Dante

Dante Alighieri
1265-1321
Poet
Philosopher
Italy: Florence

Dante Alighieri, known simply as "Dante," is often considered the finest poet of the Middle Ages and is best known for his epic La divina commedia ("The Divine Comedy&quot . He was also a philosopher and political thinker. He wrote most of his poetry in the Italian vernacular instead of Latin, a choice that would influence the entire course of western literary development.

Dante is well known for idolizing Beatrice, a woman who is usually identified as Beatrice Pornari. Dante met her when they were children, and she died when he was only 25, before his first major work (La vita nuova) was written. Dante's dedication to and adoration of Beatrice in his poetry made her one of the most celebrated figures in western literature.

Deeply involved in the politics of his beloved Florence, Dante fought as a cavalryman as a young man and entered public office in his thirties. The city was in turmoil in the late 13th century, and his alliance with the White Guelfs led to opposition with the Pope, whom he went to visit on a diplomatic mission. While he was detained in Rome by the papal authorities, the rival Black Guelfs returned to Florence and terrorized the city. In January of 1302 he was called to appear before their new government and, failing to do so, was condemned for crimes he had not committed. Failing to appear once more in March of that year, Dante was condemned to be burned to death should he ever return to Florence.

This experience had a profound effect on Dante's Divine Comedy, which he wrote in exile in various Italian cities. In 1316 he was invited to return to Florence, but the terms were those used for pardoned criminals, and he refused. Dante spent the rest of his life in exile, and died and is buried in Ravenna.

more at link:
http://historymedren.about.com/library/who/blwwdante.htm

and from Wiki
Durante degli Alighieri, simply referred to as Dante (UK pron.: /ˈdænti/, US /ˈdɑːnteɪ/; Italian: [ˈdante]; c. 1265–1321), was a major Italian poet of the Middle Ages. His Divine Comedy, originally called Commedia and later called Divina by Boccaccio, is widely considered the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of world literature.[1]

In Italy he is known as il Sommo Poeta ("the Supreme Poet&quot or just il Poeta. He, Petrarch and Boccaccio are also known as "the three fountains" or "the three crowns". Dante is also called the "Father of the Italian language".

more at link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dante_Alighieri

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