|
|
|
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
| (2008) | ||||||||||
| Dante
Alighieri (1265–1321) Other names: Durante Biographical A prior of the Signoria of Florence, 1300 (representing the San Piero Maggiore district) Poet, prose writer, literary theorist, moral philosopher, and political thinker—Dante Alighieri remains one of the towering figures of medieval literature, though little is known about his early life. At the age of nine, he first encountered Beatrice Portinari, who would later marry Simone de' Bardi. In 1283, inspired by his deep admiration for Beatrice, Dante began composing the noble lyrics that would form Vita Nuova. Beatrice's death in 1290 triggered a period of profound grief, during which Dante is thought to have led a more dissolute life. He later served in the military and, as a cavalryman aligned with the Guelph party, fought against the Ghibellines. Following his marriage in 1298, Dante became actively involved in Florentine politics. By 1295, he was a member of the guild of physicians and apothecaries, which enabled his participation in public affairs. In 1300, he was appointed one of the priors of Florence and took part in an embassy to San Gimignano, aimed at bolstering an alliance among Tuscan cities against Papal influence. However, in 1301, political tides turned. Dante's party was ousted by the nobles, and in 1302, the new regime—backed by the Pope, the French, and the Black Guelphs—condemned him to death in absentia. Instead, he was exiled. Between 1302 and 1310, Dante wandered across Italy, spending extended periods in cities such as Verona. During this time, he began major works, including Convivio (The Banquet) and De Vulgari Eloquentia. A renewed sentence of banishment in 1311 sealed his estrangement from Florence. His later years were more stable, thanks to the patronage of Cangrande della Scala in Verona and Guido da Polenta in Ravenna. It was during this time that he composed his magnum opus, the Divina Comedia, while continuing to produce other significant works. Beyond epic poetry, Dante also distinguished himself as a lyric poet, evident in his Canzoniere and the lyrical sections of Vita Nuova. Place of birth: Florence Place of death: Ravenna Place of burial: Ravenna Son of Alighiero di Bellincione and Bella N. He married Gemma Donati in 1291, and had issue. |
||||||||||
| |
||||||||||
  |
||||||||||
| |
||||||||||
 |
||||||||||
