biography
| name: |
Ercilla y Zúñiga, Alonso de
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pronunciation:
[ertheelya ee thoo
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1533–c.1595)
|
| biography:
| Poet, born in Madrid, Spain. After a literary education, he joined the expedition against the Araucanians in Chile, whose heroism inspired his monumental epic poem, La Araucana (1569–89). An unfounded suspicion of his complicity in an insurrection nearly led to his execution. Fearing for his life, he returned to Spain, made a tour through Europe, and for some time was chamberlain to Emperor Rudolf II (ruled 1576–1612). In 1580 he returned to Madrid, where he lived in poverty till his death. |
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