Chapter 1: Dante’s Circle in Time

Abstract

This chapter presents this book’s Timeline, while numbers in bold throughout this book relate to places mapped in “Chapter 2: Dante’s Circle in Space” and to the app: https://www.florin.ms/DanteFlorence.html. In particular this chapter discusses the exiles of Brunetto Latino, Guido Cavalcanti, Dante Alighieri, Francesco da Barberino, the return to Florence of all of them except Dante, and the importance in Villani’s Cronica and Dante’s Vita nova of the Piazza Santa Felicita and its column, then of Orsanmichele’s great granary built to feed even the enemy in time of famine, with its Compagnie dei laudesi that was also a burial society, their tombs beside Santa Reparata, in relation to Alfonso el Sabio’s Cantigas de Santa Maria.

This first chapter, Dante’s Circle in Time, presents this book’s Timeline, while numbers in bold throughout this book relate to places mapped in “Chapter 2: Dante’s Circle in Space” and to the app: https://www.florin.ms/DanteFlorence.html. In particular this chapter discusses the exiles of Brunetto Latino, Guido Cavalcanti, Dante Alighieri, Francesco da Barberino, the return to Florence of all of them except Dante, and the importance in Giovanni Villani’s Cronica and Dante Alighieri’s Vita nova of the 39. Piazza Santa Felicita and its column, then of 30. Orsanmichele’s great granary built to feed even the enemy in time of famine, with its Compagnie dei laudesi that was also a burial society, their tombs beside 6. Santa Reparata, in relation to Alfonso X el Sabio’s Cantigas de Santa Maria.

1239 Dante’s relative, “Alagerus, imperiali auctoritate judex atque notarius”, writes 44. San Miniato al Monte document: ASF 1239 Settembre 29, Firenze, S. Miniato al Monte (Plate II ASF 1239 Settembre 29, San Miniato al Monte (olivetani).¹

1250–1260 Florence’s first Guelf Republic formed, called the Primo Popolo.

1252 November The Primo Popolo mints Europe’s first euro at the 42. Zecca (Plate III Florin with a, Lily (iris) and b, St John the Baptist).

1254 20 April, 11 June Brunetto Latino writes Peace Treaty with Siena, to the ringing of the bells of 4. Santa Reparata, the people of Florence assembled to hear it read and see it signed, the original document still kept in the Sienese State Archives (Plate IV Brunetto Latino, ASS 20 April, 11 June, 1254: “Et ego Burnectus Bonaccursi Latinus notarius predictis interfui et ea dictorum dominorum potestatis, capitanei, Anzianorum et consiliorum omnium predictorum mandato, publice scripsit”. [And I, Brunetto Bonaccursi Latino, notary of the abovesaid and with this the statements of the Podestà, Captains, Senators and all the Counsel of the abovesaid, write this publicly]).

1255 Dino Compagni born. The Primo Popolo places plaque on the 20. Bargello, written by Brunetto Latino (Plate V Brunetto Latino, Bargello Plaque, 1255):Verse

Verse +SUMMALEXANDER S[AN]C[TU]SQUE[M] MVNDVS ADORAT CV[M] PASTOR MV[N]DI REGNABA[N]T REX[QVE] GVIELMVS. ET CV[M] VIR SPLENDE[N]S ORNATVS NOBILITATE DE MEDIOLANO DE TVRRI SIC ALAMANNVS VRBEM FLORENTE[M] GAVDENTI CORDE REGEBAT MENIA TVNC FECIT VIR CO[N]STA[N]S ISTA FVTVRIS. QVI PREERAT P[O]P[V]LO FLORENTI BARTHOLOMEVS MA[N]TVA QVEM GENVIT COGNOMINE DENVVVLONO FVLGENTE[M] SENSV CLARV[M] PROBITATE REFVLTUM QUE[M] SIGNA[N]T AQVILE REDDV[N]T SVA SIGNA DECORVM INSIGNVM P[O]P[V]LI QUOD CO[N]FERT GAVDIA VITE ILLIS QVI CVPIVNT VRBEM CONSVRGERE CELO QVAM FOVEAT [CHRISTV]S CO[N]SERVET FEDERE PACIS EST QVIA CV[N]CTORUM FLORENTIA PLENA BONORV[M]. HOSTES DEVICIT BELLO MAGNO[QUE] TVMVLTV GAVDET FORTVNA SIGNIS POPVLO[QUE] POTENTI FIRMAT EMIT FERVENS STERNIT NV[N]C CASTRA SALVTE QVE MARE QVE TERRA[M] QUE TOTV[M] POSSIDET ORBEM. PER QVAM REGNANTE[M] FIT FELIX TVSCIA TOTA TA[M]QUA[M] ROMA SEDET SEMPER DVCTVRA TRIVMPHOS. OMNIA DISCERNIT CERTO SVB IVRE CONHERCENS ANNIS MILLENIS BIS CENTVM STANTIBUS ORBE PENTA DECEM IVNCTIS [CHRIST]I SVB NOMINE QVIN[QUE] CUM TRINA DECIMA TVNC TE[M]PORIS INDITIONE.

its “QVE MARE QVE TERRA[M] QUE TOTV[M] POSSIDET ORBEM” to be echoed sarcastically in the Ulysses canto,Verse

Verse Godi, Fiorenza, poi che se’ sì grande che per mare e per terra batti l’ali, e per lo ‘nferno tuo nome si spande! Inf XXVI.1–3

14 October 1258 Ghibelline and Pavian Abbot Tesauro of Vallombrosa executed by being beheaded to the shouts of the crowd for betraying Guelf Florence. Brunetto writes a scathing Epistola to Pavia. In consequence Pope Alexander IV places Florence under interdict for seven years from receiving the Sacraments.

1260 Brunetto Latino, following writing several folios and often being named in the Libro di Montaperti (Plate VI Brunetto Latino, ASF Libro di Montaperti, 1260, fols. 33^r–35^r), is sent on embassy to Alfonso X el Sabio, where he sees the king’s efficient Arabic style of having multiple copies of manuscripts made by scribes taking down his dictation, a mode Brunetto Latino and then Francesco da Barberino will adopt. He acquires important texts of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Ptolemy/Alfraganus’ Almagest, and others (Plate VII a, Tesoretto, BML Strozzi 145, fol. 1^v; b, Hall of Ambassadors, Alcazar, Seville). Alfonso X el Sabio, seeking to be crowned Holy Roman Emperor, will give Florence’s ambassador, Brunetto, a regal copy of Las Cantigas de Santa Maria with the miracles of the Virgin in a tabernacle, BNCF Banco Rari 20, https://archive.org/details/b.-r.-20/mode/1up. These magnificent manuscripts had their images, their poetry, and their music composed by the King working with a team of miniaturists, scribes, and musicians, their text written in Gallegos, Spain’s poetic dialect, of the region around Compostela, celebrating the multiculturalism of his father, the King of the Three Religions, Ferdinand III, though anticipating sadly the racism of Their Most Catholic Majesties, Ferdinand and Isabella.

1260 4 September Battle of Montaperti (Plate VIII Ambush of Montaperti, Giovanni Villani, Nuova Cronica, Pacino di Bonaguida, BAV Chig. L.VIII. 296, fol. 92^v).

1260–1266 Brunetto learns of the defeat at Montaperti and of his sentence of exile in the Pass of Roncesvalles (Plate XXXVI a, BML Strozzi 146, fol. 2^r, Tesoretto). He next goes to Montpellier confessing to a Franciscan following his dream vision with Natura, the Virtues, the God of Love, Ovid, and Ptolemy (Plate LIX, fol. 23^v; Plate XLVII c, d, fol. 21^v; Plate LIII a, fol. 2^v; Plate LVII a, b, fols. 21^v, 26^v). Then Brunetto comes to Arras, in northern France. He now has access to texts like Guillaume de Lorris’ Roman de la Rose, Gossuin de Metz’s Image du Monde, Richard de Fournival’s Bestiare d’Amour, etc. Brunetto gives autobiographical information about his exile in Rettorica, Tesoretto, Li Livres dou Tresor, Tesoro.

1264 Birth of Francesco da Barberino.

1265 11 May–11 June Birth of Dante Alighieri, under the Zodiac sign of the Twins, in 25. Dante’s House (Inf XXIII.94–95; Plate XXXI a, b, c, d) by 24. St Martin’s Church (Plate XXX a). 24 June Charles, Count of Provence and Anjou inaugurated as “Sanatore” (Healer) of Rome on the Capitoline. Arnolfo di Cambio’s statue of Charles of Anjou commemorates the event (Plate XXXVI e).

1266 6 January Charles of Anjou and his wife Beatrice crowned King and Queen of Sicily and Jerusalem in the Vatican. 36 February Charles of Anjou wins the Battle of Benevento against King Manfred. Birth of Beatrice Portinari under the Zodiac sign of Aquarius between 21 January and 21 February. 27 March Baptism of Dante Alighieri in 3. Florence’s Baptistery (Inf XIX.17; Plate XVII a, b, c).

1269 23 August King Charles wins the Battle of Tagliacozzo against King Conradin. Brunetto Latino sends Alfonso el Sabio a “Second Redaction” copy of Li Livres dou Tresor, now BEscorial L.II.3.

1270? Death of Dante’s mother, Bella degli Abati.

1274 1 May, Calendimaggio, Dante first sees Beatrice, daughter of Folco Portinari, in the 17. Portinari palace, when he is nine, almost ten, she, eight years four months old (Vita nova II.1). Giovanni Villani born.

1275 Pope at Beaucaire has Alfonso X el Sabio renounce claim to be Holy Roman Emperor.

1276 7 March St Thomas Aquinas dies at Fossanova Abbbey. 4 September, Illness of Alfonso X el Sabio at Victoria, cured by miracle of his Cantigas de Santa Maria, the manuscript illustrating this then given to Florence (Plate XXXIV b, BNCF Banco Rari 20, fol. 119^v).

1277 Dante betrothed at 12 to Gemma, daughter of Manetto Donati, likely living in 14. Piazza de’ Donati with her parents (Plate XXVI a, b).

1280 Peace of Cardinal Latino. Peace-weaving marriages arranged, among them Ghibelline Farinata degli Uberti’s daughter Beatrice married to Guelf Cavalcante Cavalcanti’s son, Guido.

1282 30 March Sicilian Vespers, Tesoro. Folco Portinari, Prior of Florence. Brunetto Latino returns to Florence. Lapa, Dante’s widowed stepmother, appoints Brunetto to be Dante’s legal guardian.² Brunetto Latino now participates intensely in Florence’s governing, while also teaching Guido Cavalcanti, Dante Alighieri, Francesco da Barberino, these students writing out his Rettorica, Tesoretto, Tesoro in the Arabic manner during the period 1282–1294. Franciscan Peter John Olivi accused of heresy at Franciscan Chapter meeting in Strasbourg for his avowal of Spiritual poverty.

1283 and 1288 Corso Donati, Podestà of Bologna.

1283 24 June A thousand young Florentines all garbed in white gather in 39. Piazza Santa Felicita (Plate IX a, God of Love, Tesoretto, Francesco da Barberino, BML Strozzi 146, fol. 21^r, b, Column in Piazza Santa Felicita), to celebrate the God of Love, as part of the “Fedeli d’amore” movement with possible associations with the Order of Knights Templar, Avverroïsm and Sufism. He sees Beatrice dressed so in white and composes the sonnet “A ciascun’alma presa e gentil core”, which eventually becomes the first poem of the Vita nova, III.1–9, where he indicates that he wrote it at the age of eighteen and to which Guido Cavalcanti, he tells us, responds with “Vedesti al mio parere ogni valore”. He now sees Beatrice frequently.

1284 4 April Death of Alfonso X el Sabio. 13 October Tuscan League of Florence, Genoa, and Siena, with ser “Burnectus Latinus” as ambassador, seemingly allied against Pisa to obey King Charles of Anjou (Plate XXXVII a, b, ASF, Capitoli di Firenze, Reg. 43, fols. 34^r–37^v, 85^r–87^v). Arnolfo da Cambio begins rebuilding the 21. Badia. Franciscan Spiritual Ubertino da Casale comes to 43. Santa Croce.

1284–1288 Pisa, blockaded and starving, discovers the betrayal of Ugolino della Gherardesca with Florence, Archbishop Ruggieri places Ugolino and his progeny in prison (Plate XLIII a, b, c, Inf XXXII.124–139–XXXIII.1–108; d, Giovanni Villani, Nuova Cronica, VII. civ; BAV Chig L.VIII.296, fol. 143^r).

1285 Dante at 20 is married to Gemma Donati.

1286–1296 Cluster of Tesoro manuscripts resulting from Brunetto’s schooling of Guido Cavalcanti, Dante Alighieri, and Francesco da Barberino (Plate LXXI a, b, BML Plut.42.20, fol. 72^v; c, BNCF Magl.VIII.1375, fol. 26^r; d, BAmbrosian G75 sup, fol. 29^v; e, BGuarnerian 238, fol. 96^r, Tesoro, Gossuin de Metz on Gravity; Plate LXXVIII, Squaring the Circle: a, BML, Plut.42.20, fol. 74^r BML, Plut.42.20, fol. 74^r, Tesoro, Dante Alighieri?; b, 3. Baptistery Mosaic; c, BNCF Magl. VIII.1375, fol. 26^v; d, BAmbrosian G75 sup, fol. 30^v; e, BGuernerian 238, fol. 99^v; Plate LXXIX BML Plut.42.20, fol. 79^v, Tesoro, Dante Alighieri?; b, Baptistery Mosaic; c, BNCF II.VIII.36, fol. 82^r; d, BGuarnerian 238, p. 105; e, BTrivulzian 1080, Paradiso, Man as Angel, as mirroring God). Manuscript BNCF II.VIII.36, 1286 (Plate XI), of this cluster includes the Sommetta, giving formula for Pope to write to ArchbishoL Ruggieri of Pisa, fol, 75^v. Guido Cavalcanti and Dino Compagni involved with Brunetto Latino in the intensive, secret, Pisan diplomacy.³

1287 Folco Portinari’s Testament names his daughter Beatrice as married to Simone de’ Bardi. Spiritual Franciscan Peter John Olivi sent to 43. Santa Croce from Montpellier by Matthew of Acquasparta to be Lector in Theology, greatly influences Ubertino da Casale (Par XII.121–126), then will return to Montpellier after two years. Both, influenced by Joachim da Fiore, 1135–1202, oppose the rebuilding by the Conventuals of the huge new church as contrary to Francis’ teaching on poverty. When they leave 43. Santa Croce, Ubertino da Casale will continue to preach to the laity in Tuscany.

1288 Folco Portinari founds 8. Santa Maria Nuova Hospital (Plate XXIV a, b, c, d).

1289 18 March Ugolino della Gherardesca and his two sons and two grandsons are discovered to have died of starvation and cannibalism (Inf XXXII.124–139–XXXIII.1–108¸ Plate XLIII a, b, c, Inf XXXII.124–139–XXXIII.1–108; d, Giovanni Villani, Nuova Cronica, VII. civ; BAV Chig L.VIII.296, fol. 143^r). 11 June Battle of Campaldino against Arezzo, Corso Donati, podestà of Pistoia, fighting valiantly, Dante Alighieri at 24 present on horseback as a cavaliere, a republican knight (Inf XXII.1–12). Cecco Angiolieri, Sienese poet, is with the Florentines. His attributed sonnet ends the BRicc 2908 Tesoretto, Mare Amoroso manuscript, possibly written by Dante. See online Appendices with its facsimile. 31 December Death of Folco Portinari (Vita nova XXII).

1290 March Brunetto’s legal guardianship ends when Dante turns 25. 8 June Beatrice Portinari de’ Bardi dies under the Zodiac sign of the Twins, perhaps from childbirth complications (Vita nova XXVIII–XXIX). It is possible that Dante’s own birthday is 8 June as it is so carefully computed according to different calendars in the Vita nova. The de’ Bardi family into which she has married would bury her in their Franciscan church of 43. Santa Croce or in that of Santa Lucia in the via de’ Bardi, not in the church of 15. Santa Margherita.

1291 18 May Fall of Acre, loss of Crusaders’ Jerusalem Kingdom. 8 June Dante paints angels when Beatrice’s brother visits him. 17 August, Foundation of the burial society of 6 Compagnia dei laudesi di 30. Orsanmichele (Plate XXXII a, b, c, d). Dante, at this time, is reading Cicero’s Somnium Scipionis, Boethius’ Consolation of Philosophy, attends schools of learning held by the Franciscans at 43. Santa Croce, the Dominicans at 1. Santa Maria Novella, Convivio II.12. 22 March 1291, 7 December, 17 July 1292, the Comune of Florence often discusses giving compensation to Count Guelfo, Ugolino’s sole surviving son, for their war crime.

1292 3 July Miracles of the Virgin in 30. Orsanmichele’s tabernacle begin, as in Alfonso X el Sabio’s Las Cantigas de Santa Maria (Plate XXXII c, BNCF, Banco Rari 20, p. 164, Las Cantigas de Santa Maria, with candles, d, BML, Libro del Biad aiolo). Guido Cavalcanti’s Orsanmichele sonnet. Dante is 27 and now writing the Vita nova. 10 July Carlo Martello of Anjou at 19 crowned King of Hungary at Naples. In Brunetto Latino’s last recorded presence Vanni Fucci of the company of Roger of Lille is awarded 32 gold florins for a horse, ASF Libri Fabarum, circa fol. 100, 22 July.

1293 25 January Vanni Fucci steals the silver images and the archives of the Altar of St James in Pistoia (Plate XXXVIII Silver Altar to St James, Pistoia. Vanni Fucci’s theft). 18 January, 10 April Secondo Popolo, Giano Della Bella’s Ordinaments of Justice, Gonfalone/Banner of Justice, to end feuding, and requiring membership in an Arte, a Guild, for participation in Florentine government. Dante presents the Vita nova to Brunetto one Easter (1293?) with sonnet, “Ser Brunetto, questa pulzeletta”.

1294 43. Santa Croce begins to be built. Corso Donati has a man murdered, Giano Della Bella is in difficulty as a result of the mob protesting Corso’s criminal violence not being adequately punished. The young King Carlo Martello of Hungary is in Florence, his friendship with Dante Alighieri is celebrated in Paradiso VIII 31–148, IX 1–12, with the Convivio II canzone, Il terzo ciel movete. Brunetto Latino’s death.

1295 18 February Giano Della Bella goes into exile, 27 October, is also excommunicated. His daughters, Saracina and Caterina, are permitted to remain in Florence in the family’s tower. Dante, at 30, becomes a member of the Arte de’ Medici e Speziali, the Guild for doctors of medicine and spice merchants who could also be book producers and sellers, its emblem the Madonna and Child of Paradiso XXXIII, for which he would have studied medicine and pharmacy during the previous years, perhaps at Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, founded by Beatrice’s father, Folco Portinari, and her nurse, Monna Tessa.

1296 23 January Pope Boniface VIII threatens to interdict Florence if Giano Della Bella and his family return to the city. 8 September, Foundation of 4. Santa Maria del Fiore, replacing Santa Reparata (Plate XVIII Santa Reparata, Massimo Tosi, Firenze prima di Arnolfo).

1298 Palazzo della Signoria is begun on site formerly of 40. San Piero Schieraggi.

1300 25 March Pope Boniface VIII proclaims Jubilee. Commedia’s fictional dating for Good Friday (actually 8 April), but correct for 1301. Giovanni Villani conceives idea of writing Nuova Cronica for the history of Florence. May, Dante, aged 35, on embassy to San Gimignano. 15 June–15 August, Dante is one of Florence’s Priors in the 23. Torre della Castagna, voting with chestnuts (Plate XXIX a, b). These Priors, obeying the Ordinaments of Justice, vote to exile the feuding Black Guelf Corso Donati and White Guelf Guido Cavalcanti, Guido dying in Florence on his return in August of malaria in consequence of the exile in Sarzana, Giovanni Villani, Nuova Cronica VIII.xlii.

1301 25 March, the Sun in Aries, the Moon in the 15th degree of Libra, Good Friday date of the Commedia. 1 November, Corso Donati’s exiled Black Guelfs return to Florence through the Porta a’ Pinti, the Porta Fiesolana, and 9 November Cante Gabrielli da Gubbio imposed as Podestà of Florence. With support of Pope Boniface VIII and Charles of Valois, Black Guelfs kill and exile many White Guelfs, Corso breaking open the Stinche prison to have its condemned criminals fight for him (Plate X a, BAV Chig L.VIII.296, fol. 167^r, Giovanni Villani, Nuova Cronica VIII.xlix.71). Domenico Ghirlandaio would fresco the sixth of the Seven Acts of Mercy, to Visit the Prisoner, where he shows the Buonuomini of 24. San Martino, who later would meet in the little church opposite Dante’s home, as ransoming a prisoner from the Stinche (Plate X b). Dante may be recalling this one small door called Porta della Miseria with his Gates to Inferno III and Purgatorio IX.

1302 The Libro del Chiodo, with the sentences of exile against the White Guelfs, including Dante Alighieri, by the Black Guelfs, whose leader is Corso Donati, is kept in the 20. Podestà’s Palace, the Bargello, near Orsanmichele⁴ (Plate XI a, Facsimile, Libro del Chiodo, its nail, chiodo, fixed to the back of the cover, b, p. 4 1302 “Dante Alleghieri de sextu Sancti Petri Maioris”), is condemned to two years’ of exile, for the crime of barratry (“super baracteriis, iniquis extorsionibus et lucris illicitis”, c, p. 15 “Dante Allighierii”, d, p. 147 “De sextu Porte Sancti Petri Dante Alleghierij”). Dante is 37. He goes to San Godenzo, his children, Pietro, Jacopo, and Antonia, will join him on their majority, but his wife Gemma, their pillaged house being protected by her Donati family, remains there. Francesco da Barberino goes to Padua where Giotto is frescoing the Arena Chapel.

1302–1305 Dante is writing De vulgari eloquentia.

1303 Taddeo d’Alderotti, physician, dies at Bologna at 80, had translated Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics into Italian; according to Filippo Villani, until he was 30 had been a seller of candles at 30. Orsanmichele. Dante criticizes his translation of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, Convivio I.x. Brunetto had translated that text into French in the 1260s from the Latin version available in Spain of Herman the German.

1303–1304 Dante guest of Bartolomeo Della Scala in Verona.

1304 30. Orsanmichele is destroyed in a fire, then rebuilt. 30 July 1304, White Guelfs at La Lastra attempt to attack Black Guelf Florence, fail.

1304–1308 Florence’s Comune, tired of Corso Donati’s violence, welcome his leaving Florence to take up being Podestà of Treviso, Francesco da Barberino becomes notaio to Corso Donati, commissions the now lost fresco about Justice, Mercy, and Conscience for the Bishop of Treviso’s Palace.⁵ Dante is writing the Convivio, Francesco da Barberino in the Officiolum will show knowledge of Dante’s Inferno.

1305 Dante in Bologna.

1306 Before 19 April, death of Giano Della Bella in exile in France. 15 June, a manuscript of the Vita nova is stolen in Bologna. Dante in Padua, Treviso, then called to Lunigiana, to work for Moroello Malaspina.

1307 Dante in Casentino, begins writing Inferno. Suppression of the Order of the Knights Templar.

1308 6 October Corso Donati is killed by the Florentines at San Salvi while fleeing from 9. Piazza San Pier Maggiore (Plate XII Giovanni Villani, Nuova Cronica, Pacino di Bonaguida, BAV Chig L.VIII.296, fol. 193^r).

1310–1313 24 August Henry VII of Luxembourg is Holy Roman Emperor. Dante Alighieri and Francesco da Barberino together write Latin Epistles to him.⁶ Dante composes the De Monarchia. It is probably during this period that Dante begins the Commedia as if a new Aeneid to the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VII of Luxembourg, which can explain his choice of Virgil rather than Brunetto’s Cicero and why he condemns Brutus and Cassius.

1311 31 March Dante’s Epistle against Florentines, 16 April, Dante’s Epistle to the Emperor, 2 September.

1313 29 March Francesco da Barberino, as “clericus conjugatus”, a married cleric with children, studying and teaching literature and law at Padua, perhaps commissions two manuscripts: BML Plut 89 inf. 41, fol. 1^r, in Latin, which opens with images of Pope and Emperor, and b, the bildercodex BRicc 1538, fol. 1^r, in Italian, richly illuminated by the “Master of the Paduan Antiphoners” and the “Master of the Naples’ Gratian”, scribe, Bertus de Blanchus, both finished in 1313, both containing texts by Brunetto Latino (Plate XIII a, b), for these Francesco is granted a doctorate in Canon and Civil Law by Pope Clement V at Avignon: «vacando diutius studio litterarum, adeo in scientia Iuris vtriusque profeci … In Jure Canonico, & Ciuili». Francesco is next sent on many embassies for Doge Giovanni Soranzo of Venice and is associated with the Dandalò ducal family, perhaps copies the “First Redaction” Li Livres dou Tresor, Verona, Biblioteca Capitolare DVIII. Giovanni Boccacio’s birth in Certaldo.

1313–1318 Dante at Verona.

1315 6 November Dante’s sentence of exile worsened, now to include his children, he is decreed a Ghibelline and is sentenced to be beheaded at the Porta La Croce (now Piazza Beccaria) if he returns.

1318 Francesco da Barberino returns to Florence with his second wife and his children from both marriages.

1319–1321 Dante at Ravenna, his patron now Guido Novello da Polenta, nephew to the murdered Francesca da Rimini.

1320 20 January Dante gives discourse De quaestio aqua et terra in Verona.

1321 13 September Dante Alighieri’s death in Ravenna from malaria contracted when on embassy to Venice, dying like Guido Cavalcanti of fever. Francesco da Barberino commissions the tomb in the 4. Duomo, sculpted by Tino da Camaino, for his patron, Bishop Antonio D’Orso, with the figure of Death shooting arrows from two bows (Plate XIV a, b). He seeks to rehabilitate Dante’s memory in Florence with the officina of the “Danti del Cento” that is active until his own death in 1348. He perhaps commissions the Magdalen Chapel fresco in the 20. Bargello, of Antonio D’Orso, Guido Cavalcanti?, Brunetto Latino, Corso Donati, Dante Alighieri, with himself in his customary pink kneeling in front of them (Plate XV).

1321–1335 II Libro di Biadaiolo notes that 30. Orsanmichele’s granary feeds even the enemy cities of Siena and Pisa in time of famine, illustrated by the “Master of the Dominican Effigies”, who may be Francesco da Barberino (Plate XXXII d, Plate LI, d, e, f, BML Tempi 3, Libro del Biadaiolo).

1322–1345 Giovanni Villani’s Cronica nuova, illustrated by Pacino di Bonaguida (Plates VIII; X a, XII, XLIII b), who also illustrates copies of Dante’s Commedia from Francesco da Barberino’s “Danti del Cento” officina (Plate XLIII a, b).

1324 Dino Compagni dies.

1327 26 September Francesco da Barberino, as Inquisition Judge, has Cecco d’Ascoli burned to death for heresy in Florence. Cecco had attacked the Canzone d’amore of Guido Cavalcanti and the Commedia of Dante. His beautifully illustrated encyclopedic Acerba in verse, unfinished at his death, is BML Plut 40.52.⁷

1332 Pietro Alighieri is a Judge in Verona.

1337 30. Orsanmichele is again rebuilt (Plate XXXII). Francesco da Barberino copies, illustrates, and signs the BTrivulzian 1080 manuscript of Dante Alighieri’s Commedia (Plate XLI d).

1347 Francesco da Barberino copies and signs Dante Alighieri’s Commedia (Plate XLI a, b, c BML, Plut.90 sup.125, Dante, Commedia, Scribe, Francesco da Barberino, 1347, at 83). Bernardo Daddi paints the Madonna and Child, replicating the original version in 30. Orsanmichele (Plate XXXII a, b, Daddi, Orcagna, 1347, 1357).

1348 April, Francesco da Barberino at 84 dies of the Black Death, is buried in 43. Santa Croce, his epitaph written by Giovanni Boccaccio. Giovanni Villani also dies of the Black Death. Monna Biancia, ser Brunetto Latino’s daughter, Guido di Filippo da Castiglionchio’s widow, wills a third of her estate to the Compagnia dei Laudesi di 30. Orsanmichele.

1350 August–September, Dante Alighieri’s daughter, Antonia, now a nun at Santo Stefano degli Ulivi in Ravenna, with the name in religion of “Beatrice”, is given ten gold florins by Boccaccio from the Compagnia dei laudesi di 30. Orsanmichele. Boccaccio meets Petrarch at Vaucluse.

1357 Andrea Orcagna’s tabernacle is constructed for Bernardo Daddi’s painting (Plate XXXII b, 30. Orsanmichele, Daddi, Orcagna, 1347, 1357). The Tabernacle includes the Dormition of the Virgin, already depicted by Arnolfo di Cambio in sculpture and by the Master of the Dominican Effigies in the Impruneta manuscript,⁸ a motif Dante had used in “Vergine Madre, Figlia del tuo Figlio”, Paradiso XXXIII.1.

1357–1362 Boccaccio is commenting on Dante and writing Il Trattatelo in laude di Dante.

1358 Monna Biancia dies, the Compagnia dei laudesi di 30. Orsanmichele receives her legacy.

1364 Pietro Alighieri writes his Will and leaves 25. Dante’s house (Plate XXXI a, b, c, d), to the Compagnia dei laudesi di 30. Orsanmichele, when dying in Treviso.

1367 23 June Manuscript of the Roman de la Rose is sold by the 30. Compagnia dei laudesi di Orsanmichele for four golden florins.⁹

1373–1374 Boccaccio lectures on Dante’s Commedia in Santo Stefano in the 21. Badia Fiorentina (Plate XXVIII), as far as Inferno XVII.

1370 Leonardo Bruni’s birth in Arezzo.

1371 Suor Beatrice (Dante’s daughter, Antonia)’s death at the convent of Santo Stefano degli Ulivi, Ravenna.

1375 21 December Boccaccio’s death at Certaldo.

1436 Leonardo Bruni, Chancellor of Florence, studies Brunetto Latino’s writings, writes Vita di Dante, tells of showing 25. Dante’s House to Dante’s great grandson Leonardo Alighieri (Plate XXXI, a, b, c, d).

1444 Leonardo Bruni’s death in Florence, burial in 43. Santa Croce.

1482–1503 Sandro Botticelli illustrating the Commedia.

1640 Federigo Ubaldini publishes Francesco da Barberino’s Documenti d’Amore in Rome with engravings by Nicholas Poussin and others of the original miniatures (“Chapter 4: Dante’s Colleague, Dante’s Editor”, Fig, 2 a, b, c).

1642 Federigo Ubaldini publishes Brunetto Latino’s Il Tesoretto in Rome.

2016 8 September La Musica della Commedia performed in Santa Maria del Fiore to celebrate its foundation, 8 September 1296.

FormalPara Study Question

Relate Dante’s writings to one or more of the chronicle, biographical, and historical accounts of his era giving primary sources by Giovanni Villani, Filippo Villani, Dino Compagni, Leonardo Bruni, Robert Davidsohn. Call up and print out to have side by side with this book the file with images at https://www.florin.ms/DCFigures.pdf