SAVONAROLA AND FLORENTINE REPUBLIC OF 1494.

Restoration of the Republic (1494-1512)
Context French invasion of 1494:     Valois King Charles VIII called in by
     Ludovico il Moro (Sforza) Duke of Milan,  claims Naples

Girolamo Savonarola, prior of reformed Dominican Convent of San Marco
       invited to Florence by Lorenzo as Lenten preacher (at Pico's suggestion)
       moral reformer; opposed to corruption, luxury and homosexuality
       organizes youth confraternities, "bonfires of vanities"  
       role as prophet: sermons on God’s punishment of Florence for  wealth, vices
       1494 French invasion as God's wrath against Medici
        political position: Christian republican government: higher standards of civic virtue
        Venetian model:  lifetime executive (like Doge); Great Council, Council of Ten
     1494-98 political power but no office;  followers called piagnoni (weepers)
      fall of Savonarola:   conflict with Borgia Pope Alexander VI (Spanish)
         Cesare Borgia (Duke Valentino) son is head of papal army
          Lucrezia Borgia, daughter married from Vatican to Este Duke of Ferrara
    1497 excommunicated by Alexander  VI
    1498 interdict issued against Florence by Pope
             Savonarola arrested, tortured, confesses to fraud 
             executed by Republic, burned in central piazza

Further Readings on Savonarola
    Lauro Martines, Fire in the City: Savonarola and the Strugglefor the Soul of
                           Renaissance Florence (2006)
    19th C. English novel by George Eliot, Romola set in 1490’s Florence ( fictional)