Alessandro Manzoni was born on March 15, 1785, in Milan as the son of Count Pietro Manzoni. He spent his childhood and youth in various religious boarding schools. In 1801, he returned to his father, who was now living separately from his mother. Manzoni gained access to the best circles in Milan, adopted liberal and democratic ideas, and began writing his first poems. In 1805, he moved to Paris to live with his mother and came into contact with many intellectuals of the city. He engaged with history and literature. In 1808, he married the banker’s daughter Enrichetta Blondl, with whom he would have nine children. He returned to Italy in 1810. In the following years, he wrote, among other things, spiritual hymns and historical dramas. His major work 'I promessi sposi' ('The Betrothed') was published in 1827. In 1837, four years after the death of his wife Enrichetta, Manzoni married again. After the great success of 'The Betrothed,' he gradually withdrew from public life, gave up poetry, and dedicated himself exclusively to historical and linguistic studies. He received several royal honors and was appointed chairman of the 'Commission for the Unification of the Language' in 1862. Alessandro Manzoni died on May 22, 1873, at the age of 88, and all of Italy mourned. Verdi composed his famous Requiem for him.