Guido Cavalcanti

"Guido Cavalcanti (c. 1255–1300) was an Italian poet who was a role model for and a friend of Dante. He was born in Florence and was the son of the Guelph Cavalcante de' Cavalcanti, whom Dante condemns to torment in the sixth circle of The Inferno, where the heretics are punished. As part of a political reconciliation between the Blacks and Whites, two factions of Guelphs, Guido married Beatrice the daughter of Ghibelline party leader Farinata degli Uberti. Unlike Dante, he was an atheist. His poetry explores the philosophy of love. In June of 1300, when the Florentines had become tired of brawling between the Ghibellines and the Guelphs, the leaders of both factions were exiled and Cavalcanti was amongst them. He was sent to Sarzana, where, after only a few months he decided to try to return to Florence. He died of fever in August of the same year on his journey home."

> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guido_Cavalcanti

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