Death of Miguel de Cervantes

Miguel de Cervantes died on 22 April 1616 in Madrid, aged 68. A Spanish novelist, poet and playwright, Cervantes is best known for Don Quixote, the story of an elderly gentleman who goes out as a knight after reading too many chivalric romances. The two parts appeared in 1605 and 1615 and are often called the first modern novel. Cervantes had lived an eventful life as a soldier, taking part in the battle of Lepanto in 1571, where he was wounded, and being held captive in Algiers for five years. He also wrote the Exemplary Novels, plays and poems, but he struggled with money for most of his life. He died in Madrid on almost the same day as Shakespeare.

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