Francesco Petrarch

	Francesco Petrarch, was a man held in high regards of his peers. The life in which Petrarch lived, was certainly not one of which many people could have had dealt with. A life of solitude, misplaced love and, family misfortune that was endured. But, through hard workand perseverance, loyalty to the churches which lead to good connections, he was regarded as one of the most influential persons and authors of his time.

	Petrarch was not a man with greatest of family lives. Born in Arezzo in 1304, to a family that had just been exiled from Florence, his family had to move to Incisa, Tuscany. Petrarch spent most of his childhood in Incisa. From then on, his father pushed him into the path of law. His brother, Gheredo, the most stable family figure in his life, later became a monk and throughout his life stayed in contact with Francesco. Petrarch had another brother, who died at a very young age. His mother died when he was 15 years old, which was consequently when some of his earliest works have been recorded. At the age of 22, Francesco's father passed away, which caused Francesco to attain a career. Giovanni, his son, was born illegitimately in 1337. The relationship between the two was disappointment to Francesco. He describes him as:

"Intelligent, perhaps even exceptionally intelligent, but he hates books"

He let Giovanni live with him till he could no longer stand the sight of him and sent him to live in Avignon, at the age of 20. It wasn't until just before Giovanni's death, of the Black Plague, did they start to write each other. Just before his sons death, Petrarch's friends though of Giovanni as a good person and wrote Petrarch about this. He never saw his son before his death but in his mind knew that he had started to get his life back together. He also had a daughter, Francesca, she gave birth to Petrarch's grandchildren one of which died during the Plague. This was of great disheartenment of Petrarch.

	Much to Petrarch's dismay he studied law at the University of Bologna and he earned his degree. Beyond the levels of his peers at an early age it was obvious the intellectual presents he had. Moving from school to school he realized that his true interests were in the ancient authors, not the law. He sought out and recovered manuscripts' Cicero, Virgil, amongst others. When his Petrarch's father found these manu...

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... earth',

it is this quote that shows how much he loved Laura, even though she did not return this love.

	Francesco Petrarch, was regarded amongst his peers and superiors as a powerful man. After having been sent on many missions of peace by the Archbishop. The King of France and, the Emperor of Italy trying to persuade Petrarch to join them. In his writings, Emperor, Kings wanted copies of his books, friends and other great authors desired to own and read these books as well. A man that could write about feeling he had even though they were not respected. Having gone through death and disappointment within his family. It is only fitting that a man who over came all of these obstacles, be considered one of the greatest Italian of his time.

	Bibliograghy

1. Bishop, Morris Letters of Petrarch (Indiana 1966).

2. Dobson, Susana Life of Petrarch (London 1805).

3. Einsenbichler K., Iannucci A. Petrarch's Triumphs (Toronto 1990).

4.Wilkins, E. H. Life of Petrarch (Chicago 1961).

5.Wilkins, E.H. Petrarch's Eight Years in Milan: 1353-1361 (Cambridge 1958).

6. Wilkins, E. H. Petrarch's Later Years (Cambridge 1959).

7. Wilkins, E. H. Triumphs of Petrarch (Chicago 1962)