Luis de Ulloa y Pereira was born in the town of
Toro in the region of Castille, Spain. His father had held the position of attorney and member of the town Council. Luis was able to study in
Valladolid, where his uncle lived, but did not attend university. He craved for a role in the Madrid court, but soon returned to his family home in Toro, with funds scarce and a habit of gambling. He widowed twice and married three times. Through the intervention of don Ramiro Núñez de Felípez de Guzmán, Duke of Medina de las Torres and son in law of the
Conde Duque de Olivares, Luis did get an appointment as magistrate for
León (1625–1631) and
Logroño (1633–1637). In the latter town, he published his best-known work:
La Raquel. This poem is based on a story that claims
King Alfonso VIII had an ill-fated relationship with a Jewish paramour
Rahel la Fermosa. In 1643, the Conde Duque of Olivares, met with Luis on a visit to Toro; the poet is said to have been wounded in a duel defending the Count Duke. Luis was able to travel to Madrid and meet various luminaries and writers, including
Luis de Góngora, As well as receive them in visits to Toro. His poetry shared in style with Góngora's
culteranismo, but was often more clear and direct: He was also a writer of non-fiction reflections on daily life an
Epístola a un caballero amigo, que vivía en Sevilla, where he praises the life at court in Madrid. In his
Memorias familiares y literarias and
Relaciones he recounts apparently veiled autobiographical observations. He also wrote plays such as
La mujer contra el consejo,
No muda el amor semblante,
Porcia y Tancredo, and
Pico y Canente. == Works ==