Alessandro Barbero - Dante e la politica

Summary

This video explores Dante Alighieri’s active involvement in the political life of Florence in the late 13th century, particularly during his rise to power as one of the six priors in 1300. It highlights the turbulent political landscape, with the division between the *Guelf* factions, and how Dante’s participation in this volatile environment led to his eventual exile. The speaker reflects on how Dante’s political career, marred by corruption charges, deeply influenced his later works, especially the *Divine Comedy*, in which Dante grapples with moral and political themes of justice, corruption, and redemption.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dante was deeply involved in politics during a significant part of his life, especially in Florence, where he participated in numerous councils from around 1295 to 1301.
• 😀 In 1300, Dante held one of the highest positions in Florence as one of the six Priori, the supreme magistrates who governed the city for two months.
• 😀 Politics in Dante's time was not a profession; any citizen could participate if they had the time and resources, and the government required the active involvement of thousands of citizens.
• 😀 The political system in Florence was highly participatory, with hundreds of citizens in various councils, many of whom served for only six months at a time.
• 😀 Dante belonged to the Guelf party, which had control over Florence at the time. This party was divided into two factions: the Whites and the Blacks. Dante supported the Whites.
• 😀 Dante's political engagement reflected his connection to the bourgeoisie: a class of merchants, traders, and businesspeople, rather than the aristocracy or the impoverished.
• 😀 Despite his family's wealth, Dante himself was not involved in manual work or trade; he lived off his family’s earnings, which had been made through usury.
• 😀 Dante served the government faithfully, but his political career was cut short after the Black faction violently seized power, and the Whites, including Dante, were exiled.
• 😀 Dante's exile was not just a political move but was also tied to charges of malfeasance (what they called 'baratteria' in medieval Italy, equivalent to corruption or embezzlement).
• 😀 The fact that Dante was accused and convicted of corruption shows that the political system was rife with manipulation, and it is plausible that Dante might have occasionally engaged in corrupt practices to support his political allies.
• 😀 Dante's journey through the inferno in the Divine Comedy is likely a reflection of his own political turmoil. At the time of his exile, Dante might have felt that continuing his political career in Florence would have been a spiritual downfall, akin to losing his soul.

Q & A

What was Dante Alighieri's role in the politics of Florence?

Dante was deeply involved in the political life of Florence, participating in various councils and even holding the highest office of the city as one of the six priors in 1300. His political career lasted for about five to six years, during which he was a member of different councils governing the city.

What were the political factions in Florence during Dante's time?

Florence was divided into two main political factions: the Guelfs and the Ghibellines. The Guelfs were aligned with the Papacy, and the Ghibellines supported the Holy Roman Emperor. Within the Guelf faction, there were further divisions into the 'Bianchi' (Whites) and 'Neri' (Blacks), with Dante being aligned with the Bianchi faction.

How did Dante's political involvement impact his career?

Dante's political career came to a dramatic end when the rival 'Neri' faction seized power in Florence, leading to Dante’s expulsion from the city in 1302. He was charged with corruption and malfeasance, which was a common accusation in Florence's turbulent political climate.

What were the charges that led to Dante's exile?

Dante was accused of 'malversazioni' (mismanagement of public funds), 'brogli' (fraud), and 'peculato' (embezzlement), collectively referred to as 'baratteri,' which were seen as corrupt practices. These charges were used to justify his exile, though many argue it was politically motivated.

How were political positions in Florence at the time different from modern-day politics?

In Dante’s time, political participation in Florence was not a profession. Any citizen who had the time, means, and desire could engage in governance. Political offices were filled by ordinary citizens, often on a rotational basis, and many were involved in politics alongside their personal businesses or trades.

What does the phrase 'baratteri' refer to in Dante's time?

'Baratteri' referred to corrupt practices, specifically the manipulation of public office for personal or party gains, including embezzlement, fraud, and other forms of political corruption. This term was used to describe the types of malfeasance Dante was accused of.

How does Dante’s personal financial situation relate to his political career?

Though Dante himself did not work for a living, relying on family wealth, his political career was closely tied to the business and financial elite of Florence. He represented the interests of the 'popolo'—a class of entrepreneurs and tradesmen who were seeking to maintain power away from both the poor and the wealthy noble families.

How did Dante’s political experiences influence his literary works, particularly the 'Divine Comedy'?

Dante’s political experiences, particularly his exile and disillusionment with corruption, are deeply reflected in the 'Divine Comedy.' The spiritual journey depicted in the poem is seen as a metaphor for Dante’s own moral and political struggles, with his self-examination in the work mirroring his awareness of his own potential moral failings.

What was the significance of Dante’s journey through the 'selva oscura' (dark wood)?

In the 'Divine Comedy,' Dante’s journey through the 'selva oscura' symbolizes his moral and spiritual confusion. The forest represents the state of sin or being lost in life, and it parallels Dante’s own feeling of being lost due to his political and personal struggles in Florence during his exile.

What role did factionalism within the Guelf party play in Dante's downfall?

Dante’s downfall was largely due to the internal division within the Guelf party, between the Bianchi and Neri factions. When the Neri gained power, Dante, a member of the Bianchi, was targeted, leading to his expulsion. This factionalism played a significant role in his fall from grace and eventual exile.