Guido Cavalcanti (c. 1250-1300) was an Florentine Romantic poet, exiled to Sarzana for his political views when the Black Guelphs took power. He was one of the first poets to write in the style called dolce stil nuovo. He is also thought to have been a mentor of Dante Aligieri, who later dedicated the Vita Nuova to him. Cavalcanti died in Florence shortly after being released from exile.