While there he completed The Divine Comedy, which he began in about 1308. He took refuge first in Verona, and after wandering from place to place - as far as Paris and even, some have said, to Oxford - he settled in Ravenna. He had first met Bice Portinati, whom he called Beatrice, in 1274, and when she died in 1290, he sought distraction by studying philosophy and theology and by writing La Vita Nuova.ĭuring this time he became involved in the strife between the Guelfs and the Ghibellines he became a prominent White Guelf, and when the Black Guelfs came to power in 1302, Dante, during an absence from Florence, was condemned to exile. He followed a normal course of studies, possibly attending university in Bologna, and when he was about twenty he married Gemma Donati, by whom he had several children.

Stephen Wyatt is a playwright and dramatist with extensive experience in stage, radio and television.ĭante Alighieri was born in Florence in 1265 and belonged to a noble but impoverished family. He was buried in Ravenna, Italy, where a tomb was later erected in his name. He died in 1321, aged 56, of suspected malaria. There is speculation that he travelled more widely, including to Paris and Oxford, although this has not been verified.ĭuring his time of exile Dante conceived and wrote the three poems which form The Divine Comedy.

He went first to Verona and then to Liguria. Allied to the White Guelphs, with whom he fought against the vanquishing Black Guelphs, he was eventually condemned to perpetual exile from Florence. Dante and Gemma had several children.ĭante was a member of Florence’s Apothecaries’ Guild, though he did not practice as a pharmacist.

The pair went on to marry, but Dante’s true love was for Beatrice Portinari, who would inspire much of his poetry. Dante Alighieri (usually referred to by his first name) was exiled from his beloved city of Florence because of political affiliations and contractually married. Dante himself was betrothed to Gemma di Manetto Donati when he was aged only 12. His mother died before Dante’s tenth birthday. His family was connected with the Guelph political alliance, supporters of the Papacy. Dante, or Durante deli Alighieri, was born in Florence, Italy, circa 1265.

Dante alighieri the inferno