Character guide

Dante Alighieri

major

Also known as Dante, Alighieri, Pietro Dante, Pietro di Dante

The protagonist and narrator, journeying through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.

Virgil

major

Also known as Virgilius, good Virgilius, my Leader, My Master, the Master, the good Master, Master

Dante's guide through Hell and Purgatory, representing human reason.

Beatrice

major

Also known as Beatrice Portinari

Dante's idealized beloved who guides him through Paradise.

Jesus Christ

supporting

Also known as Christ, the Lord Jesus Christ, Faith In Christ

Central figure of Christian faith, referenced throughout the poem.

St. Francis

minor

Also known as Francis

Founder of the Franciscan order, praised in the Sphere of the Sun.

Thomas Aquinas

minor

Also known as St. Thomas Aquinas, Thomas, Aquinas

Dominican theologian who appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Pope Boniface VIII

minor

Also known as Boniface VIII, Boniface, Pope Boniface, the Pope

Corrupt pope condemned in Hell for simony.

Count Ugolino

minor

Also known as Ugolino, Count Ugolino della Gherardesca

Traitor frozen in Cocytus, who gnaws on Archbishop Ruggieri's skull.

Corso Donati

minor

Also known as Messer Corso Donati, Messer Corso, the Donati, Corso

Florentine political leader, mentioned in Purgatory.

Sordello

supporting

Also known as Sordello backward, the good Sordello, this Sordello

Mantuan poet who guides Dante and Virgil through Purgatory.

St. Dominic

minor

Also known as Dominic

Founder of the Dominican order, praised in Paradise.

St. Peter

minor

Also known as Saint Peter, Peter, Milman

Keeper of the keys to Heaven, examines Dante on faith.

Constantine

minor

Roman emperor whose Donation is criticized in the poem.

Cacciaguida

supporting

Also known as ↩ Cacciaguida

Dante's great-great-grandfather, encountered in the Heaven of Mars.

Farinata degli Uberti

minor

Also known as Farinata

Ghibelline leader who rises from a tomb in Hell.

Ciacco

minor

Florentine glutton who prophesies future strife in Hell.

Brunetto Latini

minor

Also known as Ser Brunetto, Ser Brunetto Latini, This Ser Brunetto Latini

Dante's former teacher, punished among the sodomites in Hell.

Francesca da Rimini

minor

Also known as Francesca, Madonna Francesca

Lover condemned to the second circle for adultery.

Ulysses

minor

Greek hero who recounts his final voyage in the eighth circle.

Pope Nicholas III

minor

Also known as Nicholas III, Nicholas

Simoniac pope punished head-down in a hole in Hell.

St. Bernard

supporting

Also known as Bernard

Mystic who guides Dante in the final cantos of Paradise.

Piccarda Donati

minor

Also known as Piccarda

Blessed soul in the Heaven of the Moon, explains lesser vows.

Justinian

minor

Byzantine emperor who recounts Roman history in the Heaven of Mercury.

Statius

supporting

Also known as Statius , Thebaid

Roman poet who joins Dante and Virgil in Purgatory.

Matilda

minor

Also known as the Countess Matilda

Lady who prepares Dante for ascent to Paradise in the Earthly Paradise.

Forese Donati

minor

Also known as Forese

Dante's friend, purging gluttony on the terrace of Purgatory.

Bonagiunta da Lucca

minor

Poet encountered among the gluttonous in Purgatory.

Guido Guinizzelli

minor

Also known as Guido Guinicelli

Poet purging lust, hailed as father of the dolce stil novo.

Arnaut Daniel

minor

Also known as Daniel, Arnaud Daniel

Provencal poet purging lust in Purgatory.

Peter Damiano

minor

Also known as St. Peter Damiano, Damiano

Monk and cardinal who appears in the Heaven of Saturn.

Benvenuto da Imola

minor

Also known as Benvenuto

Early commentator on the Divine Comedy.

Charles Martel

minor

Also known as Martel, Charles

Crowned prince of Hungary who appears in the Heaven of Venus.

Folco of Marseille

minor

Also known as Folco

Troubadour turned bishop, appears in the Heaven of Venus.

Cunizza da Romano

minor

Also known as Cunizza

Blessed soul in the Heaven of Venus, sister of Ezzelino.

Rahab

minor

Also known as the harlot Rahab

Biblical harlot who appears in the Heaven of Venus.

Solomon

minor

Biblical king who speaks on the resurrection in the Heaven of the Sun.

Bonaventure

minor

Also known as St. Bonaventura, Bonaventura

Franciscan theologian who praises St. Dominic in Paradise.

Peter Lombard

minor

Also known as Peter the Lombard

Medieval theologian, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Sigier of Brabant

minor

Also known as Sigier, Master Sigier

Philosopher mentioned by Thomas Aquinas in Paradise.

Albertus Magnus

minor

Also known as Albert the Great, Albert

Scholastic philosopher and teacher of Aquinas in Paradise.

Gratian

minor

Canon lawyer who appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Peter of Spain

minor

Logician and pope, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Nathan the Prophet

minor

Biblical prophet, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

John Chrysostom

minor

Church father, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Anselm of Canterbury

minor

Theologian and archbishop, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Elijah

minor

Also known as Elias

Biblical prophet, referenced in the Heaven of the Sun.

Joachim of Flora

minor

Also known as Joachim

Mystic and abbot, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Hugh of St. Victor

minor

Also known as Hugo de St. Victor

Mystical theologian, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Richard of St. Victor

minor

Also known as Richard de St. Victor

Mystical theologian, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Boethius

minor

Also known as The Senator Boethius, Severinus Boethius

Roman philosopher, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Isidore of Seville

minor

Also known as Isidore

Church father and encyclopedist, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Bede

minor

Also known as The Venerable Bede

English historian and theologian, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Donatus

minor

Also known as Aelius Donatus

Roman grammarian, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

Rabanus Maurus

minor

Also known as Rabanus

Carolingian scholar and archbishop, appears in the Heaven of the Sun.

David

minor

Also known as King David

Biblical king and psalmist, appears in the Heaven of Mars.

Joshua

minor

Biblical leader, appears in the Heaven of Mars.

Judas Maccabeus

minor

Jewish warrior, appears in the Heaven of Mars.

Charlemagne

minor

Holy Roman Emperor, appears in the Heaven of Mars.

Robert Guiscard

minor

Also known as Guiscard

Norman conqueror, appears in the Heaven of Mars.

Godfrey of Bouillon

minor

Crusader leader, appears in the Heaven of Mars.

Trajan

minor

Also known as the Emperor Trajan

Roman emperor saved by Gregory's prayers, appears in the Heaven of Jupiter.

Ripheus

minor

Also known as the Trojan Ripheus

Trojan hero saved by grace, appears in the Heaven of Jupiter.

Peter the Sinner

minor

Benedictine monk, appears in the Heaven of Saturn.

St. Benedict

minor

Also known as Benedict

Founder of Western monasticism, appears in the Heaven of Saturn.

St. Macarius

minor

Desert father, appears in the Heaven of Saturn.

Romualdus

minor

Also known as St. Romualdus

Hermit and founder of Camaldolese order, appears in the Heaven of Saturn.

St. John the Evangelist

minor

Also known as John

Examines Dante on charity in the Heaven of the Fixed Stars.

St. James

minor

Also known as James

Examines Dante on hope in the Heaven of the Fixed Stars.

Adam

minor

Also known as Master Adam

First man, appears in the Heaven of the Fixed Stars.

Moses

minor

Biblical lawgiver, appears in the Heaven of the Fixed Stars.

Samuel

minor

Biblical prophet, appears in the Heaven of the Fixed Stars.

St. Luke

minor

Also known as Luke

Evangelist, appears in the Heaven of the Fixed Stars.

St. Matthew

minor

Also known as Matthew

Evangelist, appears in the Heaven of the Fixed Stars.

St. Paul

minor

Also known as Paul

Apostle, referenced as examiner of faith in the Heaven of the Fixed Stars.

The Virgin Mary

supporting

Also known as Mary, Sweet Mary, Lady of Heaven

Mother of Jesus, intercedes for Dante throughout the poem.

St. Lucia

minor

Also known as Lucia

Saint who aids Dante's journey, sending Beatrice to Virgil.

Cato of Utica

minor

Also known as Cato

Guardian of Purgatory's shore, a symbol of moral freedom.

Casella

minor

Musician friend of Dante who sings on the shore of Purgatory.

Belacqua

minor

Lazy friend of Dante, purging in Ante-Purgatory.

Jacopo Rusticucci

minor

Also known as Rusticucci

Florentine sodomite encountered in the seventh circle of Hell.