On Sunday, 8th December, Italian media buzzed with headlines proclaiming an “extraordinary discovery” at La Spezia’s State Archive. Reports suggested the uncovering of rare Dante documents, including “two pages from the first edition of the Divine Comedy” and the original Pax Dantis.
However, the announcement turned out to be an embarrassing blunder, as these Dante documents are neither newly discovered nor unknown.
The so-called “first edition” of the Divine Comedy was a 14th-century parchment fragment. At the time, printing did not exist, so the term “edition” is misleading. Similarly, these aren’t “pages” as we know them but manuscript fragments, including part of the Purgatorio (Canto XXVI and the beginning of XXVII). The fragment has been well-documented since its discovery in 1890 by Umberto Marchesini and has been studied extensively by scholars.
This specific fragment, housed in La Spezia’s archive, is part of the Danti del Cento, a group of manuscripts linked to a Florentine workshop in the 14th century. In fact, an image of this fragment has been available for over a year on the archive’s official website.
As for the Pax Dantis, or the “Peace of Dante,” these documents pertain to the 1306 peace treaty brokered by Dante between the Malaspina family and the Bishop of Luni. They are not newly unearthed treasures but have been repeatedly studied, published, and exhibited. Most recently, they were showcased in a 2021 exhibition titled Dante “nuncius specialis”.
What Really Happened?
The misunderstanding arose after Pierluigi Peracchini, the mayor of La Spezia, shared a post celebrating the archive’s treasures. He referred to the “original Pax Dantis” and “authentic pages of the Divine Comedy,” sparking exaggerated claims in media outlets. While his post didn’t explicitly mention a discovery, statements quoted in the press, such as “an extraordinary find,” fuelled the confusion.
In reality, the documents’ significance lies in their historical value and the role Dante played as a diplomat for the Malaspina family during his exile. One of the most notable items is the mandatum, the authorisation given to Dante to negotiate on behalf of the Malaspina family, signed on 6th October 1306 in Sarzana.
Scholarly Reactions
Academics were quick to dismiss the claim of discovery. Medieval historian Enrica Salvatori stated that the documents are “well-known and heavily studied.” Similarly, archivist Eliana Vecchi noted the peace documents have been extensively analysed, particularly during the 1906 and 2006 anniversaries of the treaty.
While the documents are of undeniable historical and literary importance, this incident highlights the risks of sensationalism. The State Archive of La Spezia indeed houses remarkable items, but presenting them as newly uncovered treasures does a disservice to both the public and the scholars who have worked on them for decades.
Related article: On this day in history: Dante Alighieri dies
