The descendants of the great poet want to revise the verdict against Dante
In Italy, 700 years later, the verdict against the famous poet Dante Alighieri may be revised, the newspaper La Repubblica writes .
The descendant of the author of The Divine Comedy, Sperello di Serego Alighieri, intends to prove that the court decision that was made against his great ancestor in the XIV century was biased.
During Dante's time, two parties fought for power in Florence. The so-called black Guelphs opposed any collaboration with the Ghibellines (followers of the emperor), while the whites were in favor. The latter included the great poet. In 1301, the black Guelphs seized power over the city, and a trial was arranged over Dante and his fellow party members. As a result, they were accused of corruption. Dante was sentenced to a fine of five thousand florins and two years of exile with a permanent ban on holding public office. Since then, the poet and thinker never returned to his hometown and died in exile in the city of Ravenna in 1321.
Now the descendants of Dante are sure that political motives could be involved in the verdict. Sperello di Serego Alighieri and lawyer Alessandro Traversi want to appeal the verdict in the year of the 700th anniversary of the poet's death. According to the legislation of the Apennines, court cases can be reviewed without a statute of limitations in the event that new evidence of the criminal's innocence appears.
Meanwhile, most Italians see no point in this process. Dante Alighieri does not need any rehabilitation because his Divine Comedy is one of the greatest literary works in history.
Earlier it was reported that a new holiday has appeared in Italy – Dante Alighieri's National Day. It will be celebrated on March 25th.
