Jacopone da Todi was a 13th-century Italian Franciscan friar, mystic, and poet from Umbria. Originally a successful lawyer named Jacopo dei Benedetti, he underwent a radical spiritual transformation following the sudden death of his wife. He abandoned his legal career to live as an ascetic, eventually joining the Order of Friars Minor. Known for his intense devotion to absolute poverty, he became a prominent figure among the Franciscan Spirituals, a group advocating for strict adherence to the rule of Saint Francis. His literary contributions include influential religious songs written in the local vernacular.