Matteo Maria Boiardo facts for kids
Matteo Maria Boiardo (born around 1440 – died 1494) was an important Italian Renaissance poet. He is best known for his long poem called Orlando innamorato, which means Orlando in Love.
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Who Was Matteo Maria Boiardo?
Matteo Maria Boiardo was born in 1440, near a place called Scandiano in Italy. He came from a noble family and was even a Count. This meant he had power over several towns. Boiardo was a very smart and talented person. He was known for being brave and for his deep knowledge of many subjects.
He went to the University of Ferrara when he was young. There, he learned a lot, including Greek, Latin, and even some languages from the East. He earned degrees in both philosophy and law.
Boiardo's Important Jobs
Boiardo had many important jobs during his life. He was well-liked by the Duke of Ferrara, Borso d'Este. He was sent on important trips, like meeting Emperor Frederick III in 1469 and Pope Paul II in 1471.
In 1473, he joined the group that welcomed Eleonora of Aragon when she came to marry Duke Ercole in Ferrara. Later, Boiardo became the governor of a city called Reggio. He did a great job there until he died. For a short time, he was also the governor of Modena.
Boiardo's Amazing Writings
When he was younger, Boiardo wrote love poems that were similar to those by another famous poet, Petrarch. But he also wrote more serious works. He translated stories from ancient writers like Herodotus and Xenophon. He also wrote a play called Il Timone around 1487.
However, Boiardo is most famous for his grand poem about chivalry and romance, Orlando innamorato. This long poem tells exciting stories of knights, adventures, and magic. Another work, Rime, was written in 1499 but was mostly forgotten until it was published again in 1835.
Most of Boiardo's works, especially Orlando innamorato, were written to entertain Duke Ercole and his court. But he didn't write them at the court itself. Instead, he would go to his estates, like Scandiano, to focus on his writing. It's said that he included descriptions of the beautiful places around his home in his poem. He even used the names of some of his local villagers, like Mandricardo and Gradasse, for his brave Saracen warrior characters!
A Poet's Unique Game: Tarot
It's believed that Boiardo also wrote a poem about a special Tarot game he created. This game is important for understanding how Tarot developed in the 1400s. Some parts of a deck of cards made for his game, probably soon after he died, still exist today.
Images for kids
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Amorum libri, a collection of poems by Boiardo, published in 1499.
See also
In Spanish: Matteo Maria Boiardo para niños
