Death in Florence: the Medici, Savonarola and the Battle for the Soul of the Renaissance City

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Death in Florence: the Medici, Savonarola and the Battle for the Soul of the Renaissance City Page 49

by Paul Strathern


  Girolamo Savonarola, Compendio di rivelazioni, ed. A. Crucitti (Florence, 1933)

  Girolama Savonarola, Compendium totius philosopiae tam … moralis (Venice, 1542)

  Girolamo Savonarola, Le Lettere, ed. Roberto Ridolfi (Florence, 1933)

  Girolamo Savonarola, Poesie, tratte dall’autographo, ed. C. Guasti (Florence, 1862)

  Girolamo Savonarola, Prediche sopra Aggeo, ed. L. Firpo (Rome, 1965)

  Girolamo Savonarola, Prediche sopra Amos a Zaccaria, 3 vols., ed. P. Ghigglieri (Rome, 1971–2)

  Girolamo Savonarola, Prediche sopra l’Esodo, ed. P. G.Ricci (Rome, 1962 et seq.)

  Girolamo Savonarola, Prediche sopra l’Esodo, 2 vols., ed. Pier Giorgio Ricci (Rome, 1955–6)

  Girolamo Savonarola, Prediche sopra Ezechiele, 2 vols., ed. Roberto Ridolfi, (Rome, 1955)

  Girolamo Savonarola, Prediche sopra Ruth e Michea, ed. V. Romano (Rome, 1962)

  Girolamo Savonarola, Prediche sul Salmo Quam bonus (Prato, 1846)

  Girolamo Savonarola, Reverendi P. Fra Hieronymi Savonarole in primam D. Joannis epistolam … [Bernardini Stagni edition] (Venice, 1536)

  Girolamo Savonarola, Tratto sul governo della Città di Firenze (Casale Monferrato, 1996)

  Girolama Savonarola, Trionfo della Croce (Siena, 1899)

  Giovanni Semprini, Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (Todi, 1921)

  Francesco de Ser Barone, I processi di Girolamo Savonarola (Florence, 1498)

  Desmond Seward, Savonarola and the Borgia Pope (Stroud, England, 2006)

  Paul Strathern, The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance (London, 2003)

  Miles J. Unger, Magnifico: Life of Lorenzo de’ Medici (New York, 2008)

  Piero Vaglienti, Storia dei sui tempi 1492–1514, ed. G. Berti et al (Pisa, 1982)

  Pierre Van Passen, A Crown of Fire: The Life and Times of Girolamo Savonarola (New York, 1960)

  Giorgio Vasari, Le Vite dei piu eccelenti pittori, scultori e architetti, 4 vols., ed. Carlo L. Ragghianti (Milan, 1943–7)

  Giorgio Vasari, Lives of the Artists, trans. George Bull (Harmondsworth, 1965)

  Pasquale Villari, La Storia di Girolamo Savonarola e de’ suoi tempi, 2 vols. (Florence, 1887)

  Pasquale Villari, Savonarola, 2 vols., trans. Linda Villari (London, 1888)

  P. Villari and E. Casanova, Scelta di prediche e scritti di fra Girolamo Savonarola, etc. (Florence, 1887)

  Lorenzo Violi, Le giornate, ed. G. C. Carfagnini (Florence, 1986)

  F. Ludwig von Pastor, The History of the Popes, 40 vols., ed. & trans. F. I. Antrobus (London, 1950 edn)

  Donald Weinstein, Savonarola and Florence (Princeton, 1970)

  William Wordsworth, The Prelude (London, 1926)

  Index

  The page references in this index correspond to the printed edition from which this ebook was created. To find a specific word or phrase from the index, please use the search feature of your ebook reader.

  Acciaiuoli family, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31, 32

  Adriatic, 32, 50–1, 57

  Africa, 5

  North, 11, 164

  West, 78

  Age of Reason, 87

  Aix-en-Provence, 77, 92

  Albizzi family, 11, 330

  Alexander VI, Pope

  as Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, 75, 157

  election as Pope, 157–8

  and Pico’s need for pardon, 151

  and the issue of separation of Tuscan Congregation from Lombardy Congregation, 154, 155, 156, 158, 159 and n, 160

  gives permission for Savonarola to build monastery, 162

  and Ludovico Sforza, 168

  and French preparations for invasion, 171, 172

  and French entry into Rome, 218

  corruption, 218, 229

  and his children, 218, 263–4

  meeting with Charles VIII, 218–19

  ‘gift’ to the French, 219

  and formation of Holy League alliance against the French, 219–20

  flees from Rome, 220

  outraged at Charles VIII’s escape, 221

  urged to take action against Savonarola, 221

  writes papal Brief summoning Savonarola to Rome, 221

  Savonarola’s letter to, 222, 224, 233, 239

  Piero de’ Medici seeks support of, 230

  Floridi arrested by, 240n

  and Savonarola’s response to so-called papal Brief, 242

  covertly supports Medici cause, 243

  sends papal Brief commanding Savonarola to cease preaching, 243–4

  faces threat from Charles VIII, 244

  has long–term aim of alliance with France, 244

  gives verbal permission for Savonarola to preach, 244–5

  Savonarola’s sermons allude to, 251, 263–4

  Savonarola argues his innocence of transgression against, 252

  appoints ecclesiastical committee to investigate Savonarola, 252

  committee reports back to, 253–4

  sends Fra Ludovico da Ferrara on mission, 254

  sends troops against Florence, 257, 258

  meeting with Bracci, 264–5

  secret negotiations with Charles VIII, 265

  influence of Fra Mariano da Genazzano on, 273

  excommunication of Savonarola, 276–7, 278

  refuses to rescind excommunication, 292

  Savonarola makes direct and public challenge to, 292–3

  remonstrates with Bracci and Bonsi, 295

  commands Bonsi to send despatch to Signoria, 295

  sends two Briefs to Florence, 295

  and Savonarola’s circular letter to rulers, 300, 301, 302, 303, 304

  and the ordeal by fire episode, 311, 314, 315

  response to news of Savonarola’s imprisonment, 334

  wants Savonarola to be despatched to Rome, 334, 335, 340, 341, 347–8

  excommunication of friars of San Marco, 345

  friars send letter to, 345–6

  message from Florence to, 348

  agrees to Signoria’s proposal, 349

  selects Papal Commission, 349

  and Savonarola’s interrogation by Remolino, 355

  Remolino’s report to, 357

  and papal Brief degrading Savonarola, Fra Domenico and Fra Silvestro, 362–3

  Brief bestowing plenary indulgence on the three friars, 363

  makes Remolino a cardinal, 368

  as threat to Florence, 369

  brief references, 255, 339

  Alfonso II, King of Naples

  before becoming king, 15, 57–8, 59, 167–8

  as King, 171, 172, 177, 219

  Alps, 176, 177

  alum, 15–17, 28–9, 32

  Angelico, Fra, 54

  Anne of France, 90, 173 and n

  Antella, Lamberto dell’, 272, 280–1, 282

  Antiquari, Jacopo, 125

  Apelles, 181–2

  Apennine mountains, 32, 53, 57, 84, 95, 97, 196

  Appiano, Jacopo IV d’, Lord of Piombino, 61

  Appiano, Semiramide d’, 61, 67

  Aquinas, St Thomas, 42, 48, 82

  Arezzo, 77, 84, 92, 211

  Argyropoulos, Johannes, 13–14

  Arian heresy, 355n

  Aristotelianism, 14, 42, 68, 69 see also Aristotle

  Aristotle, 5, 14, 42, 68, 69, 87 see also Aristotelianism

  Ark see Noah’s Ark, theme of

  Arrabbiati

  emerge as main opposition to Savonarola, 230–1

  learn contents of so–called papal Brief, 240

  Savonarola advises citizens of Florence to take action against, 243

  try to stir up feelings against Savonarola, 257, 296

  slogan, 265

  as faction in the government, 276, 297, 298

  and Savonarola’s circular letter to rulers, 303

  and the ordeal by fire episode, 307, 308, 319, 320, 321

  a monk of San Marco vows secret allegiance to, 328

  launch round–up of Piagnoni sympathisers, 347

  an
d Remolino, 352

  and Savonarola’s execution, 366

  brief references, 251, 278, 279, 296, 315, 330, 350, 355

  Asti, 178, 183

  astrology, 149–50

  Augustine, St, 147

  Augustinians, 107, 198, 221, 264, 295, 303, 311, 315

  Avignon branch of Medici bank, 77

  Avogarius, Petrus Bonus, 114–15

  Babylon, Sultan of, 4

  Badia, Fiesole, 119

  Baia (munitions expert), 294

  balià, 4

  Balkans, 50

  Balsac, seigneur de, 197, 198, 204

  banking, 17–18 see also Medici bank; Pazzi bank; Pitti bank

  Barbaro, Ermolao, 69

  Barbary pirates, 16

  Bargello, Florence, 175n, 283, 284, 332, 347, 348

  Barone, Francesco de Ser see Ceccone, Ser

  Bartoli, Domenico, 279, 282–3, 286

  Bartolommeo, Fra, 7

  Becchi, Gentile, 13

  Becchi, Ricciardo, 273

  Bejazit II, Sultan, 229

  Belfiore, 44

  Benedetto, Fra, 44

  Benivieni, Domenico, 108

  Bernardino da Feltre, Fra, 104–5, 112

  Bianchi, 231, 268, 279

  Bibbiena, Piero da, 112, 139

  Bible, 5, 41, 42, 53, 98, 99, 100, 101, 137, 142, 162, 163, 225, 238, 252 see also New Testament; Old Testament

  Bicci, Giovanni di, 25

  Bigi, 230, 233, 265, 268–9, 271, 276, 279, 281–2

  Black Sea, 11

  Boccaccio, 136, 260

  Boethius: The Consolation of Philosophy, 227

  Bologna, 46, 94, 97, 116, 155, 185, 196 Dominican monastery, 46, 48–9 Studium generale, 49, 74, 94

  Bolsheviks, 370

  ‘Bonfire of the Vanities’, 261–2, 266, 296

  Bonsi, Domenico, 113, 292, 294, 295, 311, 348

  Borgia, Cesare, 157, 218, 219, 349, 369

  Borgia, Lucrezia, 157, 218

  Borgia, Cardinal Rodrigo see Alexander VI, Pope

  Borgia family, 151 see also names of individuals

  Botticelli, Sandro

  as member to cultural and intellectual circle at Palazzo Medici, 30, 61

  sent to Rome, 6, 37

  paints frescoes at Sistine Chapel, 60

  returns to Florence, 60–1

  epitomises new phase of Renaissance, 60–1

  and Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici, 66, 182

  and funeral of Lorenzo the Magnificent, 130

  and Savonarola, 147, 166, 170, 171, 181, 217, 227, 236

  remains attached to Piero the Unfortunate, 179

  inner conflict, 171, 181

  troubled state of mind, 170–1, 260–1, 368

  moves in with his brother and continues his painting, 236–7

  Piagnoni meet in studio of, 299–300

  asks questions about Savonarola’s trial, 356

  old age and death, 368

  brief references, 81, 93–4

  Works:

  The Adoration of the Magi, 30, 198

  The Birth of Venus, 6, 170, 181, 237

  The Calumny of Apelles, 181–3, 209, 210

  drawings of scenes from Dante’s Divine Comedy, 171, 237

  Lamentation over the Dead Christ, 237

  Pallas and the Centaur, 61–2

  Primavera (Spring), 6, 66–7 and n, 81, 170, 181, 237

  Bourbon, Duc de, 204

  Bracci, Alessandro, 264–5, 295

  Brescia, 95, 96

  Brief of Separation, 159

  Bruges, 16, 29, 65, 66, 78

  branch of Medici bank in, 11, 20, 77, 78

  Brunelleschi, Filippo, 71, 103, 107, 198

  Burckhardt, Jacob, 50, 234

  Burlamacchi, Fra Pacifico, 96, 97, 101, 163, 229, 274, 294n, 329n, 337, 361 and n, 365–6

  Byzantine Empire, 87

  Cafaggiolo, 63, 66, 176

  Caleffini, 45

  Calmette, Joseph, 197n

  Camerino, Gianvittorio da, 276–7

  Canacci, Giovanni, 309–10

  Capponi, Gino, 281–6

  Capponi, Piero di Gino, 172–3, 184, 187, 189–90, 202, 203, 206–7, 211, 215, 216, 217, 251, 256

  Capponi family, 173 see also names of individuals

  Caraffa, Cardinal Oliviero, 155, 156, 158–9 and n, 242, 243, 244, 254, 355

  Careggi

  Michelozzi designs Medici villa at, 54

  Piero the Gouty at, 21

  last days of Lorenzo the Magnificent at, 1–2, 7–8, 122–6

  death of Lorenzo at, 128

  Ficino at, 261, 298

  Carnival, 245–6, 247, 260, 261, 262, 296

  Cascina, 257

  Casentino, 239

  Castellina, 270 and n

  Castello, 176

  Castello Sforza, Milan, 2

  Castel Sant’ Angelo, Rome, 218, 300

  catasto, 161

  Catherine de’ Medici, Queen of France, 370

  Ceccone, Ser (Francesco de Ser Barone), 332, 336, 337, 338, 339–40, 341–2, 343, 345, 351, 353, 354, 357, 359

  Cerretani, Bartolomeo, 204, 284

  Chapter General of the Dominicans of Lombardy, 51, 52, 53

  Charles I, King of England, 370

  Charles VIII, King of France

  coronation, 62

  Anne of France acts as regent for, 90

  dreams of chivalrous adventures, 168, 169

  education, 168

  appearance, 168–9, 200, 204

  Ludovico Sforza appeals for support to, 168

  claim to kingdom of Naples, 168, 169

  stakes claim to kingdom of Naples on death of King Ferrante, 171

  prepares for invasion, 171

  postpones invasion, 172

  Capponi’s relationship with, 172–3

  and Piero de’ Medici’s breaking of alliance with France, 173

  Lorenzo and Giovanni di Pierfrancesco de’ Medici in favour of alliance with, 174

  sends Commines to Italy, 174–5

  Lorenzo and Giovanni di Pierfrancesco in contact with, 175

  leads army across the Alps into Italy, 176–7

  rumoured to be in Genoa, 178

  welcomed at Asti, 178

  role as ‘scourge of God’, 180, 226, 244, 254–5, 266

  Ludovico Sforza has misgivings about, 183–4

  falls ill, 184

  Piero de’ Medici sends mission to, 184

  Capponi betrays Piero to, 184

  and death of Gian Galeazzo Sforza, 184

  perceives character of Ludovico Sforza, 184

  Lorenzo and Giovanni di Pierfrancesco make their way to, 185

  Piero’s meeting with, 186–7

  Piero agrees to demands of, 187

  Capponi suggests sending delegation to, 189

  delegation led by Savonarola sets out to find, 190

  Balsac instructed to prepare Palazzo Medici for, 197

  arrives in Pisa, 199

  and Florentine delegation, 200

  sets off towards Florence, 201

  enters Florence, 203–5

  takes up residence at Palazzo Medici, 204

  sets out terms to Signoria, 205

  treaty agreed with Signoria, 206

  Capponi’s defiance of, 206–7

  signs treaty, 207

  meeting with Savonarola at Palazzo Medici, 207–8

  leaves Florence, 208

  reaches Rome, 218

  meeting with Alexander VI, 218–19

  leaves Rome and sets out for Naples, 219 in Naples, 219

  alliance formed against, 219–20

  leads army out of Naples, 220

  returns to France, 221

  considers a further invasion of Italy, 244

  in relation to Alexander VI’s actions regarding Savonarola, 244, 252

  Savonarola explains reasons for staying in correspondence with, 254–5

  and death of his son, 256–7

  secret negotiations with Alex
ander VI, and signing of treaty with Holy League, 265 attacked by Savonarola in his sermon, 265–6

  Savonarola’s prediction about death of, 266, 337

  and Savonarola’s letter to rulers, 300–1, 301–2, 303, 304

  death, 336

  brief references, 195, 211, 215, 239, 264, 267, 268, 311, 338

  China, 2, 66

  Church

  widespread awareness of corruption of, 41

  and Savonarola’s thinking, preaching and teaching, 60, 70, 72, 73, 74, 95, 102, 133, 137, 229, 250, 263, 288, 301, 302, 370

  Giovanni de’ Medici’s career in, 76–7, 79–80, 92, 93, 94, 115–16, 118–20, 157–8

  and Pico della Mirandola, 88–9, 90, 94

  brief references, 132, 154, 162, 230, 293–4, 308, 347–8

  see also Council of the Church; names of popes

  Cinozzi, Fra Placido, 71, 109

  Citadella Nuova, Pisa, 199

  Clement VII, Pope, 362, 369, 370

  coinage, 116

  Col de Montgenèvre, 176

  College of Cardinals, 79–80, 92, 157

  Columbus, Christopher, 5

  Combi, Giovanni, 297, 304

  Commines, Philippe de, 174–5, 184, 186, 187, 197–8, 200–1, 220

  Compagnacci, 294 and n, 298, 307, 308, 315, 316, 317, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 331, 332, 333, 356

  Compagnie de’ Neri, 360, 363

  Condivi, Ascanio, 135, 235

  Constantinople, 13–14, 50, 87, 169, 219, 229

  Council of the Church, 300, 301, 303, 315, 338, 349, 355, 357

  Council of One Hundred, 27, 36

  Council of Seventy, 36, 37, 189, 190

  Council of Ten, 294n

  Council of Twenty see Twenty, the

  Cremona, 58

  Cromwell, Oliver, 249, 290

  Cybo, Franceschetto, 3, 92

  Cyrus the Great, 144n

  Savonarola predicts a new, 144, 164, 176, 226

  Daily Telegraph, 210

  Dante, 68, 135–6, 227

  Divine Comedy (Divina Commedia), 14, 136, 171, 227, 237

  Davanzati, Francesco, 324

  Descartes, René, 86, 287

  Diaz, Bartholomew, 5

  Dickens, Charles, 50n

  Domenico da Pescia, Fra

  as member of Tuscan delegation, 155–6, 158, 159

  preaches instead of Savonarola, 297

  and the ordeal by fire episode, 305, 306, 307–8, 311, 314, 317, 318, 319, 320

  taken prisoner with Savonarola, 329, 330

  interrogation and torture, 332, 343–5, 347

  fate discussed by Papal Commissioners and Florentine authorities, 357

  letter to monks at Fiesole, 359

  meeting with Savonarola, 360–1

  and tribunals, 362–3

  execution, 363–7

  Dominic, St, 48, 146, 160

  Dominican order

  foundation of, 48

 

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