Giovanni Boccaccio

Giovanni Boccaccio was born to Boccaccino di Chellino and a noblewoman from Florence. He was an illegitimate child, but his father acknowledged him and provided for his education.

Boccaccio was sent to Naples to study business and law, but he soon developed a passion for literature and began to write poetry and prose.

In Naples, Boccaccio started writing his early works, including 'Filostrato' and 'Teseida,' which were influenced by the courtly love tradition and the works of Dante and Petrarch.

Boccaccio met Maria d'Aquino, the illegitimate daughter of King Robert of Naples, who became a muse and inspiration for many of his works, including 'Filostrato' and 'Il Filocolo.'

Boccaccio returned to Florence, where he became a prominent figure in the literary and intellectual circles of the city, and continued to write and expand his literary works.

During the Black Death, Boccaccio wrote 'The Decameron,' a collection of 100 novellas told by a group of young people who have fled Florence to escape the plague. It remains one of his most famous works.

Boccaccio met the great poet Petrarch in Florence, marking the beginning of a lifelong friendship and intellectual collaboration. Petrarch had a significant influence on Boccaccio's later works and literary endeavors.

Boccaccio was appointed to several diplomatic missions by the Florentine government, including a trip to Avignon to meet with Pope Clement VI, further expanding his influence and connections.

Boccaccio completed 'De Casibus Virorum Illustrium,' a work that explores the fall of famous figures from history and mythology, reflecting his humanist and moral philosophy.

In his later years, Boccaccio returned to his birthplace, Certaldo, where he focused on scholarly pursuits, including the study of classical texts and the writing of commentaries.

Giovanni Boccaccio died in Certaldo, Italy, leaving behind a rich legacy of literature and scholarship that would influence generations of writers and thinkers in the Renaissance and beyond.