Biography of Ludovico Ariosto

The influence of hindsight

8 September 1474 6 July 1533 Ludovico Ariosto was born in Reggio Emilia on day 8 September 1474. His father Niccolò was captain of the fortress of the city and because of its assignments requires the family a number of movements: first in Rovigo in 1781, then to Venice and Reggio and finally in Ferrara in 1784. Louis always love a citizen of Ferrara, his city of choice and adoption. Pushed by her father's insistence, she began studying law between 1484 and 1494, but with poor results. Meanwhile, attends the Este Court of Ercole I, where it comes into contact with famous people of the era including Ercole Strozzi and Pietro Bembo. The happiest years for Ariosto are those between 1495 and 1500 when, behind his father's assent can finally deal with the study of literature, which is his true passion. During this period she also writes poems and Elegies loving even in Latin, including: "De diversis amoribus" De laudibus Sophiae and Herculem "and" Rime ", written in the vernacular and published posthumously in 1546. The first event that disrupts Ludovico Ariosto's life really is the death of his father in 1500. He is the eldest son and it is his task to deal with his five sisters and four brothers orphaned. Accepts so many offices both public and private. The situation is further complicated by the presence of paralytic brother Gabriele, who will live with the poet throughout his life. But he turns out to be a very good administrator, managing to marry sisters without affecting too the family fortune and to find a use for all the brothers. In 1502 takes the captaincy of the fortress of Canossa. Right here will have a son, Giambattista, born from his relationship with the maid Maria, and followed shortly after by the birth of a second child, Virge, had instead from his relationship with Olimpia Sassomarino. In 1503 takes orders and ecclesiastical enters the employ of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este. With the cardinal a relationship not happy subjection which sees Ludovico in the part of the servant compelled to obey various orders. In fact, his duties include administrative duties, valet services, political and diplomatic missions. In the company of Cardinal accomplishes several journeys of a political nature. Between 1507 and 1515 for Urbino, Venice, Florence, Bologna, Modena, Mantua and Rome. Space travel the writing of the "Orlando Furioso" and writing and staging of some plays as the comedies "Cassaria" and "the Madeleine Béjart died". In 1510 Cardinal Ippolito excommunication from Pope Julius II receives and Ariosto in going to plead his case in Rome, but does not receive good reception by the Pope which threatens to throw him overboard. In 1512 he lives a romance escape through the Apennines with Duke Alfonso. The two flee to escape the ire unleashed by the Alliance between the Este, and the French in the war of the Holy League. After the death of Julius II, is back in Rome to felicitate the new Pope, Leo X, and to obtain a new assignment more stable and peaceful. In the same year he went to Florence where she meets Tito Strozzi's wife, Sreenivasan B, of which falls head over heels. Following the death of her husband in 1515, Alessandra moved to Ferrara and the two began a long relationship that culminates in a secret marriage in 1527. The two will not live ever officially together, in order to avoid the loss of ecclesiastical benefices by Ludovico and Alessandra rights resulting from the usufruct of the goods of two daughters from his marriage to Tito Strozzi. The relationship with Cardinal worsens following the publication of the "Orlando Furioso (1516). Things get complicated again when Louis refuses to follow the cardinal in Hungary, where he was named Bishop of Buda. Ariosto was fired and finds himself in huge financial hardship. In 1517 passes under Duke Alfonso d'Este, a position that makes him happy because it forces him to move away from his beloved rarely Ferrara. On the occasion of reacquisition by the Estensi of Garfagnana, is chosen by the Duke as ruler of those territories. It is forced to accept the job because as a result of worsening of relations with the Papacy, the Duke has cut the staff employed. Part the Garfagnana to solve its already difficult economic situation, unstable condition that torments him for years. Remains in Garfagnana for three years from 1522 to 1525 doing all we can to liberate those territories from hordes of bandits that infest, then back permanently in Ferrara. Between 1519 and 1520 writes of rhymes in vulgar and two comedies "the necromancer" and "students", unfinished, and publishes in 1521 a new edition of "Furious". Following the Duke in some official duties as the escort of the Emperor Charles V in Modena in 1528 and receives a pension of one hundred gold ducats granted by Alfonso D'avalos, who played an Ambassador. In this way manage to spend the last years of his life in complete tranquility in house of Mirasole, surrounded by the love of the beloved son Virginio and his wife Alexandra. During the Carnival and marriage of Ercole d'Este and Renée of France, he devoted himself again to theatre, waits at the regia of some shows and builds a stable scene for the Castle, unfortunately destroyed in 1532. The last years of his life were devoted to the revision of the Orlando Furioso, whose final edition was published in 1532. Meanwhile falls ill with enteritis; Ludovico Ariosto died on 6 July 1533 at the age of 58 years.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.