Early Renaissance: Petrarch
FRANCESCO PETRARCA ARETINO 1304-1374
Poetry: Canzoniere, Rime Italian poems, including love sonnets to Laura (d. 1348)
Africa
Latin epic poem about Scipio Africanus republican hero of the Punic Wars
1341 crowned Poet Laureate on Capitoline
Hill patronage of King Robert of Naples
Humanism:
revival of Latin literature
manuscript hunting in monastic libraries desire
to go ad fontes (to the sources)
Petrarch's Works:
Latin edition of Livy's History of Roman Republic
De Viris Illustribus (Concerning
Illustrious Men):
biographies of Romans as model of virtue
Letters to Famous
Men: writes to classical authors
Cicero,
Socrates
Familiar Letters to contemporaries including Cola di
Rienzo, Emperor Charles IV
RENAISSANCE HUMANISM revival of classical literature and learning:
recovery of Latin
texts 14th C; Greek texts (Plato) 15th C
social context:
literate laymen, lawyers
new curriculum: use
classical texts for study of human life, morality
* studia humanitatis:
study of things human (not divine, not natural)
curriculum:
grammar, rhetoric, poetry, history, moral philosophy
compare medieval university curriculum: theology
as highest discipline
Humanism as guide to
living:
classical Latin literature as moralizing, practical, this-worldly virtues aim to
teach good conduct,
responsibilities in social
& political relationships
14th century roman Politics
Papacy in Avignon, France 1305-1378 control by French King
City of Rome: abandoned by papacy, "cows grazing in the Forum"
Commune – republican city government; head quarters on Capitoline
Hill
Barons - noble families (Orsini,
Colonna)
COLA DI RIENZO
Roman notary:
studies classical history, archeology
1342: sent to Avignon by city of
Rome; Petrarch hears Cola speak before Pope
1347: ROMAN REPUBLICAN REVOLUTION
Cola leads revolt
title: "Tribune of Freedom, Peace & Justice; Liberator of the Holy Roman Republic"
Conference
in Rome of Guelf city states: proclaims Roman jurisdiction over entire world
1348 overthrown
by Roman nobility, prisoner of Emperor, then Pope; escapes,
returns to Rome as Senator; executed 1354
Petrarch’s correspondence with Cola: supports
revival of Roman Republic
poem: Spirito Gentil 1337-38
lament on the decline of Rome
Great Schism (1378-1414)
after return from Avignon, French elect rival Pope = two Popes (Rome, Avignon)
Conciliarism evolves to end Schism; threat to idea of papal monarchy
theory that
highest authority in Church is General Council
of Bishops;
1409 Council of Pisa:
elects new Pope, others refuse to resign = 3 Popes (Rome, Avignon, Pisa);
1414 Council of Constance: all three Popes deposed; 1417 elects Martin V
POPES: The return to Rome
Martin V Colonna,
Roman noble 1420 enters Rome as first Pope after Schism
15th C. FLORENCE: MEDICI vs REPUBLIC OF 1494
1434-1494 Medici family
controls Florentine Republic:
through
manipulation of electoral system by
Cosimo de Medici: (1434-1464) merchant
banker, title “Pater Patriae”
1454
Peace of Lodi: Balance
of power between major Italian powers:
Milan,
Venice, Florence, Papal States, Naples:
1454-1494
Period of (relative) peace in Italy
Lorenzo the Magnificent
(1469-1492) Cosimo’s grandson
1494
Medici overthrown & expelled by Republic of 1494
1512
Medici re-instated as rulers of Florence under Lorenzo's grandson
called Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino
Lorenzo's
son Giovanni: first Medici Pope Leo X 1513-1521
Florentine Republic (1494-1512)
Context
of French invasion of 1494: Valois King Charles VIII
Role
of Girolamo Savonarola, Dominican preacher
moral
reformer; opposed to corruption and luxury;
republican
govt: higher standards of civic virtue
conflict
with Papacy: denounces
corruption of Borgia Pope
1497
excommunicated by Alexander VI; 1498
executed by Republic
The Career of Niccolo
Machiavelli (1469-1527)
under
Republic: diplomatic missions to German Emperor,
French King, Cesare Borgia, Pope Julius II;
1512: fall of Republic, return of the Medici, exiled to country
1512-1513
Prince and Discourses on Livy (republican)
520-25
History of Florence = humanist
Restoration
of Florentine Republic, 1527-1530 (occurs in year of Mach's death)
1527
invasion of Italy by Hapsburg troops at war with France & Pope;
overthrow
of Medici (allies of Pope); restored as Grand Dukes 1530