How many times did Miguel de Cervantes attempt to escape from slavery in Algiers?

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Engraving of Miguel de Cervantes, shown with a mustache and beard, wearing a ruffled collar and cloak, based on works by Gregorio Ferro and Fernando Selma. — Miguel de Cervantes Miguel de Cervantes, engraving by E. Mackenzie after Gregorio Ferro and Fernando Selma; from *The Imperial Dictionary of Universal Biography* (1863).

Miguel de Cervantes made four daring attempts to escape from slavery while he was held captive in Algiers.1

Although these escape bids were frustrated, his captors treated him with relative leniency, likely because the letters of commendation he carried led them to believe he was a person of high importance, which increased his ransom value. He remained in captivity for five years until his family and the Trinitarian friars successfully raised the 500 gold escudos required for his release in 1580.1