Cino da Pistoia facts for kids
Cino da Pistoia (born around 1270, died 1336 or 1337) was an important Italian expert in law and a talented poet. He lived during a time when Italy was full of new ideas and changes.
Cino was born in a city called Pistoia in a region of Italy known as Tuscany. His full name was Guittoncino dei Sinibaldi. His family, the Sinibaldi, were noble, meaning they came from an important and respected background.
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A Smart Student and Teacher
Cino was very dedicated to his studies. He earned his doctorate degree from the famous University of Bologna. There, he learned from a well-known law professor named Dinus de Rossonis.
After finishing his own studies, Cino became a teacher himself. He taught law at several major universities across Italy. These included the universities in Siena, Florence, Perugia, and Naples. Many students looked up to him, and some even became famous in their own right. For example, two of his students were Bartolus and Francesco Petrarca, who later became known as Petrarch.
In 1334, Cino was chosen for a very important political job in his hometown of Pistoia. He was elected as the Gonfaloniere. This was a high-ranking official, often like a chief magistrate or leader of the city. However, Cino decided not to take on this role.
Cino's Important Works
Cino da Pistoia was known for two main things: his work in law and his beautiful poetry.
Law Expert
Cino's most important legal book was called Lectura in codicem. He wrote it between 1312 and 1314. This book was a detailed explanation of the Justinian Code, which was a very old and important collection of Roman laws.
What made Cino's book special was how he combined these ancient Roman laws with the laws and customs that were used in Italy at his time. He also included church laws. By doing this, he helped create what is now known as "Italian common law." This was a big step in how laws were understood and used in Italy.
Talented Poet
Besides his legal work, Cino also wrote about 200 lyric poems. These poems were admired for their clear language and lovely rhythms. Most of his poems were written for a woman named Selvaggia dei Vergiolesi.
Cino was friends with another very famous Italian poet, Dante Alighieri. Dante himself praised Cino's poetry in his own work, De vulgari eloquentia. This shows how highly Cino's poems were thought of, even by other great writers of his time.
Friends and Legacy
Cino was not only a brilliant scholar but also had many connections with other important people. He was close friends with his fellow student Giovanni d'Andrea. He also had a literary friendship with Petrarch, who was one of the most famous poets of the Italian Renaissance.
Cino's influence continued long after his death. The American poet Ezra Pound even wrote a dramatic poem called "Cino," where Cino da Pistoia is the main character who tells the story. This shows how Cino's life and work continued to inspire artists centuries later.
Images for kids
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Lectura in Codicem, a book by Cino da Pistoia, printed in 1547.
See also
In Spanish: Cino da Pistoia para niños
