After 700 years, Florence has lifted all accusations against Dante Alighieri, who went into exile in 1302. Despite being accused of perjury, extortion and fraud, Dante was actually targeted for supporting the losing side in a political battle. Florence has since regretted its decision and even erected a tomb for him in 1829. However, it was not until 2008 that all accusations were formally lifted and the city asked for Dante’s remains to be returned. Ravenna refused, so visitors must go there to see his burial site. Dante fell in love with a girl named Beatrice and described her as one of his guides in the Divine Comedy. He was also the first poet to successfully use the terza rima scheme.
It took 700 years, but Dante Alighieri can go home. In 1302, the great Italian author of the Divine Comedy went into exile to avoid a death sentence in Florence, where he had been accused of perjury, extortion and fraud.
The truth was that Dante had supported the losing side in a political battle and his blunder had made him a target for the victors. Born in Florence around 1265 – the exact date is unknown – Dante loved the city and even fell in love with a girl named Beatrice there. But forced to flee, Dante escaped to Ravenna, where he completed his literary masterpiece before dying in 1321.
In more recent centuries, Florence has clearly regretted its decision to exile Dante, going so far as to erect a tomb for him in the Basilica of Santa Croce in 1829. But it was not until 2008 that the city’s leaders finally decided to formally lift all accusations and even asked Ravenna to return Dante’s remains. Ravenna refused, and those wishing to pay their respects must visit that city’s Basilica of San Francesco to see Dante’s burial site.
The divine Dante:
Dante first met Beatrice when they were both nine years old. He fell in love with her immediately, and though they would go on to marry other people, he described her as one of his guides to her in the Divine Comedy.
Dante was the first poet to successfully use the terza rima scheme; he employed it throughout The Divine Comedy.
To enter politics, Dante had to gain admission into one of the city’s guilds; his medical training allowed him to join the Guild of Physicians and Apothecaries.
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