CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY OF PETRARCH'S LIFE.
Reading edition
Transcriber's note: The index of poems is at the end of the document.
A.D. PAGE
1304. Born at Arezzo, the 20th of July. ix
1305. Is taken to Incisa at the age of seven months, where he remains seven years. x
1312. Is removed to Pisa, where he remains seven months. x
1313. Accompanies his parents to Avignon. xi
1315. Goes to live at Carpentras. xi
1319. Is sent to Montpelier. xi
1323. Is removed to Bologna. xii
1326. Returns to Avignon—loses his parents—contracts a friendship with James Colonna. xiii
1327. Falls in love with Laura. xvii
1330. Goes to Lombes with James Colonna—forms acquaintance with Socrates and Lælius—and returns to Avignon to live in the house of Cardinal Colonna. xviii
1331. Travels to Paris—travels through Flanders and Brabant, and visits a part of Germany. xxiv
1333. His first journey to Rome—his long navigation as far as the coast of England—his return to Avignon. xxxiii
1337. Birth of his son John—he retires to Vaucluse. xxxv
1339. Commences writing his epic poem, "Africa." xxxviii
1340. Receives an invitation from Rome to come and be crowned as Laureate—and another invitation, to the same effect, from Paris. xlii
1341. Goes to Naples, and thence to Rome, where he is crowned in the Capitol—repairs to Parma—death of Tommaso da Messina and James Colonna. xliii
1342. Goes as orator of the Roman people to Clement VI. at Avignon—Studies the Greek language under Barlaamo. xlviii
1343. Birth of his daughter Francesca—he writes his dialogues "De secreto conflictu curarum suarum"—is sent to Naples by Clement VI. and Cardinal Colonna—goes to Rome for a third and a fourth time—returns from Naples to Parma. li
1344. Continues to reside in Parma. lviii
1345. Leaves Parma, goes to Bologna, and thence to Verona—returns to Avignon. lviii
1346. Continues to live at Avignon—is elected canon of Parma. lix
1347. Revolution at Rome—Petrarch's connection with the Tribune—takes his fifth journey to Italy—repairs to Parma. lxiv
1348. Goes to Verona—death of Laura—he returns again to Parma—his autograph memorandum in the Milan copy of Virgil—visits Manfredi, Lord of Carpi, and James Carrara at Padua. lxvii
1349. Goes from Parma to Mantua and Ferrara—returns to Padua, and receives, probably in this year, a canonicate in Padua. lxxiii
1350. Is raised to the Archdeaconry of Parma—writes to the Emperor Charles IV.—goes to Rome, and, in going and returning, stops at Florence. lxxiii
1351. Writes to Andrea Dandolo with a view to reconcile the Venetians and Florentines—the Florentines decree the restoration of his paternal property, and send John Boccaccio to recall him to his country—he returns, for the sixth time, to Avignon—is consulted by the four Cardinals, who had been deputed to reform the government of Rome. lxxx
1352. Writes to Clement VI. the letter which excites against him the enmity of the medical tribe—begins writing his treatise "De Vita Solitaria." lxxxvii
1353. Visits his brother in the Carthusian monastery of Monte Rivo—writes his treatise "De Otio Religiosorum"—returns to Italy—takes up his abode with the Visconti—is sent by the Archbishop Visconti to Venice, to negotiate a peace between the Venetians and Genoese. xc
1354. Visits the Emperor at Mantua. xcix
1355. His embassy to the Emperor—publishes his "Invective against a Physician." xcix
1360. His embassy to John, King of France. cxii
1361. Leaves Milan and settles at Venice—gives his library to the Venetians. cxiii
1364. Writes for Lucchino del Verme his treatise "De Officio et Virtutibus Imperatoris." cxvii
1366. Writes to Urban V. imploring him to remove the Papal residence to Rome—finishes his treatise "De Remediis utriusque Fortunæ." cxviii
1368. Quits Venice—four young Venetians, either in this year or the preceding, promulgate a critical judgment against Petrarch—repairs to Pavia to negotiate peace between the Pope's Legate and the Visconti. cxix
1370. Sets out to visit the Pontiff—is taken ill at Ferrara—retires to Arquà among the Euganean hills. cxxii
1371. Writes his "Invectiva contra Gallum," and his "Epistle to Posterity." cxxiii
1372. Writes for Francesco da Carrara his essay "De Republica optime administranda." cxxx
1373. Is sent to Venice by Francesco da Carrara. cxxx
1374. Translates the Griseldis of Boccaccio—dies on the 18th of July in the same year. cxxxi