What remains of Miguel de Cervantes

Miguel de Cervantes witnessed, in his lifetime, the climax and the decline of Spain’s Golden Era; imbued with heroic exploits. Born into a destitute family; the 4^th son in a strong family of 7 children.

His father, Rodrigo, worked as a surgeon, yet, despite the necessity of surgeons, the salary was underprivileged and had little to offer his family.
I am not aware of Miguel de Cervantes early life but, given the circumstances in which he and his family lived, it would have been highly doubtful he received a formal education. In 1569, aged 20, Miguel moved to Rome, Italy.

He served as a respectable valet to a wealthy priest for a while.
It wasn’t long after when he, and his brother Rodrigo, signed up to the Spanish Navy Infantry Regiment and both were involved in the battle of Lepanot, where, eventually the Spanish gained dominance of sea-power against the Turks.  
His compassion and leadership didn’t go unnoticed when he placed himself into a direct firing line in order to subtract the enemy. However, in doing so he received two shots in his chest and a wound that destroyed the use of his left hand. Given the circumstances in which his hand was wounded, it become somewhat heroic signature and many a people applauded his bravery.
Even Don Juan, the Austrian half-brother of Phillip who commanded the Spanish Forces, congratulated his being with a document of recommendation. After a long period of recovery Miguel re-joined the army in which he participated in the famous battle of La Goleta.
He also served in Tunis, Sardinia, Naples, Sicily and Geona-in which he learned a lot about the Italian culture. 

Miguel and Rodrigo was returning to Spain when their ship was captured by Moorish Pirates and both brothers were to be sold as slaves in Algiers. The Moorish Pirates believed Miguel important, given the letters of recommendations he always carried.
Miguel, famously, devised many plans in escaping, not only for his own freedom, but for the numerous of slaves held captive. Unfortunately he kept failing and was caught, declaring himself the only culprit in escaping-knowing full well of the punishment reserved for escapees.
Hassan Pacha, one of the bloodthirsty Algiers, was impressed with the boldness and bravery of the maimed Spaniard and always spared him.
Rodrigo was released before Miguel due to a ransom that was paid when demanded.
Miguel, after five years, was also released after his ransom was paid sometime after.

Miguel returned to Spain in 1580, with no job to go home to.
Don Juan, who was hated by the King, had died during Miguel’s captive years so Miguel could not rely on any promotion through the Kings recommendations.
Miguel was desperate for money, and out of desperation, he started writing for the theatre. (He, reportedly, had written up to forty plays but only a few have survived). 
During his writing days Miguel had an affair with a beautiful Portuguese girl who eventually abandoned him and their daughter Isabel de Saavedra. At the age of forty, and still unsuccessful in his writing career, Miguel married the daughter of a well-to-do Farmer, Catalina Salaza y Vozmediano, although it never lasted long.

He was in his poorest of moments; having to support himself, his wife, Isabel, his mother and two sisters and his widowed mother-in-law. He applied for many a jobs and was eventually given a job. Only Miguel found bookkeeping complicated and was “twice imprisoned” for owing money to the treasury from a shortage in his accounts.”

Many people believe it was in Seville’s prison where he began to write Don Quixote.
Don Quixote is an adventurous book that narrates the life of Don Quixote, an older man obsessed with bravery and believes himself a knight.
Bad spells of misfortune didn’t end even out of prison, yet despite this he finally completed his book in 1604.
It was an immediate bestseller but money remained tight, as he received no further payment other than the money originally paid by his publisher.
During the ages 57 and 69 Miguel published his Exemplary Novels, twelve stories of Spain; which were based on perceptive accounts of the local Spanish life of that time in his life.

Death was slowly catching up to Cervantes.

He wrote, from his deathbed:

“With one foot already in the stirrup and with the agony of death upon me, great lord, I write to you.”

And…

“…perhaps the time may come when I mend again this broken threat and say what worlds fail me here and what needed to be said. Farewell waggish jokes, farewell wittiness; farewell, merry friends, for I am dying and longing to see you, happy in the life to come.”

Cervantes died in Madrid the 22^nd April 1616 and buried on the 23^rd April 1616.

The latter is used to celebrate his and that of William Shakespeare.
“Shakespeare and Cervantes died on different days: Shakespeare on 23^rd April 1616 of the Julian calendar that was used in England and Cervantes 23^rd April 1616 of the Gregorian calendar that was used in Spain. Since the Gregorian calendar was ten days ahead of the Julian, Cervantes actually died ten days earlier than Shakespeare, whose date of death according to the Gregorian calendar was 3^rd May 1616.”

Here is what I reported a few months ago:

Miguel de Cervantes, the first known Spanish novelist, was reportedly buried in the Convent of the Barefoot Trinitarians-a nunnery in Madrid’s historic Barrio de Las Letras. Isabel was part of the convent and that was why he chose to be buried there prior his death. Not long after his death the nuns moved to another convent and carried their dead with them. Nobody knows for certain if Cervantes remains were included. The convent of the Barefoot…was reconstructed in 1673, making it even harder to target to precise location of his grave. Since then it has been a mystery.

This time last year forensic experts spent nine months locating five possible locations for his grave, using a geo-radar system inside the convent’s walls. The aim was to complete the investigation, with a reliable source, by 2016-when organised events will celebrate the anniversary of the legendary Miguel and playwright W. Shakespeare. Miguel’s novel: The adventures of the Ingenious Gentlemen Don Quixote of La Mancha changed Spanish Literature.

On Saturday 24^th January 2015, forensic experts discovered a coffin underneath the convents floor; previously covered in bookcases and crates left behind by the publishing company which had rented the building. To their surprise the coffin was marked with initials M.C. which sent positive vibes around the world.

With deformed hands, crippling arthritis and severe bruising to his chest from a shot he sustained in the Battle of Leptanto, it goes to show he wasn’t the most healthiest nor wealthiest of character.

The forensic team were hoping to provide evidence that would determine how he died. Did he died from being a heavy drinker or, from a reported case of cirrhosis?

There are no photographs of Cervantes, only a painting that was painted two decades after his death by the artist, Juan de Jauregui. Once the examination is complete it could potentially allow us an insight to what he may have looked like.  

The search for Cervantes burial place had a budget of fifty Euros. In previous years the financial backing, provided by the Spanish government, for exhuming and identifying the tens of thousands of unidentified victims in mass burials from the Civil War, has been very limited.

There are as many as 130,000 victims of General Franco’s death squads remaining in unmarked graves across Spain. A few regional authorities, such as Andalusia, have provided financial backing for investigations.

However, since 2011 the National funding for such projects has dried up.

…………………………………………

May 2015:

A year ago a forensic team mapped more than 30 burial cavities in the walls and nearly 5 metres beneath the floor of the church, for the search of Miguel de Cervantes remains. The wooden and cloth found in these cavities were dated to the 17^th century. Although it was encouraging to the team it was far from what they wanted to find. The only encouragement they got was the coffin they found with M.C. encrypted into the nail heads, along with a jumble of skeletal remains. The remains caused much confusion without being able to identify anyone specifically; amongst the remains were the bones of children. DNA isn’t much use to the forensic team as they do not know any descendants of Cervantes. Many coincidences cannot guarantee.

The convent of the Barefoot Trinitarians is still home to many Nuns. 30 researchers have searched the grounds with infrared camera, 3-D scanners and ground penetrating radar. Tourists from around the world gather to his so called birthplace, a house in Alcala de Henares, near Madrid, despite the obvious fact that the house was built in the 1950’s. The authorities within Madrid, worry the continuous search for the remains of the Spanish Writer, will, in fact, reduce the enhanced writer’s aura. We cannot deny a good mystery grips ones interest more than inconclusive reports. Too many mysteries can also have the opposite effect where theories can be too overpowering and become somewhat repetitive and boring.  The only thing that is guaranteed is the love of relics and the uprising market value.

On the 17^th March 2015 The Mail Online reported: “Remains discovered in Madrid chapel ARE those of Don Quixote author Cervantes: Archaeologists solve mystery of writer’s resting place after bones vanished in 1673.” And, given the status of such a famous writer, it would have caught much attention around the world. Yet, despite the gripping headline, further into article they state: “Researchers admitted that they had not managed to identify the exact bones, but were convinced they had found something of Cervantes.”

It is fair to say it was such a disappointment to realise you have been conned.

Madrid officials hoped the findings of Cervantes bones would benefit their culture like the bones of Shakespeare did for Stratford upon Avon. And in order to get the media attention they needed The Madrid City Council owned up to outrageous and far from the truth headline. The desire of tourism doesn’t justify bending the truth. Madrid has a lot to offer and doesn’t nor shouldn’t need to spin the truth in order to gain tourism.

Overall:

I don’t believe they will ever find conclusive evidence. And, in some way I hope we don’t. His remains should be kept where they are.