January 27th Marks the Seven Centuries Dante Has Been in Exile

In the 14^th century Florentine republic, the masses were at odds when it came to Pope Boniface VIII. Half of the public praised the papacy, a faction known as the Black Guelphs, while the other half, known as the White Guelphs, saw him as a nosey jerk of a neighbor.

In response to the continuing feud, Pope Boniface VIII appointed Charles de Valois, brother of French king Philip IV, to re-establish peace in the city-state. This decision led Dante Alighieri along with other White Guelphs to make an appearance before the Pope in Rome. While Dante and the Pope met, Charles de Valois was given secret orders to lay siege on Florence and establish a pro-papal government.

The move worked and the White Guelphs were overthrown by Charles de Valois and the Black Guelphs who in turn was banished from Florence and was slapped with a hefty fine by Pope Boniface VIII for being within Rome’s city limits.

Dante, of course, would not let this go unpunished. What better way to enact your revenge on Florence and the papacy? Well, by writing the most widely and influential works of literature in the western world. La Divina Commedia or Divine Comedy personally vilified Pope Boniface VIII by damning him to the pit who’s sin was simony, the act of paying for a place in office.

Dante would continue to live the rest of his life in exile until his death in Ravenna where he remained buried until this day.  After Dante became world famous with his epic poem, Florence has spent the next 700 years begging the city of Revenna to return his remains, every time the adamantly decline. Finally in 2008 the city of Florence pardoned Dante and awarded his heirs the cities highest honor, the Golden Florin. Keeping with Dante’s disdain for Florence, his last descendant, Serego Alighieri, boycotted the ceremony.  I’m sure Dante is chuckling away in the afterlife. 

To learn more about Dante's life check out Dante For Beginners.