Jacopo da Leona
Encyclopedia
Jacopo da Leona, also spelt Iacopo (died 1277) was a medieval
Italian
jurist
and poet
.
Beginning his career as a notary
, he became a nobleman's secretary and later a judge. Sixty of his sonnet
s survive.
, he took his surname from the Castle of Leona (Castello di Leona), on which his village was dependent. Here Jacopo began to follow the profession of notary
, under the patronage of the family of Ubertini of Arezzo, and one of the Ubertini, Ranieri, employed him as a secretary. Jacopo went with his master to Volterra
, and in 1273, when Ranieri was elected as a bishop
, Jacopo was appointed as a judge.
Of Jacopo's poetry, a songbook of sixty sonnets survives, of which the Vatican Library
's manuscript Codex 3793 (Canzoniere Vaticano latino 3793) contains seven. Jacopo's sonnets are divided broadly into love poetry and satire
, of which the former is original but somewhat mannered, adopting the style and themes of courtly love
. All of the sonnets belong to the years before 1277. His best known work, which takes the form of a dialogue
, is entitled Madonna, di voi piango e mi lamento ("Lady, I lament me of you").
Italy in the Middle Ages
This is the history of Italy during the Middle Ages.- Transition from Late Antiquity :Italy was invaded by the Visigoths in the 5th century, and Rome was sacked by Alaric in 410. The last Western Roman Emperor, Romulus Augustus, was deposed in 476 by an Eastern Germanic general, Odoacer...
Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
.
Beginning his career as a notary
Notary
A notary is a lawyer or person with legal training who is licensed by the state to perform acts in legal affairs, in particular witnessing signatures on documents...
, he became a nobleman's secretary and later a judge. Sixty of his sonnet
Sonnet
A sonnet is one of several forms of poetry that originate in Europe, mainly Provence and Italy. A sonnet commonly has 14 lines. The term "sonnet" derives from the Occitan word sonet and the Italian word sonetto, both meaning "little song" or "little sound"...
s survive.
Life and work
Born as Jacopo del Tancredo in the village of Levane, ArezzoProvince of Arezzo
The Province of Arezzo or Arretium is the easternmost province in the Tuscany region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Arezzo.It has an area of 3,232 km², and a total population of 323,288 in 39 comuni . At June 30, 2005, the main comuni by population are:- External links :...
, he took his surname from the Castle of Leona (Castello di Leona), on which his village was dependent. Here Jacopo began to follow the profession of notary
Notary
A notary is a lawyer or person with legal training who is licensed by the state to perform acts in legal affairs, in particular witnessing signatures on documents...
, under the patronage of the family of Ubertini of Arezzo, and one of the Ubertini, Ranieri, employed him as a secretary. Jacopo went with his master to Volterra
Volterra
Volterra, known to the ancient Etruscans as Velathri, to the Romans as Volaterrae, is a town and comune in the Tuscany region of Italy.-History:...
, and in 1273, when Ranieri was elected as a bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, Jacopo was appointed as a judge.
Of Jacopo's poetry, a songbook of sixty sonnets survives, of which the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
's manuscript Codex 3793 (Canzoniere Vaticano latino 3793) contains seven. Jacopo's sonnets are divided broadly into love poetry and satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
, of which the former is original but somewhat mannered, adopting the style and themes of courtly love
Courtly love
Courtly love was a medieval European conception of nobly and chivalrously expressing love and admiration. Generally, courtly love was secret and between members of the nobility. It was also generally not practiced between husband and wife....
. All of the sonnets belong to the years before 1277. His best known work, which takes the form of a dialogue
Dialogue
Dialogue is a literary and theatrical form consisting of a written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people....
, is entitled Madonna, di voi piango e mi lamento ("Lady, I lament me of you").