child with married
woman, before marrying Catalina de Salazar, 18 years his junior Port of
Algiers

1585: Publishes first novel, La Galatea, and writes number of plays

1570 1580 1590 1600 1610

1587: Works as purchasing agent for Spanish Armada – later as tax collector for government

1597-98: Discrepancies in his accounts land him in Crown Jail of Seville

1605: Publishes first part of The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote
of La Mancha

1607-16: Based in Madrid, works published include Exemplary Novels, Journey to Parnassus and second part of Don Quixote

1616: Dies aged 68. Final composition, The Labours of Persiles and
Sigismunda, published posthumously in 1617

Don Quixote and Sancho Panza by Gustave Doré

Source: British Encyclopedia

Picture: National Maritime Museum