Dante Alighieri

1265-1321

Italian poet, politician, and diplomat

Dante was from a noble family, orphaned as a boy and educated by the Dominicans. (According to the Encarta Encyclopedia his father did not die until he was 18, which would put him beyond the scope of this directory.)

He grew up to be the greatest poet of Italian literature. His most famous work is the Divine Comedy. He was also a diplomat and politician, and his political activities led to his banishment in 1309 for the rest of his life.

References

Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, 1993-97
Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, edited by F.L. Cross. (London: Oxford University Press, 1957)
Encyclopedia of Religion. 16 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1987)
Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 8 vols. (New York: Macmillan, 1967)
Collins, James J. Dante - Layman, Prophet, Mystic. (Staten Island: Alba House, 1989)
Cambridge Biographical Encyclopedia. "Dante (Alighieri), 1265-1321." Available at: http://www.biography.com/