Historical figures aren't the only exogenous things in written works, and historical figures are far from the extent of the external structures and themes that are present in Dante's Comedy, I would go as far as to say that the historical connections in the comedy are not that significant, and serve mostly to distract one particular class of reader.
I responded directly to your comment where you suggested that the work of identifying and/or interpreting "references" was unique to or characteristic of Dante.
And I am adding that while always interesting and rewarding for those that are obsessed with a work, "getting" the references in Dante's Comedy or any other work of merit is not the point, and they are not all that important in the work.
And further, since I am near the subject, I am engraving my personal ad hominem, that it is the characteristic mark of a certain class of readership (which I hold in low regard) to fixate on which 7th century monk in which manuscript first introduced some mentioned doctrine before having (and never-to-have) attempted to commune with the work itself.
