Cavalcante de Cavalcanti was one of the Damned which Dante must punish or absolve for "The Damned" achievement/trophy. He was encountered in the circle of Heresy.
Description
"Merchant banker of Florence who was denounced as a heretic for his atheist beliefs. He resides with the other Heretics among the fiery tombs."
Background
The real-life Cavalcante de Cavalcanti was a Florentine banker and a member of the Guelph faction (Dante Alighieri's own political alignment). Cavalcanti's son Guido was even a close friend of Dante. However, Cavalcanti lent money at extreme rates during the Crusades, and despite his alliance with the Guelphs he was considered a heretic. He died in the year 1280.
Trivia
- In The Inferno, Dante and Virgil behold and speak with the shade of Cavalcante de Cavalcanti as they travel through the fiery tombs of the sixth circle.
- The historic Cavalcante de Cavalcanti's son, Guido, was married to the daughter of a fellow damned soul, Farinata degli Uberti. According to the original epic, the burning tombs of Cavalcanti and Farinata are right next to each others'.