Alonso de Ercilla, Spanish soldier and poet (died 1595)

Alonso de Ercilla

Spanish soldier and poet (1533–1594)

Alonso de Ercilla y Zúñiga was a Spanish soldier and poet, born in Madrid. While in Chile (1556–63) he fought against the Araucanians (Mapuche), and there he began the epic poem La Araucana, considered one of the greatest epics of the Spanish Golden Age. This heroic work in 37…