Dante Alighieri

Dante Alighieri was born to Alighiero di Bellincione and Bella degli Abati in Florence, Italy. His mother died when he was young, and his father remarried.

At the age of nine, Dante first meets Beatrice Portinari, who becomes a significant figure in his life and poetry. This encounter marks the beginning of his idealized love for her.

Dante joins the Florentine Guild of Physicians and Apothecaries, a common practice for young men of his social class to gain political and social standing.

Beatrice Portinari dies at the age of 24, deeply affecting Dante. Her death inspires his early poetry and later works, particularly 'La Vita Nuova.'

Dante is elected as one of the six Priors of Florence, the highest political office in the city. This position marks the peak of his political career and involvement in Florentine politics.

Dante is exiled from Florence due to political conflicts between the White and Black Guelphs. He is accused of corruption and political opposition, leading to his lifelong exile.

While in exile, Dante begins writing his most famous work, 'The Divine Comedy,' an epic poem that combines theological, philosophical, and political themes. It is divided into 'Inferno,' 'Purgatorio,' and 'Paradiso.'

Dante writes 'De Monarchia,' a treatise on the relationship between secular and ecclesiastical power. He argues for a universal monarchy to govern the world and ensure peace.

Dante refuses to return to Florence under conditions that he finds humiliating, choosing to remain in exile. This decision solidifies his status as a political outcast and a literary figure.

Dante Alighieri dies in Ravenna, Italy, where he had been living in exile. He is buried in the Church of San Pier Maggiore (now San Francesco), and his tomb remains a site of pilgrimage.