FERNANDO DE HERRERA: BIOGRAPHY, CHARACTERISTICS AND WORKS - LITERATURE - 2025

Fernando de Herrera (1534-1597) was a renowned Spanish writer and poet who belonged to the era of greatest flourishing of literature and the arts in Spain. His work was part of the 16th century, the so-called Spanish Golden Age, and derived from the influence of Francesco Petrarca, as well as from the studies of the writings of Garcilaso de la Vega.

Herrera's writings go through prose and poetry, that makes diversity part of his works. The life of this writer was submerged in the total vocation to intellectual work, which made him stay away from the social and political life of his time; that is to say, not to take part in events.

Fernando de Herrera. Source: Francisco Pacheco, via Wikimedia Commons

With the nickname "The Divine" he was known at first in his native land, later posterity appropriated it and recognized him in the same way. Herrera loved freedom, he was strict in following the rules and customs, and he was not a friend of doing favors. He always chose solitude and absolute silence.

Biography

The Spanish writer, poet and historian Fernando de Herrera was born in Seville in 1534. Like many other characters, little is known about his life. However, it is said that he was born into a low-income family. They claim that his father worked as a candlestick salesman.

Academic training

The humble origin of the writer did not prevent him from training academically. The first beginnings towards a life of learning were given under the tutelage of Pedro Fernández de Castilleja, a teacher in music, Latin and Greek grammar. They say that he did not obtain a degree from this training.

In the years to come he made friends with the Spanish playwright, humanist, and poet Juan de Mal Lara. This relationship allowed him to train in some schools in Seville.

The education received by the poet was one of the best. He obtained extensive knowledge in the field of humanities, also learned different languages ​​corresponding to the time.

A step through the church

In his younger years he entered religious studies; however, this did not mean that he was ordained as a priest. On the part of the church of San Andrés he received the minor orders, which referred to being a servant of the headquarters. Because of this, he obtained monetary benefits that helped him to train in his studies.

Other aspects of your life

Although Fernando de Herrera had few friends, he made the exception and established links with the second Count of Gelves, Álvaro de Portugal, and, of course, with his wife Leonor Fernández de Córdoba and Milan de Aragón. Leonor was the inspiration in many of her poems.

In relation to Leonor de Córdoba, Fernando was in love with her. There is no evidence of a romance, but what is certain is that after the countess died, the poet wrote no more about love. She esteemed him, and in addition to being his protector with her husband, she left him part of her will.

Cathedral of Sevilla. Source: By Ingo Mehling, from Wikimedia Commons

On the other hand, the characteristics of Fernando's personality aroused the rejection and reaction of many colleagues. Such is the case of the Spanish soldier and writer Juan Rufo, who described him as surly and conceited.

Life as a writer

Mostly in solitude, Fernando de Herrera began to write some essays and poems with Renaissance heroic characteristics, many of them lost. Later he dedicated himself to writing some observations on the poetic works of Garcilaso de La Vega (1580).

The “Herreriana” work, as Fernando's works are known, was described in two parts (due to their interest and importance): The Poetic Songbook and The Annotations to Garcilaso's works.

The first stood out in poetry, while the second developed more humanistic aspects. Both manuscripts marked a before and after in Spanish literature.

In the year 1572, while in Seville, he published Relationship of the Cyprus War and the Event of the Naval Battle of Lepanto. The author was very picky, so much so that he corrected errors in printed books by hand, because he did not like the typography.

Death

Before his death, he published his last work: a compendium of the life of the Spanish thinker and theologian Tomás Moro in 1591. Fernando de Herrera died in his hometown in 1597. His life was recognized for the transcendence of his literary works.

Characteristics of his work

A perfect work

Fernando de Herrera's work was characterized by being perfect. The same author was in charge of meticulously correcting the poetic lines and spelling. His cult qualities and his intellect were reflected in his writings. This made him the predecessor of the current known as “culteranismo”.

Excessive use of metaphors and good speech

It can be said that the works of this writer were full of numerous metaphors. This made his work a bit difficult for most readers to understand. In addition to this, Fernando had a great capacity for speech, this quality was closely linked to the way of being of the poet.

Rescue and innovation of the lexicon

Fernando sought through his works to recover the words that had disappeared as a result of the daily use of archaisms, as well as the words that should already have been innovated due to the loss of meaning. Herrera brought Spanish closer to Latin.

The fact that he innovated with new words was not synonymous with the fact that he took old phrases out of his poetry, but that he also used them as a way to give literary notoriety to the verses. The words he used the most were: ardor, frizzy, stiff, read and proud.

Mythology and religion

Something that stands out when his work is studied is the gradual transformation that occurs when he moves from mythological aspects to those related to Christianity. On the other hand, Herrera had the tendency to write poems of a heroic nature, as well as praise to particular people or situations.

Fernando de Herrera's writing was impeccable and elegant. He was always concerned with bringing the reader quality and content within the meticulous care of the works. De Herrera contributed new elements and polished those that already existed to enrich each manuscript that came into his hands or that was born from them.

Plays

Many of Fernando de Herrera's works have not been found or have disappeared. Among these we can mention: The Theft of Proserpina, Amadís, Tragic Poem, Poetic Art; among other. Many of them he wrote during his youth.

It can be said that his poetic work sought, through the use of beauty as an element, that the reader was moved by passion and desire. Fernando knew that poetry was emotion and feeling, but it should also have and produce pleasure through aesthetics and perfect elaboration.

Poetic Songbook

This work was based on love, inspired at that time by the aforementioned Countess Eleanor of Milan. The author made it clear that he wanted to reach the love of the lady through writings, by the representative mention of her in the poems by means of the "light", a "star" or a "star".

The songbook suggested three stages of Fernando's love for the married woman. The first was an altered song that expresses his passionate need for the woman he loved. Second, the idea that the poet had of being reciprocated in his feelings. And finally, the disappointment and disappointment of the lover.

Fragment:

"Gift and my love, whom I love the most, if we both died together, little pain had, well absent

I would not be of you, as I hope.

Annotations to Garcilaso

The author carried out this work in Seville in 1580, under the name of Obras de Garci Lasso de la Vega with annotations by Fernando de Herrera. It consisted mainly in mentioning the different linguistic elements that Garcilaso used in his work.

In the same way, Herrera undertook the task of explaining his ideas and theories about poetry, using some strategies of rigorous depth. This intrepidity caused him to be criticized and pointed out by those who supported the work of Garcilaso de la Vega, especially Prete Jacopín, an admirer of Garcilaso.

Relationship of the Cyprus War and the Event of the Naval Battle of Lepanto

It is a work dedicated to Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, known as El Bueno, who was the Duke of Medinasidonia. The manuscript was written in Seville in 1572.

It is a description of what was then the island of Cyprus and the objectives that the Turks had on it. The writer also made a relationship with the famous battle of Lepanto in 1571.

Other works

The above are perhaps the most outstanding works of this Spanish writer and poet, who always sought to be recognized for the wonderful dedication and neatness with which he wrote each of his works. However, mention can be made of other of his works such as:

Some Works of Fernando de Herrera, who wrote when he was running the year 1582; Lausino and Corona loves; as well as: I am going through this Lonely Earth, which in a certain way reflected the state of mind of its author. The following is a verse from the latter:

"The way to hope is closed to me, from an arduous summit to a hill I go climbing, with the eyes returning to the section

place, only beginning of my war ”.

References

1. Fernando de Herrera. (2004-2018). (N / a): Biographies and Lives: The Online Biographical Encyclopedia. Recovered from: biogramasyvidas.com
2. Fernando de Herrera. (2018). (Spain): Wikipedia. Recovered from: wikipedia.org
3. López, B. and Montero, J. (S. f.). Life and work of Fernando de Herrera. (Spain): Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library. Recovered from: cervantesvirtual.com
4. From Herrera, Fernando. (2018). (N / a): Writers. Recovered from: writers.org
5. Fernando de Herrera. (S. f.). (Spain): Spain is Culture. Recovered from: españaescultura.es