13 Facts About Florbela Espanca

Florbela Espanca is known for her passionate and feminist poetry.

Since her parents weren't married, when Florbela Espanca was baptized on 20 June 1895, she was christened as Flor Bela Lobo, the daughter of Antonia Lobo and an unknown father.

Florbela Espanca's full brother, Apeles Florbela Espanca, was born in 1897 and was baptized as the child of an unknown father.

In 1903, Florbela Espanca wrote her earliest known poem, "A Vida e a Morte", when she was 8 years old.

In 1913, Florbela Espanca failed a final examination and dropped out of school, and on her 19th birthday, she married Alberto Moutinho, a longtime friend and classmate.

Florbela Espanca taught French, English, geography, and history and Moutinho taught science.

In 1916, Florbela Espanca re-enrolled in secondary school at the Liceu de Evora.

Six months later, Florbela Espanca had a miscarriage and took a temporary break from university in order to recover in the southern region of Algarve, away from the capital city of Lisbon.

Florbela Espanca had another miscarriage in 1919 and around the same time, Espanca began to show the first serious symptoms of mental illness.

Florbela Espanca had another miscarriage in 1923 and Guimaraes filed for divorce a few months later.

Florbela Espanca's brother died in an airplane accident, which deeply affected her.

Florbela Espanca's death inspired the writing of As Mascaras do Destino.

Florbela Espanca died by suicide on 8 December 1930, her 36th birthday, from an overdose of barbiturates.