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Durante Degli Alighieri,
better known as Dante Alighieri or simply Dante, (May 14/June 13, 1265 – September
13/14, 1321) was an Italian poet from Florence. His greatest work, the Divina Commedia
(The Divine Comedy), is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of world literature. |
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He was born into the
prominent Alighieri family of Florence, with loyalties to the Guelphs, a political
alliance that supported the Papacy, involved in complex opposition to the Ghibellines,
who were backed by the Holy Roman Emperor. These factions fashioned their names
after those of opposing factions of German Imperial politics, centered around the
noble families the Welfs (Guelfs or Guelphs) and Waiblingen (Ghibellines), but adapting
their meaning to the Italian political arena. After the defeat of the Ghibellines
by the Guelphs in 1289, the Guelphs themselves were divided into White Guelphs,
who were wary of Papal influence, and Black Guelphs who continued to support the
Papacy. Dante (a White Guelph) pretended that his family descended from the ancient
Romans (Inferno, XV, 76). |
Below: Dante Alighieri, painted
by Giotto in the chapel of the Bargello palace in Florence. This oldest portrait
of Dante was painted during his lifetime before his exile from his native city.
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