Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)/Calderon de la Barca, Pedro

CALDERON DE LA BARCA, PEDRO (dā lä bär'kä), a Spanish dramatist; born in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 17, 1600; educated in the Jesuits' College, Madrid, and at Salamanca. Before his 14th year he had written his third play. Leaving Salamanca in 1625, he entered the army and served with distinction for 10 years in Milan and the Netherlands. In 1636 he was recalled by Philip IV., who gave him the direction of the court entertainments. The next year he was made knight of the order of Santiago, and served in 1640 in the campaign in Catalonia. In 1651 he entered the clerical profession, and in 1653 obtained a chaplain's office in the archiepiscopal church at Toledo. But as this situation removed him too far from court, he received, in 1663, another at the king's court chapel; and at the same time a pension was assigned him from the Sicilian revenue. His fame greatly increased his income, as he was solicited by the principal cities of Spain to compose their "Sacremental Acts." for which he was liberally paid, and on which he specially prided himself. Besides heroic comedies and historical plays, some of which merit the name of tragedies, Calderon left 95 sacramental acts, 200 preludes, and 100 farces. He wrote his last play in the 80th year of his age. His smaller poems are now forgotten, but his plays have maintained their place on the stage even more than those of Lope de Vega. Their number amounts to 127. He wrote, however, many more, some of which were never published. He died in Madrid, May 25, 1681.