SCIPIONE

AMMIRATO (1531-16or)  , Italian historian, born at Lecce, in the kingdom of Naples . His father, intending him for the profession of law, sent him to study at Naples, but his own decided preference for literature prevented him from fulfilling his father's wishes . Entering the church, he resided for a time at Venice, and afterwards engaged in the service of Pope Pius IV . In 1569 he went to Florence, where he was fortunate in securing the patronage and support of Duke Cosimo I., who gave him a residence at the Medici Palace and the Villa Zopaja on theundei ;standing that he should write his Istorie Fiorentine (i6od'), the work by which he is best known . In 1595 he was made a canon of the cathedral of Florence . He died in 16or . Among the other works of Ammirato, some of which were first published after his death, may be mentioned discourses on Tacitus and genealogies of the families of Naples and Florence .