Cecco Angiolieri facts for kids
Francesco Angiolieri, better known as Cecco Angiolieri (born around 1260 – died around 1312), was a famous Italian poet. He was known for his unique and often funny poems.
About Cecco Angiolieri
Cecco Angiolieri was born in Siena, Italy, in 1260. His father, Angioliero, came from a family of bankers. His grandfather had even worked for Pope Gregory IX. Cecco's mother, Lisa de' Salimbeni, was from a very important family in Siena.
In 1281, Cecco was part of the Guelphs from Siena. They were fighting against their rivals, the Ghibellines. Cecco was fined several times because he left the battlefield without permission. He was also fined for breaking the city's curfew in 1282 and again in 1291. This shows he was a bit of a rebel!
He fought with people from Florence against the city of Arezzo in 1288. It's possible he met another famous poet, Dante Alighieri, during this time. One of Cecco's poems seems to confirm they knew each other.
Around 1296, Cecco had to leave Siena. This was likely due to political reasons. Later, around 1302 or 1303, he wrote a poem to Dante. Dante was in Verona, and Cecco was in Rome. This poem also shows that their friendship might have become difficult. Cecco even wrote that he would "wear Dante out." Sadly, many of the poems about their disagreements are now lost.
In 1302, Cecco had to sell his vineyard. This is the last we know about him while he was alive. We think Cecco Angiolieri died in Siena around 1310, or perhaps between 1312 and early 1313. We know this because in 1313, five of his children gave up their inheritance. This was because his family had too many debts.
His Poems
Cecco Angiolieri wrote about 110 sonnets. A sonnet is a type of poem with 14 lines. His poems were often funny and very realistic. They used colorful language and sometimes joked about serious things. He was known for being a bit cheeky and playful in his writing.
Cecco's Music
Some of Cecco's sonnets have been turned into songs. Davide Verotta set three of his poems to music for a singer and piano. A very famous Italian singer-songwriter, Fabrizio de André, also set one of Cecco's most famous sonnets to music in 1968. The poem is called S'ì fosse foco, arderei 'l mondo, which means "If I were fire, I would burn the world."
What People Think of His Work
Today, many experts believe that Cecco's poems are not always about his real life. Even when his poems seem very personal, they often use humor and exaggeration. He liked to surprise his readers. His poems were different from the popular love poems of his time. He was a very clever writer who knew how to make a big impact.
See also
In Spanish: Cecco Angiolieri para niños
- Becchin’amor! – Che vuo’, falso tradito?
