Dante Alighieri was born in Florence, Italy either in late May or early June, 1265. His childhood was somewhat troubling because of the early death of his mother and then his father when he was 18. He managed to get through these bad occurrences and fell in love with a Florentine noblewoman named Beatrice Portinari in 1274 but she also died not long afterwards. He once said that the most significant occurrence of his childhood was his meeting with his love, Beatrice. She was glorified in "La vita nuova" ("The New Life") and again later in "La divina commedia" ("The Divine Comedy").

Although his great literary works prove that he had a great education, little is known about where he studied. It is known that he was in Bolonga in about 1285 and it is possible that he studied at the university there. He supported the Guelphs against the Ghibellines; two political parties of the time, and fought with them victoriously in 1289. Around this same time he married a member

believed that it was begun in 1307 and not finished until shortly before his death. This epic masterpiece tells of the author's imaginary journey through hell, purgatory, and heaven. It is divided into three sections; Inferno (Hell), Purgatorio (Purgatory), and the Paradiso (Paradise). His journeys are influenced by a wide range of mythological and historical characters; each representing a particular virtue or fault, either political or religious. His first love, Beatrice is represented by his guide through paradise. "The

Dante Alighieri was invited to return to Florence in 1316 but he declined because he believed that he would be treated as a pardoned criminal. He vowed not to return to Florence unless he was granted full dignity and honor. His spent the last days of his life in exile in Ravenna, where he died on September 13 or 14, 1321. His remains have been kept their despite requests over the centuries for his return to Florence. There is a cenotaph, which is an empty tomb honoring someone who's remains are somewhere

separation between the church and state.

"La vita nuova", Dante Alighieri's first important literary work was written not long after the death of his first love, Beatrice. It tells of his love

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Approximate Pages = 3 (250 words per page double spaced)