Dante, still a classic after 700 years
A pop star in the Middle Ages, Dante Alighieri died 700 years ago. His epic poem, "Divine Comedy," remains one of the world's greatest literary works.
Native of Florence
The exact date of his birth is unknown, but presumably Italy's great medieval poet was born sometime in May or June 1265. His birthplace, however, is undisputed — Florence. He was christened Durante, but was soon called by the short form, Dante. His parents belonged to the lower nobility; his father worked as a moneylender.
A wife, and a muse
The poet married Gemma Donati in about 1285, a woman from an influential family. The couple had four children. But Dante's heart belonged to Beatrice (Bice) Portinari, who married someone else. Dante never got over it, and immortalized her in his works. Beatrice appears in the last part of the "Divine Comedy" and in "Vita Nuova" ("The New Life").
Political involvement
Dante was not only a poet and scholar, he was also active in politics. At the time, supporters of the emperor, as the secular authority, and the papacy, as the religious authority, faced off in a power struggle. Dante sided with the supremacy of the Pope.
Life in exile
The two factions fought bitterly, and Dante got caught in the middle. In about 1302, he was expelled from Florence overnight with no prospect of pardon or return, and his property was confiscated. Dante was to live in exile for the rest of his life, never to return to his native Florence.
Treatises, and a long poem
He was inspired by philosophy, theology and other sciences. He wrote "De Monarchia," "Convivio" and "Vita Nuova " — but the work that was to give him pop star status in his lifetime, a work unforgettable to this day, is undoubtedly the "Divine Comedy."
Dante's heaven and hell
Dante, shown above in a 1465 illustration by Domenico di Michelino, wrote his main work in exile and completed it shortly before his death. The poet takes readers on a journey through hell, purgatory and paradise. He wrote in his native language, elevating Italian to the status of a literary language.
The journey
Dante, who immortalized himself as a hero in his epic poem, starts out on a journey with the ancient Roman poet Vergil. He meets individuals from mythology and history who, depending on their sins, suffer torment directly in hell or are allowed to hover on one of the outer circles of hell. He meets other people in paradise — including his beloved Beatrice.
Death in Ravenna
Dante died on September 14, 1321 in Ravenna. The city of Florence tried repeatedly to have his remains moved to his native city, but to no avail. In the 19th century, the city erected a monumental cenotaph, a tomb of honor, for Italy's popular poet.