Ugo Foscolo

Italian writer, revolutionary, and poet, 1778-1827

"Foscolo, who, for unexplained reasons, had changed his Christian name Niccolò to that of Ugo, began to take an active part in the stormy political discussions due to the fall of the republic of Venice. He was a prominent member of the national committees, and addressed an ode to Napoleon, expecting Napoleon to overthrow the Venetian oligarchy and create a free republic. The Treaty of Campo Formio meant the definitive end to the ancient Republic, which was disbanded and partitioned by the French and the Austrians. Foscolo is especially remembered for his 1807 long poem ""Dei Sepolcri"", which may be described as a sublime effort to seek refuge in the past from the misery of the present."