Top 10 Amazing Facts about Dante Alighieri

Posthumous portrait of Dante Alighieri – by Sandro Botticelli – Wikipedia

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri was a former Italian writer, philosopher, and poet. He was born in 1265 (date unknown) in Florence, Republic of Florence. He died at 56 years of age on 14th September 1321 in Ravenna, Papal States.

There are records showing he was baptized Durante di Alighiero degli Alighieri. However, he is referred to simply as Dante.

Born in an era when arts and culture weren’t appreciated or revered, Dante can be considered a trendsetter. He is considered the greatest poet in history, having produced a masterpiece in the medieval period titled; Divine Comedy.

Below are some interesting facts about the ‘Supreme Poet’, Dante Alighieri.

1. He Established the Use of Vernacular in Literature

Before Dante’s works, most poems and other forms of literature were written in Latin. This, therefore, meant that they were only accessible to only the most educated readers in society.

De Vulgari Eloquentia, one of his early works, was one of the first scholarly defenses of the vernacular to exist. He then proceeded to use Florentine dialect (vernacular) In some of his works. Most notably ‘The New Life’ and ‘Divine Comedy.’

This greatly influenced the use of vernacular in literature and established the modern-day standardized Italian language. Famous Italian writers such as Boccaccio and Petrarch followed suit.

2. Played A Major Role in Establishing Italian Literature

Among many other names, Alighieri is referred to as the ‘father’ of the Italian language. He influenced generations of writers that would follow him giving rise to Italian literature.

His depictions of Heaven, hell, and Purgatory inspired the large body of western literature that is Western art. Many writers cite him as their influence and source of inspiration.

This includes; John Milton and Alfred Tennyson, among many others.

3. He Was a Politician

Italian Dante Alighieri – By Anonymous (Italy) Author – Wikimedia Commons

Dante, like many others in that era, was involved in the Guelph–Ghibelline conflict. He served in the Florentine army and fought in the Battle of Campaldino in June 1289.

He also had political ambitions which he pursued after his service in the army. However, as per the law at the time, nobles (politicians and other leaders) had to be enrolled in one of the Corporazioni delle Arti e dei Mestieri.

Therefore, Dante obliged and he became a pharmacist, enrolling in the Apothecaries Guild. He however did not practice as a pharmacist but worked in the apothecaries’ shops where books were sold. As a politician, he served in various offices but did not accomplish much.

4. His Best Friend Was Cavalcanti

At 18 years of age, Dante met Cino da Pistoia, Lapo Gianni, Guido Cavalcanti, and Brunetto Latini. The five of them became close friends.

The latter became leaders of the dolce Stil Novo. Italian for ‘sweet new style,’ the dolce Stil Novo was the Italian literary movement of the 13th and 14th centuries. In the Devine Comedy, Dante gave Brunetto a special mention to Brunetto for what he had taught him over the years.

Guido Cavalcanti, a poet like Alighieri, was his best friend. The two were inseparable from the day they met. So much so that reports claim Dante fell into Depression when Cavalcanti passed away.

5. He Was Exiled from Florence

When the Ghibellines were defeated, the Guelphs were divided into two factions, the white and the black Guelphs. Dante joined the White Guelphs which was in power at the time and against the Pope’s rule.

Under Pope Boniface VIII’s rule, a military occupation of Florence was carried out successfully. Several members of the White Guelph including Dante and the Gherardini family were imprisoned, fined, and later exiled.

Dante was charged with corruption while in political office and fined. He failed to pay the fines for reasons unknown to date. Probably he claimed he was innocent or his assets were confiscated.

Therefore, Dante’s exile was perpetual. This meant that if he returned to Florence without clearing the fine, he would be burnt at the stake.

6. The Love of His Life Was Beatrice

Dante and Beatrice in Paradise – By Poul Simon Christiansen – Wikimedia Commons

Dante only ever interacted with Beatrice twice in his entire life, at age 9 and later at age 18. However, these two interactions were enough for him to fall in love with her. However, their love was not meant to be since they never got together.

At 25, he wrote Vita Nuova (The New Life), the first of his three main works. Here, Dante describes his first sight and interaction with Beatrice. He claims that her beauty inspired his devotion as well as his best work.

Scholars and historians believe that the Beatrice in question is Beatrice Portinari who was married to Simone de Bardi. In 1290, he mourned her death. Later he married Gemma Donati.

7. He Wrote the Divine Comedy While in Exile

After his exile from Florence, Dante traveled all over Italy and some parts of Europe. He lived in Verona, Sarzana, and even Lucca.

In Lucca, he lived with a woman by the name of Gentucca who made his stay rather comfortable. He did mention her in Pugatorio, thanking her for her welcome and accommodation.

It was during this exile, that Dante conceived the Divine Comedy. The dates are uncertain, however. This project was bigger and better than all his previous works. It was much more assured and larger or better in every positive way.

8. Died in Ravenna

Dante’s tomb interior in Ravenna, built in 1780 – By Petar Milošević – Wikipedia

On 14th September 1321, Dante passed away in the City of Ravenna. The cause of his death was quartan malaria which he allegedly contracted in Venice while on a diplomatic mission.

Dante was buried at the Church of San Pier Maggiore in Ravenna. Today, the church is known as the Basilica di San Francesco. In 1483, a tomb was erected for Dante by Bernardo Bembo.

9. Dante Wrote the Divine Comedy for Over a Decade

1555 Edition of the Divina Commedia, first one with the adjective “divina” in the title – By Fivedit – Wikimedia Commons

Originally, it was simply titled Comedia. Divinia was added later on by Giovanni Boccaccio due to its subject matter of lofty style.

The book was released in 1320 but it is unknown exactly when Dante began working on the poem. However, from Francesco da Barberino’s Documenti d’Amore (Lessons of Love), Historians deduced it was probably around 1308.

Francesco claims in his writing that Dante followed the Aneid in a poem called Comedy stating that the setting was ‘hell’. This is sufficient evidence that at the time of writing (before 1314), Francesco had read or seen Inferno. Or at least part of it.

10. He Continues to Be Honored in Modern Italy

In 2007, forensic engineers and artists reconstructed Dante’s face. This project was undertaken by artists from Pisa University and forensic engineers from the University of Bologna. The output from the project was somewhat different from other renditions.

In 2008, an official apology was issued from the Florence Municipality for expelling Dante 700 years earlier. A celebration was held at Italy’s Senate of the Republic, in honor of Dante’s 750th birthday in 2015.

Dante Alighieri’s case was retried in May 2021 in Florence to clear his name.