Poet Biographies

Medieval era

Alisher Navoi

February 9, 1441 – January 3, 1501

Turkic poet and politician (1441–1501)

Early Modern era

Magtymguly Pyragy

1733 – 1782

Turkmen spiritual leader and philosophical poet

Medieval era

Rudaki

859 CE – 941 CE

Persian poet, the father of Persian poetry

Medieval era

Shota Rustaveli

1172 – 1216

Georgian poet

Medieval era

David the Builder

1073 – January 24, 1125

King of Georgia (1073-1125)

Modern era

Ilia Chavchavadze

October 27, 1837 – August 30, 1907

Georgian public figure and writer; a saint of Georgian Orthodox Church (1837-1907)

Medieval era

Nizami Ganjavi

1141 – 1209

Persian poet

Medieval era

Attar of Nishapur

1145 – April 26, 1221

Persian Sufi poet (c. 1145 – c. 1221)

Modern era

Forugh Farrokhzad

January 5, 1935 – February 13, 1967

Iranian poet (1935-1967)

Modern era

Nazim Hikmet

January 15, 1902 – June 3, 1963

Turkish communist poet, playwright and novelist (1902–1963)

Medieval era

Al-Mutanabbi

920 CE – 965 CE

Arab poet (c. 915 – 965)

Medieval era

Al-Jahiz

775 CE – 868 CE

Arabic writer (776–869)

Modern era

May Ziadeh

February 11, 1886 – October 17, 1941

Lebanese-Palestinian writer (1886-1941)

Modern era

Nizar Qabbani

March 21, 1923 – April 30, 1998

Syrian diplomat, poet and publisher (1923-1998)

Muhammad Ali Pasha

Historical figure

Modern era

Hoda Shaarawi

June 23, 1879 – December 12, 1947

Egyptian feminist and nationalist (1879–1947)

Early Modern era

Usman dan Fodio

December 15, 1754 – 1817

Founder of the Sokoto Caliphate

Early Modern era

Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz

November 12, 1651 – April 17, 1695

Mexican writer, philosopher, playwright and poet

Modern era

Octavio Paz

March 31, 1914 – April 19, 1998

Mexican writer, poet an diplomat (1914–1998)

Modern era

Ruben Dario

January 18, 1867 – February 6, 1916

Nicaraguan poet, journalist, writer, and diplomat (1867-1916)

Modern era

Juan Pablo Duarte

January 26, 1813 – July 15, 1876

Presidente y libertador of the Dominican Republic (1813-1876)

Early Modern era

Andres Bello

November 29, 1781 – October 15, 1865

Venezuelan humanist, diplomat, poet, legislator, philosopher, educator and philologist (1781-1865)

Modern era

Cesar Vallejo

March 16, 1892 – April 15, 1938

Peruvian writer

Modern era

Violeta Parra

October 4, 1917 – February 5, 1967

Chilean musician and folklorist

Modern era

Banjo Paterson

February 17, 1864 – February 5, 1941

Australian journalist, author and poet (1864 - 1941)

Caedmon

d. 680 CE

Ancient English poet

Medieval era

Alfonso X of Castile

November 23, 1221 – April 4, 1284

King of Castile from 1252 to 1284

Medieval era

Ibn Hazm

November 7, 994 CE – August 15, 1064

Andalusian Muslim polymath, historian, jurist, philosopher and theologian (994–1064)

Wallada bint al-Mustakfi

d. March 26, 1091

Al-Andalus poet

Medieval era

Ibn Tufail

1110 – 1185

Arab Muslim polymath (c. 1105–1185)

Medieval era

Ziryab

777 CE – 857 CE

9th-century poet and musician

Medieval era

Samuel ibn Naghrillah

993 CE – 1055

Spanish poet, vizier, and general

Medieval era

Guido Cavalcanti

1258 – August 29, 1300

Italian poet (1258-1300)

Medieval era

Brunetto Latini

1220 – 1294

Italian scholar and statesman, c. 1220–1294

Medieval era

Ausias March

1400 – March 3, 1459

Valencian poet and knight

Medieval era

Peter III of Aragon

1239 – 1285

King of Aragon and Valencia (1276–85); King of Sicily (1282–85)

Medieval era

Alcuin

724 CE – May 19, 804 CE

8th-century Northumbrian scholar, clergyman, poet, and teacher

Medieval era

Bede

672 CE – 735 CE

Anglo-Saxon monk, writer and saint (672/3–735)

Medieval era

Marsilio Ficino

October 19, 1433 – October 1, 1499

Italian philosopher and Catholic priest (1433–1499)

Medieval era

Solomon ibn Gabirol

1021 – 1058

11th-century Andalusian poet and Jewish philosopher

Medieval era

Paul the Deacon

720 CE – 799 CE

8th century Benedictine monk, scribe and historian

Medieval era

Alain de Lille

c. 1117 – December 29, 1202

French theologian and poet

Medieval era

Marie de France

c. 1101 – c. 1300

Medieval poet

Medieval era

Chretien de Troyes

c. 1135 – c. 1181

12th century French poet and trouvère

Medieval era

Wolfram von Eschenbach

1170 – 1220

German knight and poet (1170–1220)

Medieval era

Walther von der Vogelweide

1170 – 1230

German minstrel singer (c. 1170 – c. 1230)

Medieval era

Jean Froissart

1337 – 1405

French writer

Christine de Pizan

d. 1430

French poet and author (1364 – c. 1430)

Medieval era

Francois Villon

1431 – 1463

French poet and criminal

Medieval era

William Langland

1332 – 1386

English writer

Medieval era

Thomas Malory

1405 – March 14, 1471

English writer, author of Le Morte d'Arthur (1405–1471)

Medieval era

Guillaume de Machaut

1300 – 1377

Medieval French composer and poet (c. 1300–1377)

Medieval era

Cynewulf

c. 900 CE – c. 900 CE

Anglo Saxon poet

Medieval era

John Gower

1330 – 1408

English writer and poet (c.1330–1408)

Medieval era

James I of Scotland

July 25, 1394 – February 21, 1437

King of Scots from 1406 to 1437

Medieval era

Robert Henryson

1425 – 1506

15th-century Scottish makar (poet)

Medieval era

Blind Harry

1440 – 1492

Scottish author of the poem The Wallace

Medieval era

Dafydd ap Gwilym

1320 – 1380

14th-century Welsh poet

Medieval era

Taliesin

534 CE – 599 CE

Welsh bard

Medieval era

Aneirin

525 CE – 600 CE

Brythonic (Welsh) poet; author of the Gododdin.