culture of, 139 and n
delegations sent to, 154–6
Tuscan delegation in, 156, 158–9
Giovanni’s life in, 156–7
Giovanni’s departure from, 158
Lombardy delegation in, 159–60
and the French invasion, 205, 218–19, 220
direct action against Savonarola urged in, 221
Alexander VI’s Brief summons Savonarola to, 221
Savonarola refuses to go to, 222, 233, 239
opinion swings behind reinstatement of the Medici, 230
Michelangelo in, 235–6
Savonarola’s rhetoric against, 250–1, 263
committee of theologians reports in, 253–4
Bracci as Florentine envoy in, 264–5
news of French treaty with Holy League reaches, 265
Piero de’ Medici in, 271–3, 280
increasing outrage against Savonarola in, 273
delivery of papal Brief of Excommunication from, 276–7
depiction on medal in Florence, 287
Bonsi sent as second ambassador to, 292
Bonsi’s despatch from, 294
meeting of Alexander VI with Bracci and Bonsi, 295
Signoria receives ultimatum demanding Savonarola’s despatch to, 300
news about Savonarola’s intention to send circular letter reaches, 303
Bonsi’s audience with Alexander VI about ordeal by fire, 311
Alexander continues to ask for Savonarola to be sent to, 334
Signoria reluctant to send Savonarola to, 335
Alexander insists that three friars should be sent to, 347–8
Pratica sends despatch to, 348
Remolino delivers his official report in, 368
brief references, 58, 59, 94, 132, 175, 226, 241, 243, 281, 315
see also Vatican; names of popes
Roover, Raymond de, 36, 63, 78, 131, 199
Roscoe, William, 24, 128–9
Rovere, Cardinal Giuliano della (later Pope Julius II), 75, 157, 158, 172, 218, 369
Rovizzano, 253 and n
Rucellai, Bernardo, 113, 138, 139, 140, 211, 216
Rucellai, Girolamo, 309
Rucellai family, 130 see also names of individuals
Russia, 370
St Martin, brotherhood of, 112
Salone dei Cinquecento, Florence, 232
Salviati, Francesco, Archbishop of Pisa, 32, 33–4
Salviati, Giuliano, 288
Salviati, Marcuccio, 316, 317, 320
San Croce, Florence, 138, 240, 277, 304, 305, 306
San Gallo Augustinian monastery, Florence, 107, 109 and n, 198
San Gervasio, 129
San Gimignano, 72, 73, 74, 95, 137, 155, 164, 226
San Giorgio, convent of, Florence, 72
San Lorenzo, Church of, Florence, 9, 71, 130, 132–3
San Marco, Church of, Florence, 7, 101–2, 111, 248, 278, 291, 296, 297, 306, 312, 317, 323
San Marco, monastery of, Florence
Savonarola takes up post as lecturer at, 38, 53, 54
foundation, 54
renovation, 54–5
lifestyle of monks in, 55–6, 145
Pico visits Savonarola in, 69, 81, 99, 110
success of Savonarola’s theological instruction in, 70, 71
Savonarola recalled to, 94, 97
Savonarola takes up post as teaching master at, 99
monks warn Savonarola about his reckless preaching, 102
Fra Mariano da Genazzano visits Savonarola in, 108
Savonarola becomes prior of, 111
Lorenzo the Magnificent sends gifts to, 112
leading citizens meet Savonarola at, 113–14
Lorenzo’s body taken to, 130
travellers bring news to, 134
Savonarola sees need for reform at, 145–6
Savonarola wants to move community to new premises from, 146, 152
visitors attracted to, 146–7
Savonarola instructed to move friars into building adjoining, 153–4
Florentine delegation sets out from, 155–6
reforms at, 160, 163–4
Giovanni de’ Medici gives rare books and manuscripts to, 195–6
Pico leaves his possessions to, 209
Pico buried in, 209
Savonarola writes in his cell at, 224
and Frateschi, 230
so-called papal Brief arrives at, 240
Savonarola’s boys recruited by friars of, 245
distribution of food and clothing, 253
crowds jeer outside, 279
plague at, 285
vigil in days before the planned ordeal by fire, 314
stones hurled at Fra Mariano Ughi and his group outside, 322
siege of, 324–9
monks send letter to the pope, 345–7
brief references, 60, 134, 242, 275, 286, 308, 311, 321, 331, 332, 335
Sannazaro, Giacopo, 129
Santa Caterina, monastery of, Pisa, 166
Santa Maria del Sasso, hospice of, Casentino, 239
Santa Maria Novella, Church of, Florence, 277
Santo Agostino, Church of, Faenza, 46
Santo Spirito, Church of, Florence, 109 and n, 267
and n, 277
Sarzanello, 185–6, 190
Sarzano, 185, 186, 211
Savonarola, Elena, 48, 72–3, 95, 96, 208
her son’s letters to, 72–3, 95, 96–7
Savonarola, Girolamo
early years, 39–40, 41–2
education, 42–3, 45, 48–9
falls in love and is rejected, 43–4
and civil war in Ferrara, 44–5
reaches crisis point, 45–6
becomes convinced that he will become a priest, 46
asks to become novitiate monk at Dominican monastery in Bologna, 46
letter to his father, 46–7
early life in the monastery, 47–9
takes up post as teaching master in monastery in Ferrara, 49
at Chapter General of the Dominicans of Lombardy, 51, 52–3
and Pico della Mirandola, 51, 52–3, 69–70, 81–2, 99, 100, 101, 106, 134, 147–8, 149, 150, 151, 163, 166, 180
given post as lecturer at monastery of San Marco, 53
walks to Florence, 53
arrival in Florence, 38, 54
first glimpse of Lorenzo the Magnificent, 55
first period in Florence, 56, 60, 69–74
becomes master of novices at San Marco, 70
delivers 1484 Lenten sermons in Church of San Lorenzo, 71
wishes to abandon public preaching, 71–2
delivers 1485 Lenten sermons at San Gimignano, 72
letters to his mother, 72–3, 95, 96–7
delivers 1486 Lenten sermons at San Gimignano, 73–4
appointed master of studies at Studium generale in Bologna, 74
takes up post at Studium generale, 94
posted back to Ferrara, 94–5
travels and preaches throughout northern Italy, 95–6
invited to return to Florence by Lorenzo the Magnificent, 8, 94
ordered to take up residence as teaching master at monastery of San Marco, 97
journey to Florence, 97–8
takes up post at San Marco, 99
philosophy, 100–1
preaches sermon in San Marco in August 1490, 101–2
chosen to deliver 1491 Lenten sermons, 102
warned about content of his sermons, 102
preparations for sermons, 102–3
delivers 1491 Lenten sermons in Florence Cathedral, 103
delivers private sermon for gonfaloniere and Signoria, 103–4
Lorenzo the Magnificent decides against banishment of, 104
Lorenzo plans to undermine, 105, 107
and Poliziano, 106, 134, 147, 166, 181, 209, 210
and Ficino, 106, 134, 217, 227, 237–8, 261, 299
and Fra Mariano da Genazzano’s sermon, 108
–10
elected as prior of monastery of San Marco, 111
refuses to pay courtesy visit to Palazzo Medici, 111
does not respond to Lorenzo’s conciliatory actions, 111–12
visited by delegation of leading citizens, 113–14
prediction of deaths of Lorenzo, Innocent III and King Ferrante, 114, 133–4, 176
and Lorenzo’s appropriation from Dowry Fund, 118
visions, 123–4, 126–7, 132–3 and n, 143–4, 146n, 224–8, 229
face-to-face encounter with Lorenzo, 7–8, 124–7
and Lorenzo’s lying in state at San Marco, 130
1492 Lenten sermons at San Lorenzo, 132
and Michelangelo, 134–5, 147, 236
power of his preaching, 135–7
1492 Advent sermons, 141–3, 144–5
uncomfortable in his position as prior of San Marco, 145–6
dream about friars of San Marco, 146 and n
attracts visitors to San Marco, 146–7
and Botticelli, 147, 166, 170, 171, 181, 217, 227, 236
wants to build new monastery for friars of San Marco, 152–3
not granted permission for new monastery, 153–4
and the attempt to gain independence of Tuscan Congregation from Lombardy Congregation, 154–5, 155–6, 158, 159
becomes Vicar General of newly independent Tuscan Congregation, 163
reforms at San Marco, 160–1, 163–4
makes plans for new community near Fiesole, 162
sends friars out to preach in Tuscany, 164
encounters hostility in role as Vicar General, 164–6
preaches 1493 Advent sermons, 166
sermon in September 1494, 179–80
reports of sermon are made to Piero de’ Medici, 181
sermon on All Saints Day 1494, 187–8
sermons on the following days, 189
as head of Florentine delegation ot Charles VIII, 190, 200–1
and delivery of books and manuscripts from Medici library to San Marco, 195
informs Florence of imminent arrival of French army, 201
gives sermons before arrival of the French, 201–2
and Villari’s account of atmosphere in the city, 202–3
meeting with Charles VIII in Florence, 207–8
learns of death of his mother, 208
and death of Poliziano, 208–9
and death of Pico, 209–10
preaches 1494 Advent sermons, 213, 214, 216
and the government of Florence, 214, 215, 217, 231, 268, 269
misgivings about the power of, 217–18
meeting with Commines, 220
Alexander VI writes papal Brief exhorting him to come to Rome, 221
response to Alexander VI, 222
illness, 222
a ‘last sermon’ in July 1495, 222–4
retires to cell at San Marco, 224
influence reaches a wider audience, 229
as focus of division in Florence, 230–1, 267
opposition to, 230–1, 233
and the building of hall for Great Council, 231–2
retires to the countryside, 239
so-called papal Brief for, 239–41
reply to so–called papal Brief, 241–2
continues preaching in defiance of order in so-called papal Brief, 243
ordered to stop preaching by papal Brief from Alexander VI, 243–4
receives verbal permission to preach again, 244–5
action against excesses of Carnival, 245–6, 247
and gambling, 246
and sodomy, 246–7
as precursor of revolutionary tradition, 249
delivers 1496 Lenten sermons, 249–52
sermons anger rulers throughout Italy, 252
Alexander VI appoints ecclesiastical committee to investigate, 252
organises distribution of food and clothing, 253
ecclesiastical committee finds no evidence of heresy in teachings of, 253–4
and mission of Fra Ludovico da Ferrara, 254
preaches sermon on 20 August 1496, 254–5
and death of Charles VIII’s son, 256–7
sermon of 28 October 1496, 257
preaches 1497 Lenten sermons, 262–4, 265–6, 267
reaction to sermons in Rome, 264–5
growing public disillusion with his role as prophet, 265
predicts death of Charles VIII, 266
political situation in Florence shifts against, 267, 268–9
increasing anger in Rome against, 273
Ascension Day sermon 1497, 274–5
excommunication, 276–7
response to excommunication, 277–8
public rejoicing about news of his excommunication, 279
and the fate of citizens accused of being traitors, 283, 285–6
consolidates his political power, 286
popularity, 286–7
period of creative output, 287–8, 289–90
Salviati seeks advice from, 288–9
political philosophy, 289–90
asked if he is intending to resume preaching, 291–2
lawyer despatched to Rome to seek absolution for, 292
delivers sermon in February 1498, 292–3
launches personal attack on Alexander VI, 293
reaction to sermon, 293–4
assassination plot against, 294
Alexander VI expresses his anger about, 295
Bonsi’s despatch from Rome concerning, 294, 295
Alexander VI sends two papal Briefs to Florence about, 295
discussion in Florence about papal Briefs, 296–7
commanded not to preach by Signoria, 297
supporters and opponents in Signoria, 298
Vatican demands that he should be taken into custody and sent to Rome, 300
writes circular letter to rulers, 300–2
fate of his letters, 303–4
letter passed on to Alexander VI, 304
and the ordeal by fire episode, 304, 305–7, 308, 310–11, 311–12, 313, 314–15, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321
incidents involving supporters and opponents of, 322
and siege of San Marco, 325, 326, 328
taken prisoner, 329–30
trial and torture by judicial commission, 331–43
Fra Silvestro Maruffi questioned about, 345
friars of San Marco describe their feelings about, 346–7
torture and confessions of supporters produce no convincing evidence against, 347
Pratica decides on course of action with regard to, 347–8
ambassador informs Alexander VI about decision, 348
Alexander VI selects Papal Commission to examine, 349
conditions in gaol, 350
last tract written in gaol, 350–2
trial before Papal Commissioners, 352–5, 356–7
Pratica discusses sentence of, 355–6
fate discussed by Papal Commissioners and Florentine authorities, 357
Remolino’s report to Alexander VI about, 357
sentenced, 357–8
informed about death sentence, 359
Niccolini spends time in cell with, 360
meeting with Fra Silvestro and Fra Domenico, 360–1
last hours in his cell, 361
led into Piazza della Signoria, 362
tribunals, 362–3
death, 364–7
celebration following death of, 368
and events of later centuries, 370–1
brief references, 115, 122, 182, 234, 282, 369
Writings:
‘Compendium of Revelations’ (Compendio di Rivelazioni; Compendium Revalationum), 123, 144, 222 and n, 224–9, 239, 257, 351
Compendium totius philosophae (A Brief Summary of All Philosophies), 70
Contra sententiam excommunicationis (‘Against sententious excommunications’), 278
Contro la escomunicazione surrettizia (‘Against surruptitious exc
ommunication’), 277–8
Disputationes adversus astrologiam divinatricem (‘Against Astrological Prediction’) (written by Pico, but possibly co-authored by Savonarola), 149–50, 151, 287
‘Division of All the Sciences’, 100
‘An Exposition and Meditation on the Psalm Miserere’, 350–2 and n, 370
‘On the Ruin of the World’, 45, 49
Riposta, 314
‘A Rule for Leading the Good Life’ (attributed to Savonarola), 350
Trattato circa il reggimento e il govorno della città di Firenze (Treatise on the rule and government of the city of Florence), 289–90
Triumphus Crucis (The Triumph of the Cross), 287–8
Savonarola, Michele, 39, 40–1, 42, 53
The Practice of Medicine from Head to Toe, 39
Savonarola, Niccolò, 40, 42, 45, 46, 72
Savonarola’s boys, 245–6, 247–8, 249, 260, 261, 262, 266, 276, 296
Scholasticism, 68, 87
Seward, Desmond, 226, 356
Sforza, Cardinal Ascanio, 155, 158
Sforza, Francesco, Duke of Milan, 15, 21
Sforza, Galeazzo Maria, Duke of Milan, 21, 26–7, 35, 49
Sforza, Gian Galeazzo, 167–8, 183, 184
Sforza, Ippolita Maria, 15
Sforza, Ludovico ‘il Moro’
character, 2
Leonardo da Vinci sent to win over, 2, 37
becomes personal friend of Lorenzo the Magnificent, 2, 3
attends conference of anti-Venetian allies at Cremona, 58
secret agreement with Venetians, 59
perceived as traitor by Sixtus IV, 59, 60
allows Lorenzo the Magnificent to purchase post of Abbot of Miromanda for his son, 92
sends physician to Lorenzo, 2, 122
and delegation on behalf of Lombardy Congregation, 154–5, 159–60
refuses to surrender power to his nephew Gian Galeazzo Sforza, 167–8
appeals to Charles VIII, 168
and French preparation for invasion, 171
welcomes Charles VIII at Asti, 178
has misgivings about the French, 183–4
has himself proclaimed rightful Duke of Milan, 184
the French have doubts about, 184–5
joins alliance against the French, 219–20
and Maximilian I, 255
passes Savonarola’s letter on to the pope, 304
Sforza family, 52 see also names of individuals
Siena, 29, 116, 155, 165, 257, 270, 277, 280, 282
Signa, 201
Signoria
and Florentine system of government, 4–5
invites Cosimo de’ Medici to return to Florence, 11
and Medici manipulation of government, 20–1, 27, 37
informed about Lorenzo the Magnificent’s departure for Naples, 35
Savonarola preaches private sermon to, 103–4
Cardinal Giovanni de’ Medici visits, 119
Death in Florence: the Medici, Savonarola and the Battle for the Soul of the Renaissance City Page 53