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Biography--
Dante Alighieri was born in the spring of 1265 in Florence, Italy. Dante's family was Florentinian nobility. His mother, Bella, died when he was just a boy. His father, Alighiero di Bellincione, died when Dante was eighteen years old.
Dante learned a lot from the scholar/poet Brunetto Latini and learned even more from Guido Cavacanti. It was to Cavacanti that Dante dedicated his first book "La Vita Nuova"
Dante was betrothed to another member of nobility, Gemma di Manetto Donati, when he was young. They had four children.
Although he was married to Gemma, Dante's love was Beatrice. In many of his works, he mentions admiring her from afar. Beatrice died when she was twenty-five years old, three years after she married Simone dei Bardi.
Around 1290, Dante entered politics. He was a member the Guelph party. The Guelphs were those who opposed Imperial reign. Dante slowly grew in power politicaly. He served in several counsels and as a diplomat.
In 1320, The Holy Roman Emperor power in Italy. Dante was excommunicated form Florence.
Dante spent the latter years of his life writing poetry. He was involved in politics in the cities of Verona and Ravenna.
Dante died in Ravenna in 1321 at the age of 56.
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