Pio Rajna (8 July 1847 – 25 November 1930) was an Italian philologist,

literary critic Literary criticism (or literary studies) is the study, evaluation, and interpretation of literature. Modern literary criticism is often influenced by literary theory, which is the philosophical discussion of literature's goals and methods. Th ...

, and senator. He was known for his work on Italian chivalric literature and French ''

chansons de geste The ''chanson de geste'' (, from Latin 'deeds, actions accomplished') is a medieval narrative, a type of epic poem that appears at the dawn of French literature. The earliest known poems of this genre date from the late 11th and early 12th ...

''. Rajna was appointed Knight of the

Order of the Crown of Italy The Order of the Crown of Italy ( it, Ordine della Corona d'Italia, italic=no or OCI) was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861. It was awarded in five degrees for civi ...

in 1881 (later promoted to Grand Officer), a Knight of the

Order of SS. Maurizio and Lazzaro The Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus ( it, Ordine dei Santi Maurizio e Lazzaro) (abbreviated OSSML) is a Roman Catholic dynastic order of knighthood bestowed by the royal House of Savoy. It is the second-oldest order of knighthood in the w ...

in 1892 (later promoted to Officer in 1897 and Commander), and a Knight of the

Civil Order of Savoy The Civil Order of Savoy was founded as an order of knighthood in 1831 by the King of Sardinia, Charles Albert, Duke of Savoy. It is now replaced by the Order of Merit of Savoy.The intention was to reward those virtues not belonging to the existi ...

in 1909. He was appointed to the Senate of the Kingdom of Italy in 1920, as a member of the Accademia nazionale delle scienze of seven years' standing. Rajna was elected a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy in 1920.

References

1847 births 1930 deaths Italian philologists Italian literary critics