The Life of Dante Alighieri

Birth of Durante degli Alighieri

May 15, 1265

Better known as Dante was born in Florence, Italy in mid may of 1265. He was born from his father Alaghiero and his mother Bella.

First met Beatrice

Jan 30, 1274

Dante said he first met Beatrice Portinari, daughter of Folco Portinari, at age nine, and claimed to have fallen in love with her "at first sight", apparently without even talking with her.

Mother Bella passed away when Dante was just ten

Jan 30, 1275

His mother was most likely a part of the Abati family.

Dante Begins His Education

Jan 31, 1275

Dante enrolls at the convent schools of , Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella, which are two churches in Florence.

promised in marriage to Gemma di Manetto Donati

Feb 9, 1277

Gemma was the daughter of Manetto Donati, member of the powerful Donati family.

Dante Completes his Education

Jan 31, 1282

Dante completes his formal studies.

Dante met the leaders of the dolce stil novo

Jan 30, 1283

At 18, Dante met Guido Cavalcanti, Lapo Gianni, Cino da Pistoia and soon after Brunetto Latini; together they became the leaders of the dolce stil novo.

Dante's Father Passed Away

Jan 31, 1283

Dante's father Alighiero di Bellincione dies.

Dante and Gemma get married

Jan 31, 1283

Dante marries Gemma Donati. His beloved Beatrice also marries someone else. Dante and Gemma Donati have five children: sons Jacopo, Pietro, Giovanni and Gabrielle and daughter Antonia.

Battle of Campaldino

Jun 11, 1289

Dante fought with the Guelph cavalry.

Beatrice Dies

Jun 8, 1290

Dante's love Beatrice dies at the age of 24. He is devastated and reincarnates her later in his work as a divine guide in the Commedia.

Vita Nuova

Jan 31, 1292

Dante writes La Vita Nuova di Dante Alighieri, a long poem tracing his relationship with Beatrice from their first meeting to her death. Scholars now interpret the title to signify Dante's "new life" as a poet.

He was among the escorts of Charles Martel

Jan 30, 1294

then in 1294 he was among the escorts of Charles Martel of Anjou (grandson of Charles I of Naples, more commonly called Charles of Anjou) while he was in Florence.

Death of Brunetto Latini

Jan 31, 1294

Brunetto Latini, a Florentine politician and respected man of letters who had been an important mentor to Dante, dies. Though Brunetto was like a father figure to Dante, he appears in Dante's Inferno with those who commit sodomy. Scholars believe that Dante probably did this to "take down" his mentor, even though there is no evidence that Brunetto actually engaged in homosexual acts.

Dante Became a Pharmisist

Jan 30, 1295

To further his political career, he became a pharmacist. He did not intend to practice as one, but a law issued in 1295 required nobles aspiring to public office to be enrolled in one of the Corporazioni delle Arti e dei Mestieri, so Dante obtained admission to the apothecaries' guild. This profession was not inappropriate, since at that time books were sold from apothecaries' shops. As a politician he accomplished little, but held various offices over some years in a city rife with political un

Charles of Valois was expected to visit Florence

Jan 30, 1301

In 1301, Charles of Valois, brother of King Philip IV of France, was expected to visit Florence because the Pope had appointed him peacemaker for Tuscany. But the city's government had treated the Pope's ambassadors badly a few weeks before, seeking independence from papal influence. It was believed that Charles had received other unofficial instructions, so the council sent a delegation to Rome to ascertain the Pope's intentions. Dante was one of the delegates.

Charles of Valois entered Florence with Black Guelphs

Nov 1, 1301

Pope Boniface quickly dismissed the other delegates and asked Dante alone to remain in Rome. At the same time (November 1, 1301), Charles of Valois entered Florence with the Black Guelphs, who in the next six days destroyed much of the city and killed many of their enemies.

Poetry Treatise

Jan 31, 1302

While lodging in Lucca, Dante begins composing an essay on vernacular poetry entitled De Vulgari Eloquentia. Though the essay itself is written in Latin, the language of the educated classes, it details the fractured state of the Italian language and emphasizes the need for a common vernacular language.

Dante Becomes Exiled

Mar 10, 1302

When he refuses to pay the fine, Dante - along with fourteen others- is sentenced to death in absentia. He never returns to Florence, the city of his birth, and spends the rest of his life exiled in Italy.

The Pope Passes Away

Jan 31, 1303

Pope Boniface VIII dies.

Convivio

Jan 31, 1306

Dante begins writing Convivio ("Banquet"), a long poem in Italian celebrating his poetry and asking for forgiveness from Florence's warring political parties. No forgiveness is offered.

Begins Commedia

Jan 31, 1308

Dante begins the Commedia ("Divine" was added to the title 200 years after his death). It is a three-part poem -largely autobiographical - detailing the journey of Dante the pilgrim through Hell, Purgatory and Heaven. He also writes De Monarchia , a treatise on the relationship between the monarchy and the state.

Dante Moves to Verona

Jan 31, 1312

Inferno

Jan 31, 1314

Inferno, the first segment of Dante's three-part Divine Comedy , is published.

Dante Turns Down Florence's Invitation

Jun 13, 1315

The government of Florence offers Dante the chance to return to the city if he pleads guilty and makes a humiliating show of repentance. He refuses. Florence then issues a new order reiterating Dante's condemnation.

Moves to Ravenna

Jan 31, 1318

Dante accepts an offer to stay with nobleman Guido II da Polenta in Ravenna. His wife and daughter join him there. He completes the Divine Comedy in Ravenna.

Daughter Becomes a Nun

Jan 31, 1320

Dante's daughter Antonia enters a convent in Ravenna and takes the name of Beatrice.

Dante comes down with a serious illness

Aug 31, 1321

While traveling in Venice, Dante contracts a fever—possibly malaria—and returns to Ravenna.

Dante Passes Away

Sep 30, 1321

Dante Alighieri dies of his illness in Ravenna. He is buried in San Pier Maggiore's Church in Ravenna, now known as St. Francesco's (St. Francis). Florence, which banished Dante, argues that they should have his remains back. Ravenna says "no way."