Orlando Furioso

Ludovico Ariosto (1474–1533) was an Italian poet best known for his epic romance, “Orlando Furioso,” published in 1516. The poem, a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo’s “Orlando Innamorato,” chronicles the adventures of Charlemagne, Orlando, and the Franks as they confront the Saracens, interwoven with various subplots. Ariosto employed the ottava rima rhyme scheme and incorporated narrative commentary into his work.

Ariosto’s family lived in Reggio nell’Emilia, where his father, Niccolò Ariosto, held the position of citadel commander. Despite his early interest in poetry, his father insisted he study law. However, he later pursued studies in Greek and Latin literature under Gregorio da Spoleto.

After his father died, Ariosto’s work attracted the attention of Cardinal Ippolito d’Este who became his patron. The patronage was not financially rewarding, and Ariosto considered the cardinal ungrateful given his talent.

He transferred to the court of Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara, whom Ariosto served as a diplomat, representing his patron on various missions, including visits to Rome as an ambassador to Pope Julius II. However, during one of these, he fell seriously ill, leading to long-term health issues.

Due to political circumstances, Ariosto’s diplomatic salary was suspended and eventually withdrawn. He was assigned to govern the province of Garfagnana, a challenging task that he nevertheless managed effectively. Ariosto’s literary reputation earned him respect – reportedly even amongst the local bandits.

Ariosto’s literary contributions extended to theatre, his plays including “Cassaria” and “I Suppositi.” His most famous work, “Orlando Furioso,” underwent multiple revisions, culminating in a final edition of 46 cantos published in 1532.

A notable aspect of Ariosto’s writing style is the use of “Cantus Interruptus,” a narrative technique where a given plot line is interrupted in one canto and resumed in a later one, challenging the reader to engage fully with each narrative thread.

His literary fame rests on “Orlando Furioso” and its innovative narrative style, which contributed significantly to both Italian literature and the European literary tradition.

More by this author