La Vita Nuova is the maximum expression of the sense of Dolce Stil Novo during their years of study Dante Alighieri coincided with the poet Guido Cavalcanti, representative of the dolce stil nuovo, about fifteen years older that he, who was intimate and who became disciple has written that Dante, like many Florentines in those days, was involved in the conflict of the Guelphs and Ghibellines. He fought in the battle of Campaldino (June 11, 1289), with Florentine Knights Guelphs against the Ghibellines of Arezzo, then in 1294 he was among the Knights that they escorted to Charles Martel of Anjou-Sicily (the son of Carlos I de Sicilia) while he was in Florence. In June 1290, the date of the alleged death of Beatrice, is situated at the age of 24. Later in his political career, became a doctor and pharmacist. It was proposed not to exercise these professions, but a law issued in 1295 the effect of Bella Giano rules required that the nobility who sought to hold public office should enlist in one of the Corporazioni guilds di Arti Mestieri, so Dante obtained quick admission to the apothecaries Guild. The profession you have chosen was not entirely inapt, He sold his books in the shops of Apothecaries. As a politician, he managed a bit of importance Wikipedia gives us, the date of his birth is not known with precision, is usually placed between May 21 and June 21, 1265.
It could have been baptized with the name of During in the baptistery of Florence, and Dante could be the hipocoristica version of the name. His family was a great Florentine family whose real name is Alaghieri, favourable to the Guelph party. His father, Alighiero de Bellincione, was a white Guelph, but did not suffer the vengeance of the Ghibellines, after his victory at the battle of Montaperti. This salvation gave a certain prestige to the family.