Petrach. or Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374), was an Italian poet, scholar, humanist, and diplomat. One of the lights of the Renaissance , and greatest Italian poet after Dante , Petrarch was widely honored in his lifetime (he was crowned "Poet Laureate" by the Roman populace). One of the greatest influences in the revival of classical learning, his relentless search for ancient manuscripts led to the preservaton of numerous works which might otherwise have been lost, including the letters of Cicero.