24 moments

1. Birth in Madrid

   1562-11-25 · Madrid, Castile, Spain

   

   Félix Lope de Vega Carpio was born in Madrid, beginning the life of the prolific Golden Age dramatist and poet. The chronology acknowledges an alternate proposed birth date of 2 December, but 25 November is the standard date.

2. Studies at the Colegio Imperial

   1572-01-01 · Colegio Imperial, Madrid, Castile, Spain

   

   Lope began studies at Madrid's Colegio Imperial during his early education. The source characterizes the year as presumed.

3. Completion of studies at Alcalá

   1581-01-01 · University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Castile, Spain

   

   Lope completed his studies at the University of Alcalá, though he did not obtain a bachelor's degree.

4. Azores expedition

   1583-01-01 · Azores, Portugal

   Lope served in the Spanish naval expedition that fought at the Battle of Ponta Delgada in the Azores. Coordinates are a representative point for the Azores rather than a reconstructed naval position.

5. Arrest at the Corral de la Cruz

   1587-12-29 · Corral de la Cruz, Madrid, Castile, Spain

   Authorities arrested Lope during a performance after he had written satirical attacks on Jerónimo Velázquez and his family. The Corral de la Cruz no longer survives; coordinates represent its documented historic Madrid location.

6. Departure from Madrid into exile

   1588-02-08 · Madrid, Castile, Spain

   

   Following his libel conviction, Lope departed Madrid with Isabel de Urbina at the start of his enforced exile.

7. Embarkation for the Armada

   1588-05-29 · Lisbon, Portugal

   Lope embarked at Lisbon as a volunteer in the Spanish Armada's expedition against England. The precise vessel assignment is debated by scholars; this card records only the documented embarkation at Lisbon.

8. Exile and literary work in Valencia

   1589-01-01 · Valencia, Kingdom of Valencia, Spain

   

   Lope moved with Isabel de Urbina to Valencia, where he worked actively and met leading Valencian dramatists.

9. Secretary in Toledo

   1590-01-01 · Toledo, Castile, Spain

   

   After the two-year exile from Castile, Lope served Francisco de Ribera Barroso in Toledo. The source dates this Toledo residence to 1590–1591; the card uses the beginning year because range dates are not permitted in the schema.

10. Service at the ducal court of Alba

    1592-01-01 · Alba de Tormes, Castile, Spain

    

    Lope lived at the ducal court in Alba de Tormes while serving the Duke of Alba as a gentleman of the bedchamber and secretary. This card represents a residence spanning 1592–1595.

11. Return to Madrid after pardon

    1595-03-18 · Madrid, Castile, Spain

    

    The lifting of his exile allowed Lope to return to Madrid and leave the Duke of Alba's service.

12. Marriage to Juana Guardo

    1598-04-25 · Church of Santa Cruz, Madrid, Castile, Spain

    

    Lope married Juana Guardo at the Church of Santa Cruz in Madrid. Coordinates identify the present Church of Santa Cruz site.

13. Court festivities at Dénia

    1599-02-01 · Dénia, Kingdom of Valencia, Spain

    Lope accompanied the Marquis of Sarria in the royal entourage for festivities welcoming Margaret of Austria at Dénia. The documented presence falls during festivities of 11–16 February 1599; the schema permits month precision only for this interval.

14. Residence in Seville

    1602-01-01 · Seville, Crown of Castile, Spain

    

    Lope was in Seville with Micaela Luján during a period that continued until 1604. The source establishes residence from 1602 through 1604; this card uses the starting year.

15. Stay in Granada

    1604-01-01 · Granada, Crown of Castile, Spain

    

    Lope stayed in Granada in spring, hosted by Álvaro de Guzmán. The source gives only an uncertain spring 1604 date.

16. Rented residence in Toledo

    1604-08-10 · Toledo, Crown of Castile, Spain

    

    Lope rented a Toledo house for a year and lived there with his wife, Juana Guardo. Exact house location is not identified; coordinates represent Toledo.

17. Journey to Pinto

    1610-01-01 · Pinto, Castile, Spain

    

    Lope went as far as Pinto to meet Juana Guardo as she came to Madrid. The chronology supplies the year but not a more precise date.

18. Purchase of the Calle de Francos house

    1610-09-07 · Casa Museo Lope de Vega, Madrid, Castile, Spain

    

    Lope bought the Madrid house on Calle de Francos, now Calle Cervantes 11, which remained his home until his death. The surviving building is the Casa Museo Lope de Vega, at Calle Cervantes 11.

19. Royal-progress stay in Segovia

    1613-09-23 · Segovia, Castile, Spain

    

    During the royal progress to the Duke of Lerma's festivities, Lope was a guest of the actress Jerónima de Burgos in Segovia.

20. Priestly ordination stage in Toledo

    1614-03-12 · Toledo, Crown of Castile, Spain

    

    Lope travelled to Toledo during his progression toward ordination and received the orders of epistle and gospel there. The source says he lodged at Jerónima de Burgos's house, whose exact location is not specified.

21. First Mass

    1614-05-29 · Church of Carmen Descalzo, Madrid, Castile, Spain

    

    After completing ordination, Lope celebrated his first Mass at the Church of Carmen Descalzo in Madrid. Coordinates represent the historic Carmelite church-and-convent area in central Madrid.

22. Arrival at Fuenterrabía on the French-border journey

    1615-11-07 · Fuenterrabía (Hondarribia), Gipuzkoa, Spain

    

    As chaplain to the Duke of Sessa, Lope travelled with the royal escort to the French frontier for the exchange of the Spanish and French princesses. Fuenterrabía is the historical Spanish name for present-day Hondarribia.

23. Journey to Valencia

    1616-06-01 · Valencia, Kingdom of Valencia, Spain

    

    Lope left for Valencia in June, seeking the actress Lucía Salcedo, and became seriously ill during the journey. The source supports a June departure for Valencia but does not give an arrival date.

24. Death in Madrid

    1635-08-27 · Madrid, Castile, Spain

    

    Lope de Vega died in Madrid after the final illness of his last days.