How many plays did Lope de Vega claim to have written?

Lope de Vega’s claims regarding his own productivity increased significantly throughout his life. While his first biographer, Juan Pérez de Montalván, attributed 1,800 plays to him, the dramatist himself cited a figure of 230 plays in 1603, which rose to 1,500 by 1632.1

It is important to note that these figures are often considered exaggerated by scholars. While historical reports suggest he may have authored as many as 1,800 plays, only 426 of his play texts are extant today.21