Diego Duque de Estrada (August 15, 1589, in Toledo, Spain1647) was a Spanish memoir writer, soldier and adventurer.
Biography
He was the son of Juan Duque de Estrada, also a soldier of rank. He was orphaned at a very young age and educated by a cousin. He was betrothed to his cousin's daughter while still young (a minor). One night, he found an intruder in the house, a gentleman with whom he was acquainted, and in a fit of jealousy, killed both him and the young lady. The prevailing code of honor was considered a sufficient justification for Estrada's violence, but the law looked upon the act as a vulgar assassination, and he had to flee.
After leading a vagabond life in the south of Spain, he was arrested at Ecija, brought to Toledo, and tortured with extreme ferocity to extort a general confession as to his life during the past months. He had the strength not to yield to pain and was finally able to escape from prison, partly by the help of a nun in a religious house which faced the prison and partly by the intervention of friends. He went to Naples, where he entered the service of the Duke of Osuna, who was, at that time, viceroy.