Fernando de Herrera

Fernando de Herrera, called el divino - "the divine" (* 1534 in Seville, † 1597 in Seville), was one of the most important Spanish poet, of whose life not much is known.

He probably came from Seville and was a member of the clergy. Of his poetry, of which he published only a small number ( Seville 1582), the majority have been lost since the full manuscript burst into flames shortly after the poet's death. The leftover was his friend, the painter Francisco Pacheco, under the title Versos out (Sevilla 1619). With several hitherto unpublished increasingly, they are the 4th and 5th volume of the collection of the poet Don Ramón Fernández 'Madrid 1786, new edition 1808. Too are in the Biblioteca de autores 32 band españoles (ibid. 1854).

They consist of sonnets, elegies, odes, and are among the most beautiful productions of Spanish poetry. Special mention deserve the ode on the victory after the Battle of Lepanto, and another on the demise of King Sebastian I of Portugal in the battle of Alcácer - Quibir.

Besides his poems are from Herrera two historical writings handed down:

• Relacion de la guerra di Chipre y sucesos de la batalla naval de Lepanto ( Seville 1572)
• Vida y muerte de Tomas Moro, chanciller de Inglaterra (ibid. 1592)

He has also published an excellent edition of the poems of the Spanish commander and poet Garcilaso de la Vega:

• Anotaciones a las obras de Garcilaso ( 1580)