Jacopone da Todi (c.1230 - 1306)

Fra Jacopone da Todi, O.F.M. (ca. 1230 – 25 December 1306) was an Italian Franciscan friar from Umbria in the 13th century, born as Jacopo dei Benedetti, he was a member of a noble family. He wrote several laudi (songs in praise of the Lord) in Italian. He was an early pioneer in Italian theatre, being one of the earliest scholars who dramatised Gospel subjects.