38 moments

1. Birth at Arezzo

   1304-07-20 · Arezzo, Tuscany, Italy

   

   Petrarch was born in exile at Arezzo.

2. Childhood at Incisa

   1305-01-01 · Incisa in Val d'Arno, Tuscany, Italy

   

   He spent six early childhood years on his father's estate at Incisa. The source gives a six-year childhood interval following his first year, not a precise arrival date.

3. Childhood at Pisa

   1312-01-01 · Pisa, Tuscany, Italy

   

   Petrarch recalled spending his eighth year at Pisa. His eighth year overlaps 1311–1312; year-level dating is used.

4. Schooling at Carpentras

   1312-01-01 · Carpentras, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

   

   His family settled near Avignon at Carpentras, where he began formal study. The family move is dated between 1311 and 1312.

5. Law studies at Montpellier

   1316-01-01 · Montpellier, Occitanie, France

   

   He began legal studies at the University of Montpellier. The standard chronology dates this course of study to 1316–1320.

6. Arrival for studies at Bologna

   1320-01-01 · Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

   

   Petrarch travelled to Bologna with his brother and Guido Sette for further study.

7. Journey through Venice

   1321-01-01 · Venice, Veneto, Italy

   

   During the Bologna student migration, Petrarch travelled back toward Avignon by a route including Venice. The journey followed the spring 1321 student revolt.

8. Return to Bologna

   1322-10-01 · Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

   

   He returned to Bologna and remained for more than three further years.

9. Return to Avignon

   1326-01-01 · Avignon, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

   

   After leaving Bologna permanently, Petrarch returned to Avignon, the city he called home in exile. The return followed his father's death in April 1326.

10. Service at Lombez

    1330-03-01 · Lombez, Occitanie, France

    

    Giacomo Colonna recruited Petrarch for his episcopal court in Gascony.

11. Manuscript discovery at Liège

    1333-01-01 · Liège, Wallonia, Belgium

    

    At Liège, Petrarch discovered and copied Cicero's Pro Archia. The source places the visit during the 1333 journey.

12. Visit to Cologne

    1333-01-01 · Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

    

    Cologne was among the northern cities reached on Petrarch's 1333 journey. The source does not provide a more precise date within 1333.

13. Visit to Ghent

    1333-01-01 · Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium

    

    Petrarch travelled through Ghent during his northern European journey. The source does not provide a more precise date within 1333.

14. Visit to Paris

    1333-01-01 · Paris, Île-de-France, France

    

    Petrarch's northern European journey included Paris. The long journey began in spring 1333 and ended with his August return to Avignon.

15. Ascent of Mont Ventoux

    1336-04-26 · Mont Ventoux summit, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

    

    Petrarch's celebrated account describes an ascent of Mont Ventoux with his brother and servants. Modern scholars have questioned the historical accuracy of Petrarch's later account; the date records the claimed ascent.

16. First Roman visit

    1337-01-01 · Capitoline Hill, Rome, Lazio, Italy

    

    Petrarch reached Rome in January or February and reflected on its ancient ruins. Coordinates identify the Capitoline, from which his March 1337 letter contemplated Rome's ruins.

17. Move to Vaucluse

    1337-01-01 · Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

    

    After returning to Provence, Petrarch moved to his house at Vaucluse. The move followed his early-1337 Roman journey.

18. Residence at Parma after coronation

    1341-01-01 · Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

    

    After leaving Rome, Petrarch stayed with the Correggio family at Parma. The source places this stay after the April 1341 coronation.

19. Visit to Naples before coronation

    1341-01-01 · Naples, Campania, Italy

    

    Before receiving the laurel crown, Petrarch travelled to Naples to consult King Robert. The visit occurred shortly before his Roman coronation of 8 April 1341.

20. Poet laureate at Rome

    1341-04-08 · Capitoline Hill, Rome, Lazio, Italy

    

    Petrarch was crowned poet laureate on the Capitoline Hill. A source note dates the coronation to Easter Sunday, 8 April 1341.

21. Stay at Verona

    1345-03-01 · Verona, Veneto, Italy

    

    Petrarch reached Verona after fleeing besieged Parma and found Cicero's letters there. He left Parma on 23 February 1345 and arrived in Verona in early March.

22. At Parma during the plague

    1348-01-01 · Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

    

    Petrarch was in Parma while the plague epidemic raged. The statement occurs in the source's 1348 chronology.

23. Canonry possession at Padua

    1349-04-18 · Padua Cathedral, Padua, Veneto, Italy

    

    Petrarch took possession of a Padua canonry and associated house. Coordinates represent Padua Cathedral, near which the source places the house.

24. Jubilee visit to Rome

    1350-10-01 · Rome, Lazio, Italy

    

    Petrarch travelled to Rome for the Jubilee after meeting admirers in Florence. The source identifies Rome as the destination in the preceding clause.

25. Return to Vaucluse

    1351-06-27 · Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

    

    Answering a papal summons, Petrarch reached Vaucluse after travelling from Padua through Verona and Parma. The year is 1351.

26. Peace embassy to Venice

    1353-01-01 · Doge's Palace, Venice, Veneto, Italy

    

    As Visconti ambassador, Petrarch travelled to Venice to negotiate peace. Coordinates represent the Doge's Palace, where the source says he spoke before Doge Andrea Dandolo.

27. Settlement in Milan

    1353-01-01 · Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio area, Milan, Lombardy, Italy

    

    Petrarch arrived in Milan and began an almost eight-year residence under Visconti patronage. The source says he initially lived in a house beside Sant'Ambrogio.

28. Meeting Charles IV at Mantua

    1354-12-15 · Mantua, Lombardy, Italy

    

    Petrarch met the future emperor Charles IV at Mantua. The year is 1354.

29. Diplomatic mission at Basel

    1356-05-01 · Basel, Basel-Stadt, Switzerland

    

    Sent by the Visconti, Petrarch went first to Basel and waited for Charles IV. The mission began around 20 May 1356.

30. Embassy at Prague

    1356-07-01 · Prague, Kingdom of Bohemia

    

    Petrarch continued the Visconti embassy to Prague, arriving in late July. The year is 1356.

31. Oration before the French king

    1361-01-13 · Paris, Île-de-France, France

    

    Petrarch delivered an oration before King John II of France after being sent to Paris in December. The preceding sentence identifies Paris as the place of this mission.

32. Residence at Palazzo Molina

    1362-09-04 · Palazzo Molina, Venice, Veneto, Italy

    

    Venice's Senate granted Petrarch Palazzo Molin, which became his preferred residence. Coordinates are a representative point on the Riva degli Schiavoni, where the source locates the palace.

33. Residence at Pavia

    1365-01-01 · Pavia, Lombardy, Italy

    

    Petrarch resided at Pavia during the latter half of 1365.

34. Meeting the emperor at Udine

    1368-01-01 · Udine, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy

    

    Petrarch accompanied Francesco da Carrara to meet Emperor Charles IV at Udine. The source dates the meeting to late spring 1368.

35. Illness at Ferrara

    1370-01-01 · Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy

    

    While setting out for Rome, Petrarch had to stop at Ferrara after suffering a fainting episode. The journey followed his will of 4 April 1370; he was back in Padua by 8 May.

36. Final diplomatic speech in Venice

    1372-10-02 · Doge's Palace, Venice, Veneto, Italy

    

    Petrarch performed his last diplomatic mission for Francesco da Carrara by speaking at a Venetian ceremony. The source identifies the ceremony as before the Venetian Senate and doge.

37. Return to Arquà

    1373-01-01 · Arquà Petrarca, Veneto, Italy

    

    Petrarch returned to Arquà with his daughter and resumed residence there. The source supports an interval from February through April 1373; year-level dating is used.

38. Death at Arquà

    1374-07-01 · Petrarch House, Arquà Petrarca, Veneto, Italy

    

    Petrarch died at Arquà shortly before his seventieth birthday. The underlying historical sources vary between 18 and 23 July; month precision is therefore used.