Cavalcanti, Guido, c.1255-1300, Italian poet; friend of Dante, whose work was greatly influenced by Cavalcanti's style. He belonged to the White faction in the struggle of the Guelphs in Florence and was exiled to Sarzana. There he fell ill with malaria and died soon after his recall. Much of his verse, very little of which remains, is in the Canzone d'amore [song of love]. For translations, see his Sonnets and Ballate (tr. by Ezra Pound, 1912) and Lorna de' Lucchi, An Anthology of Italian Poems (1922).

(born circa 1255, Florence—died Aug. 27/28, 1300, Florence) Italian poet. Born into an influential Florentine family, he studied with the philosopher and scholar Brunetto Latini, who had earlier taught Dante, Cavalcanti's close friend. After Dante, he is considered the greatest Italian poet and personality in 13th-century Italian literature. He left about 50 poems, many addressed to two women and on the theme of love. His language demonstrates the grace and directness of the dolce stil nuovo (“sweet new style”). Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Ezra Pound translated his poems.

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(born circa 1255, Florence—died Aug. 27/28, 1300, Florence) Italian poet. Born into an influential Florentine family, he studied with the philosopher and scholar Brunetto Latini, who had earlier taught Dante, Cavalcanti's close friend. After Dante, he is considered the greatest Italian poet and personality in 13th-century Italian literature. He left about 50 poems, many addressed to two women and on the theme of love. His language demonstrates the grace and directness of the dolce stil nuovo (“sweet new style”). Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Ezra Pound translated his poems.

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Cavalcanti is an Italian surname, also common in Portugal and Brazil where is used by people of ancient Italian origin. In Italy, Portugal and Brazil the variant Cavalcante is also used. It may refer to:

• Alberto Cavalcanti (1897-1982), Brazilian film director
• Andrea Cavalcanti, a fictional character in The Count of Monte Cristo
• Cavalcante de' Cavalcanti (died c. 1280), Florentine philosopher, father of Guido Cavalicanti
• Emiliano Di Cavalcanti (1897-1976), Brazilian painter
• Giovanni Cavalcanti (chronicler) (1381-c.1451), Florentine chronicler
• Giovanni Cavalcanti (poet) (1444-1509), Florentine poet
• Guido Cavalcanti (c. 1255-1300), Italian poet
• Severino Cavalcanti (born 1930), Brazilian politician
• Joaquim Arcoverde de Albuquerque Cardinal Cavalcanti (1850-1930), first Latin American Cardinal