c. 1269-1327

Italian astrologer and mathematician who taught both subjects at the University of Bologna (1322-24). Born Francesco degli Stabili, Cecco taught astrology at a number of institutions around Italy before moving to Bologna. He presented a defense of astrology after Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) attacked it in the Divine Comedy, and accused Dante of heresy; ironically, Cecco himself was burned at the stake as a heretic. His most important writing was an allegorical and encyclopedic poem entitled L'acerba.