The Divine Comedy · Character
Pope Boniface VIII
Corrupt pope condemned in Hell for simony.
minor
Also known as Boniface VIII, Boniface, Pope Boniface, the Pope
First appearance: Canto XIX: The Simoniacs and Pope Nicholas III
Pope Boniface VIII's tie to Dante Alighieri is one of the pressures that moves The Divine Comedy—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.
Mentioned by Nicholas III as the next simoniac pope to be punished.
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With Dante Alighieri (rivalry): Dante condemns Pope Boniface VIII as a corrupt figure destined for Hell, creating a hostile dynamic. With Sordello (rivalry): Pope Boniface VIII is condemned by Dante and Sordello as a…
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The fuller portrait of Pope Boniface VIII sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See Pope Boniface VIII in Canto XIX: The Simoniacs and Pope Nicholas IIICharacter Web
40 connectionsA slice of how Pope Boniface VIII sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Rivalry
- Other
Character groups
- Heavenly Guides and Saints
- Protagonist
+35 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
In this canto, the dramatic climax occurs when Dante, having been emboldened to ask Virgil to teach him the na…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Dante Alighieri
rivalry · negative
Dante condemns Pope Boniface VIII as a corrupt figure destined for Hell, creating a… How this plays out →
- Sordello
rivalry · negative
- Dante Alighieri
rivalry · negative
Dante condemns Pope Boniface VIII as a corrupt figure destined for Hell, creating a… How this plays out →
- Dante Alighieri
rivalry · negative
Dante condemns Pope Boniface VIII as a corrupt figure destined for Hell, creating a… How this plays out →
- Sordello
rivalry · negative
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See Pope Boniface VIII in Canto XIX: The Simoniacs and Pope Nicholas IIIIn the story
Pope Boniface VIII appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
- Canto XIX: The Simoniacs and Pope Nicholas III
- Canto XXVII
- Canto XXVIII: The Ninth Bolgia of the Schismatics
- Canto XXXIII
- Canto XI
- Canto XXVII: St. Peter's Reproof and the Ascent to the Primum Mobile
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for Pope Boniface VIII unlock in the free preview.
See Pope Boniface VIII in Canto XIX: The Simoniacs and Pope Nicholas III