Dante's Influence On Virgil

Virgil, being the national poet of the Roman Empire, fit in well with Dante’s political and religious views. The mostly German, Holy Roman Empire was favored by Dante coming into Italy, because he saw God’s ordained instrument, the Empire, brought unity to the factionalism, which was responsible for dividing Italian Christians. This same factionalism was the cause of his own exile. According to Dante’s, the proper Christian framework on earth was provided by the Empire, Dante therefore reflected on Virgil the poet who told the story of how, the Roman Empire directed by God’s providence, came to be.