Born in Florence in 1265, died in Ravenna in 1321; of an
ancient family attached to the Guelph party; first saw
Beatrice in his ninth year; married Gemma Donati two years
after the death of Beatrice; fought with the Guelphs;
entrusted with foreign missions; endeavored to reconcile
Guelphs and Ghibellines; while on an embassy to Rome his
house in Florence destroyed in a riot, and he condemned to
exile; his life thenceforth one of wandering; settled in
Ravenna in 1320, where he died a year later; all his works
except "Vita Nuova" written in exile; his "Divine Comedy" in
three parts written in 1300-18.
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