Fidel Castro Fast Facts

Birth place: Biran, Cuba

Birth name: Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz

Father: Angel Castro, a wealthy Spanish landowner.

Mother: Lina Ruz, a cook and maid to Angel Castro’s first wife.

Marriage: Mirta Diaz-Balart (October 12, 1948-1955, divorced)

Children: with Natalia Revuelta: Alina Fernandez Revuelta; with unknown mistress: Jorge Angel Castro; with mistress Dalia Soto del Valle: Antonio, Alejandro, Angel, Alexis, Alex; with Mirta Castro: Fidelito

Education: Colegio Dolores in Santiago de Cuba, 1942; Colegio Belen in Havana, 1945; University of Havana, doctorate in 1950.

February 19, 2008 – Due to ailing health, Castro announces his resignation as president in a letter published in the middle of the night in the online version of Cuba’s state-run newspaper, Granma.

December 4, 2008 – In an essay, writes that Cuba would be willing to talk with President Barack Obama’s administration.

March 22, 2011 – In an essay published in Cuban state media, Fidel Castro writes that he resigned as head of the Communist party when he fell ill on July 31, 2006, and never tried to resume his position.

February 3, 2012 – Fidel Castro releases a two volume memoir of his life, “Fidel Castro Ruz: Guerrilla of Time,” based on conversations with the journalist Katiuska Blanco.

October 22, 2012 – The Cuban government steps up efforts to prove Castro is still in good health. Former Venezuelan Vice President Elias Jaua claims to have met with Castro and shows reporters a photo of the two of them together. The state-run media also publishes an article under Castro’s name where he denounces the rumors.

January 26, 2015 – A published letter purportedly written by Castro endorses the fledgling talks to restore diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States even though Castro still “doesn’t trust” U.S. policies.

CNN