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Garcilaso de la Vega

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born

Toledo, Spain

died

October 04, 1536

gender

male

genre

Poetry

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Garcilaso de la Vega (Toledo, c. 1501– Le Muy, Nice, France, October 14, 1536), was a Spanish soldier and poet. The prototypical "Renaissance man," he was the most influential (though not the first or the only) poet to introduce Italian Renaissance verse forms, poetic techniques and themes to Spain. His exact birth date is unknown, but estimations by scholars put his year of birth between 1498 and 1503.

Garcilaso was born in the Spanish city of Toledo. His father, Pedro Suárez de Figueroa, was a noble in the royal court of the Catholic Kings. His mother's name was Sancha de Guzmán. He had six brothers and sisters: Leanor, Pedro, Fernando, Francisco, Gonzalo, and Juana. Garcilaso was the second-oldest son which meant he did not receive the ma...more Garcilaso de la Vega (Toledo, c. 1501– Le Muy, Nice, France, October 14, 1536), was a Spanish soldier and poet. The prototypical "Renaissance man," he was the most influential (though not the first or the only) poet to introduce Italian Renaissance verse forms, poetic techniques and themes to Spain. His exact birth date is unknown, but estimations by scholars put his year of birth between 1498 and 1503.

Garcilaso was born in the Spanish city of Toledo. His father, Pedro Suárez de Figueroa, was a noble in the royal court of the Catholic Kings. His mother's name was Sancha de Guzmán. He had six brothers and sisters: Leanor, Pedro, Fernando, Francisco, Gonzalo, and Juana. Garcilaso was the second-oldest son which meant he did not receive the mayorazgo (entitlement) to his father's estate. However, he spent his younger years receiving an extensive education, mastered five languages (Spanish, Greek, Latin, Italian and French), and learned how to play the zither, lute and the harp. After his schooling, he joined the military in hopes of joining the royal guard. He was named "contino" (imperial guard) of King Carlos I (also Carlos V of the Holy Roman Empire) in 1520, and he was made a member of the Order of Santiago in 1523.

There were a few women in the life of this poet. His first lover was Guiomar Carrillo with whom he had an illegitimate child. He had another suspected lover named Isabel Freire, who was a lady-in-waiting of Isabel of Portugal. In 1525, Garcilaso married Elena de Zúñiga who served as a lady-in-waiting for the King's favorite sister, Leonor. Their marriage took place in Garcilaso's hometown of Toledo in one of the family's estates. He had six children: Lorenzo, an illegitimate child with Guiomar Carrillo, Garcilaso, Íñigo de Zúñiga, Pedro de Guzmán, Sancha, and Francisco.

Garcilaso's military career meant that he took part in the numerous battles and campaigns conducted by Carlos V across Europe. His duties took him to Italy, Germany, Tunisia and France. In 1532 for a short period he was exiled to a Danube island where he was the guest of the Baron György Cseszneky, royal court judge of Győr. Later in France, he would fight his last battle. The King desired to take control of Marseille and eventually control of the Mediterranean Sea, but this goal was never realized. Garcilaso de la Vega died on October 14, 1536 in Nice, France after suffering 25 days from an injury sustained in a battle at Le Muy. His body was first buried in the Church of Santo Domingo in Nice, but two years later his wife had his body moved to the Church of San Pedro Martir in Toledo.
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Books by Garcilaso de la Vega

Average rating: 4.00 · 62 ratings · 4 reviews · 32 distinct works

	Comentarios Reales 3.56 avg rating — 55 ratings — published 1608 — 21 editions	My rating:
	Poesías castellanas completas by Garcilaso de la Vega, Elias L. Rivers (Editor) 4.24 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 1975 — 13 editions	My rating:
	Poesia - Garcilaso de La Vega 4.00 avg rating — 13 ratings — published 2005	My rating:
	Obra Completa/ Complete Works by Garcilaso de la Vega, Homer, Edaf 4.30 avg rating — 10 ratings — 4 editions	My rating:
	Sonetos 3.80 avg rating — 5 ratings — published 2007	My rating:
	Egloga I y Seleccion de Sonetos 4.00 avg rating — 2 ratings	My rating:
	Canciones 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2007	My rating:
	Eglogas 2.50 avg rating — 2 ratings — published 1981 — 2 editions	My rating:
	Obras 4.00 avg rating — 1 rating	My rating:
	Obras de Garcilaso de La Vega 3.00 avg rating — 1 rating — published 2010	My rating:

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Quotes by Garcilaso de la Vega

“With this idea, being a man with long experience of the sea (and they certainly have a great advantage over other men in any sort of task)...”
― Garcilaso de la Vega, Royal Commentaries of the Incas and Genaral History of Peru

tags: maritime , oceans , sailing , sea

3 people liked it

“Well may you do this to one who can endure it.”
― Garcilaso de la Vega

2 people liked it

Garcilaso's Fans (6)

Garcilaso de la Vega

Author profile

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Quotes by Garcilaso de la Vega

combine editions
Books by Garcilaso de la Vega