See also:

• GIROLAMO (1450-1486)

GIROLAMO See also:

• GIROLAMO SAVONAROLA (1452-1498)

SAVONAROLA (1452-1498)  , See also:

• ITALIAN

Italian See also:

• MONK (O.Eng. munuc; this with the Teutonic forms, e.g. Du. monnik, Ger. Witch, and the Romanic, e.g. Fr. moine, Ital. monacho and Span. monje, are from the Lat. monachus, adaptedfrom Gr. µovaXos, one living alone, a solitary; Own, alone)
• MONK (or MONCK), GEORGE
• MONK, JAMES HENRY (1784-1856)
• MONK, MARIA (c. 1817—1850)

monk and See also:

• MARTYR (Gr. pimp or µaprvs)

martyr, was See also:

• BORN, IGNAZ, EDLER VON (1742–1791)

born at See also:

• FERRARA

Ferrara on the 21st of See also:

• SEPTEMBER (Lat. septem, seven)

September 1452, the third See also:

• CHILD
• CHILD, FRANCIS JAMES (1825-1896)
• CHILD, L
• CHILD, LYDIA MARIA (1802-1880)
• CHILD, SIR FRANCIS (1642-1713)
• CHILD, SIR JOHN (d. 1690)
• CHILD, SIR JOSIAH (163o - 1699)

child of Michele See also:

• SAVONAROLA, GIROLAMO (1452-1498)

Savonarola and his wife Elena Bonaccossi of See also:

• MANTUA (Ital. Mantova)

Mantua . His grandfather, Michele Savonarola, a Paduan physician of much repute and learning, had settled in Ferrara, and gained a large See also:

• FORTUNE, ROBERT (1813-188o)

fortune there . The younger Michele was a See also:

• MERE
• MERE, ADALBERT (1838-1909)

mere courtier and spendthrift, but Elena seems to have been a woman of See also:

• SUPERIOR

superior See also:

• STAMP (from " to stamp," to strike or tread heavily, hence to impress, O. Eng. stempen, Du. stampen, Ger. stampfen, whence, O. Fr. estamper, mod. etamper)

stamp . She was tenderly loved by her famous son, and his letters prove that she retained his fullest confidence through all the vicissitudes of his career . See also:

• GIROLAMO (1450-1486)

Girolamo was a precocious child, with an See also:

• EARLY
• EARLY, JUBAL ANDERSON (1816-1894)

early See also:

• PASSION (post-classical Lat. passio, formed from pati, passus, to suffer, endure)

passion for learning . His first See also:

• TUTOR (Lat. tutor, guardian, tueri, to watch over, protect)

tutor was his grandfather, the physician; Early and, in the See also:

• HOPE, ANTHONY
• HOPE, THOMAS (c. 1770-1831)

hope of restoring their fallen fortunes, his rears. parents intended him for the same profession . Even as a boy he had intense See also:

• PLEASURE (through Fr. plaisir from Lat. placere, to please; Gr. rlbovii)

pleasure in See also:

• READING

reading St See also:

• THOMAS
• THOMAS (c. 1654-1720)
• THOMAS (d. 110o)
• THOMAS, ARTHUR GORING (1850-1892)
• THOMAS, CHARLES LOUIS AMBROISE (1811-1896)
• THOMAS, GEORGE (c. 1756-1802)
• THOMAS, GEORGE HENRY (1816-187o)
• THOMAS, ISAIAH (1749-1831)
• THOMAS, PIERRE (1634-1698)
• THOMAS, SIDNEY GILCHRIST (1850-1885)
• THOMAS, ST
• THOMAS, THEODORE (1835-1905)
• THOMAS, WILLIAM (d. 1554)

Thomas See also:

• AQUINAS, THOMAS [Thomas of AQUIN or AQUINO], (c 1227--1274)

Aquinas and the Arab commentators of See also:

• ARISTOTLE
• ARISTOTLE (384-322 B.C.)

Aristotle, was skilled in the subtleties of the See also:

• SCHOOLS

schools, wrote verses, studied See also:

• MUSIC

music and See also:

• DESIGN (Fr. desiin, drawing; Lat. designare, to mark out)

design, and, avoiding society, loved solitary rambles on the See also:

• BANKS, GEORGE LINNAEUS (1821-1881)
• BANKS, NATHANIEL PRENTISS (1816–1894)
• BANKS, SIR JOSEPH
• BANKS, THOMAS (1735-1805)

banks of the Po . Ferrara was then a See also:

• GAY, JOHN (1685-1732)
• GAY, MARIE FRANCOISE SOPHIE (1776-1852)
• GAY, WALTER (1856– )

gay and bustling See also:

• TOWN

town of 100,000 inhabitants, its See also:

• PRINCE
• PRINCE (Lat. princeps, from primus capio, " I am the first to take "; Ital. principe, Fr. prince)

prince Borso d'See also:

• ESTE
• ESTE (anc. Ateste, q.v.)

Este a most magnificent potentate . To the mystic See also:

• YOUNG
• YOUNG, A
• YOUNG, ARTHUR (1741-1820)
• YOUNG, BRIGHAM (1801-1877)
• YOUNG, CHARLES MAYNE (1777–1856)
• YOUNG, EDWARD (1683–1765)
• YOUNG, JAMES (1811-1883)
• YOUNG, THOMAS (1773-1829)

young student all festivities were repulsive, and although reared in a courtier-See also:

• HOUSEHOLD, ROYAL

household he early asserted his individuality by his contempt for See also:

• COURT
• COURT (from the O. Fr. court, Late Lat. cortis, curtis, a popular form of class. Lat. cohors, gen. cohortis; the mod. Fr. form tour is due to the influence of the Lat. curia, the word used in medieval documents to translate " court " in the feudal sense)
• COURT, ANTOINE (1696-176o)

court See also:

• LIFE

life . At the See also:

• AGE (Fr. age, through late Lat. aetaticum, from aetas)

age of nineteen, however, he had no thought of renouncing the See also:

• WORLD

world, for he was then passionately in love with the daughter of a See also:

• NEIGHBOUR (O. Eng. neahgebiir, from Walt, " nigh," " near ")

neighbour, a See also:

• STROZZI

Strozzi exiled from See also:

• FLORENCE
• FLORENCE (Ital. Firenze, Lat. Florentia)

Florence . His suit was re-pulsed with disdain; no Strozzi, he was told, might stoop to wed a Savonarola . This See also:

• BLOW, JOHN (1648-1708)

blow probably decided his career; but he endured two years of misery and See also:

• MENTAL

mental conflict before resolving to abandon his medical studies and become a monk .

He was full of doubt and self-distrust; disgust for the world did not seem to him a sufficient qualification for the religious life, and his daily See also:

• PRAYER (from Lat. precari, entreat; Ital. pregaria, Fr. priere)
• PRAYER, BOOK OF COMMON

prayer was, " See also:

• LORD
• LORD (O. Eng. hldford, i.e. hldfweard, the warder or keeper of bread, hlIf, loaf; the word is not represented in any other Teutonic language)
• LORD, JOHN (1810-1894)

Lord! See also:

• TEACH [THATCH OR THACH], EDWARD (d. 1718)

teach me the way my soul should walk." But in 1474 his doubts were dispelled by a See also:

• SERMON (Lat. sermo, a discourse)

sermon heard at See also:

• FAENZA (anc. Faventia)

Faenza . He secretly See also:

• STOLE (Lat. stela and orarium, Fr. etole, It. stola, Sp. estola, Ger. Stela)

stole away to See also:

• BOLOGNA
• BOLOGNA, GIOVANNI DA (1524–1608)

Bologna, enteredthe monastery of St Domenico and then acquainted his See also:

• FATHER

father with his reasons for the step . The world's wickedness was intolerable, he wrote; throughout See also:

• ITALY
• ITALY (Italia)

Italy he beheld See also:

• VICE

vice See also:

• TRIUMPH (triumphus)

triumph-See also:

• ANT
• ANT (O. Eng. aemete, from Teutonic a, privative, and maitan, cut or bite off, i.e. " the biter off "; aemete in Middle English became differentiated in dialect use to (mete, then amte, and so ant, and also to emete, whence the synonym " emmet," now only u

ant, virtue despised . Among the papers he had See also:

• LEFT

left behind at Ferrara was a See also:

• TREATISE

treatise on " Contempt of the World," inveighing against the prevalent corruption and predicting the speedy vengeance of See also:

• HEAVEN (0. Eng. hefen, heofon, heofone; this word appears in O.S. hevan; the High. Ger. word appears in Ger. Himmel, Dutch hemel; there does not seem to be any connexion between the two words, and the ultimate derivation of the word is unknown; the sugges

Heaven . His novitiate was marked by a fervour of humility . He sought the most See also:

• MENIAL

menial offices, and did See also:

• PENANCE (Old Fr. penance, fr. Lat. poenitentia, penitence)

penance for his sins by the severest austerities . According to See also:

• CON

con-temporary writers he was worn to a See also:

• SHADOW (0. Eng. Schadewe, sceadu; a form of " shade "; connected with Gr. 6-Ore's, darkness)

shadow . His gaunt features were beautified by an expression of singular force and benevolence . Luminous dark eyes sparkled and flamed beneath his thick, See also:

• BLACK
• BLACK, ADAM (1784-1874)
• BLACK, JEREMIAH SULLIVAN (1810–1883)
• BLACK, WILLIAM (1841-1898)

black brows, and his large mouth and prominent nether lips were as capable of See also:

• GENTLE (through the Fr. gentil, from Lat. gentilis, belonging to the same gens, or family)

gentle sweetness as of See also:

• POWER [WILLIAM GRATTAN] TYRONE (1797-1841)

power and set resolve . He was of middling stature and dark complexion . His See also:

• MANNERS, CHARLES (1857– )

manners were See also:

• SIMPLE

simple, his speech unadorned and almost homely . His splendid oratorical power was as yet unrevealed; but his intellectual gifts being recognized his superiors charged him with the instruction of the novices .

He passed six quiet years in the See also:

• CONVENT (Lat. conventus, from convenire, to come together)

convent, but his poems written during that See also:

• PERIOD
• PERIOD (Gr. irepioSos, a going or way round, circuit, aepi, round, and &Sis, way, road)

period are expressive of burning indignation against the corruptions of the See also:

• CHURCH
• CHURCH (according to most authorities derived from the Gr. Kvpcaxov [&wµa], " the Lord's [house]," and common to many Teutonic, Slavonic and other languages under various forms—Scottish kirk, Ger. Kirche, Swed. kirka, Dan. kirke, Russ. tserkov, Buig. cerk
• CHURCH, FREDERICK EDWIN (1826-1900)
• CHURCH, GEORGE EARL (1835–1910)
• CHURCH, RICHARD WILLIAM (1815–189o)
• CHURCH, SIR RICHARD (1784–1873)

church and profoundest sorrow for the calamities of his See also:

• COUNTRY (from the Mid. Eng. contre or contrie, and O. Fr. cuntree; Late Lat. contrata, showing the derivation from contra, opposite, over against, thus the tract of land which fronts the sight, cf. Ger. Gegend, neighbourhood)

country . In 1482 he reluctantly accepted a See also:

• MISSION

mission to Ferrara, and, regarding earthly affections as snares of the evil one, tried to keep aloof from his See also:

• FAMILY

family . His preachings attracted slight See also:

• ATTENTION (from Lat. ad-tendo, await, expect; the condition of being " stretched " or " tense ")

attention there, no one—as he later remarked— Rto emoval being a See also:

• PROPHET (Irpo4i ri7s)

prophet in his own See also:

• LAND

land . An outbreak of Florence. hostilities between Ferrara and See also:

• VENICE
• VENICE (continued)
• VENICE (Venezia)

Venice, fomented by See also:

• POPE (Gr. irarraas, post-classical Lat. papa, father)
• POPE, ALEXANDER (1688–1744)
• POPE, ALEXANDER (1763-1835)
• POPE, JANE (1742-1818)
• POPE, JOHN (1822-1892)
• POPE, SIR THOMAS (c. 1507-1559)

Pope See also:

• SIXTUS

Sixtus IV., soon caused his recall to Bologna . Thence he was despatched to St See also:

• MARK
• MARK, CARL (1858– )
• MARK, GOSPEL OF ST
• MARK, ST

Mark's in Florence . Lorenzo the Magnificent was then (1482) at the height of his power and popularity . At first Savonarola was enchanted with Florence . His See also:

• CLOISTER (Lat. claustrum; Fr. cloitre; Ital. chiostro; Span. claustro; Ger. Kloster)

cloister, sanctified by memories of St Antonine and adorned with the inspired paintings of Fra See also:

• ANGELICO, FRA (1387–1455)

Angelico, seemed to him a fore-court of heaven . But his content speedily changed to horror . The Florence streets rang with Lorenzo's See also:

• RIBALD

ribald songs (the " canti carnascialeschi "); the smooth, cultured citizens were dead to all sense of See also:

• RELIGION
• RELIGION, FOLKLORE, CUSTOM

religion or morality; and the spirit of the fashionable See also:

• HEATHEN

heathen See also:

• PHILOSOPHY (Gr. gthos, fond of, and vo4 (a, wisdom)

philosophy had even infected the brotherhood of St Mark . In 1483 Savonarola was Lenten preacher in the church of St Lorenzo, but his See also:

• PLAIN (O. Fr. plain, from Lat. plenum)

plain, See also:

• EARNEST (probably a corruption of the obsolete arles or erles, adapted from Lat. equivalent arrha, due to a confusion with the adjective " earnest," serious, O. Eng. eornust, cognate with Ger. ernst)

earnest exhortations attracted few hearers, while all the world thronged to Santo Spirito to enjoy the elegant See also:

• RHETORIC (Gr. psroperctj TEXvq, the art of the orator)

rhetoric of Fra Mariano da Genazzano . Discouraged by this failure in the See also:

• PULPIT (from Lat. pulpitum, a staging, platform: equivalents are Fr. chaire d'eglise, Ital. pulpito, Ger. Kanzel)

pulpit, Savonarola now devoted himself to teaching in the convent, but his zeal for the salvation . of the apathetic townsfolk was soon to stir him to fresh efforts .

Convinced of being divinely inspired, he had begun to see visions, and discovered in the See also:

• APOCALYPSE
• APOCALYPSE (Gr. aaoKaXvti/hr, disclosure)
• APOCALYPSE, KNIGHTS OF THE

Apocalypse symbols of the heavenly vengeance about to overtake this See also:

• SIN
• SIN (O. Eng. syn: a common Teutonic word, cf. Dutch zonde, Ger. Siinde)

sin-laden See also:

• PEOPLE

people . In a hymn to the Saviour composed at this See also:

• TIME (0. Eng. Lima, cf. Icel. timi, Swed. timme, hour, Dan. time; from the root also seen in " tide," properly the time of between the flow and ebb of the sea, cf. O. Eng. getidan, to happen, " even-tide," &c.; it is not directly related to Lat. tempus)
• TIME, MEASUREMENT OF
• TIME, STANDARD

time he gave vent to his prophetic dismay . The papal See also:

• CHAIR (in. Mid. Eng. chcere, through O. Fr. chaire or chaiere, from Lat. cathedra, later caledra, Gr. xaOi3pa, seat, cf. "cathedral"; the modern Fr. form chaise, a chair, has been adopted in English with a particular meaning as a form of carriage; chaire

chair was now filled by See also:

• INNOCENT (INNOCENTIUS)
• INNOCENT (POPES)

Innocent VIII., whose See also:

• RULE

rule was even more infamous than that of his predecessor Sixtus IV . Savonarola's first success as a preacher was gained at St Gemignano (1484-1485), but it was only at See also:

• BRESCIA
• BRESCIA (anc. Brixia)

Brescia in the following See also:

• YEAR

year that his power as an orator was fully revealed . In a sermon on the Apocalypse he shook men's souls by his terrible threats of the wrath to come, and See also:

• DREW
• DREW, SAMUEL (1765-1833)

drew tears from their eyes by the See also:

• TENDER

tender pathos of his assurances of divine See also:

• MERCY (adapted from Fr. merci, Lat. merces, reward)
• MERCY (or MERCI), FRANZ, FREIHERR VON

mercy . A Brescian See also:

• FRIAR (from the Lat. (rater, through the Fr. frere)

friar relates that a See also:

• HALO

halo of See also:

• LIGHT

light was seen to flash See also:

• ROUND (O. Fr. rond, Lat. rotundus, the Fr. is the source also of Du. rond; Ger., Swed., Dan. and Nor. rond)

round his See also:

• HEAD (in 0. Eng. heafad; the word is common to Teutonic languages; cf. Dutch hoofd, Ger. Haupt, generally taken to be in origin connected with Lat. caput, Gr. KerbOvi7)
• HEAD, SIR EDMUND WALKER, BART
• HEAD, SIR FRANCIS BOND, BART

head, and the citizens remembered his awful prophecies when in 1512 their town was put to the See also:

• SACK

sack by Gaston de See also:

• FOIX

Foix . Soon, at a Dominican See also:

• COUNCIL (Lat. concilium, from cum, together, and the root cal, to call)

council at Reggio, Savonarola had occasion to display his theological learning and subtlety . The famous See also:

• PICO

Pico della See also:

• MIRANDOLA

Mirandola was particularly impressed by the friar's attainments, and is said to have urged Lorenzo de' See also:

• MEDICI
• MEDICI, GIACOMO (1817-1882)

Medici to recall him from See also:

• LOMBARDY

Lombardy . When Savonarola returned to Florence in 1490, his fame as an orator had gone there before him . The cloister See also:

• GARDEN (from O. Fr. garden, mod. Fr. jardin; this, like our words " garth," a paddock attached to a building, and " yard," comes from a Teutonic word for an enclosure which appears in Gothic as gards and O. H. Ger. gart, cf. Dutch gaarde and Ger. .garten)

garden was too small for the crowds attending his lectures, and on the 1st of See also:

• AUGUST (originally Sextilis)

August 1490 he gave his first sermon in the church of St Mark . To quote his own words, it was " a terrible sermon," and See also:

• LEGEND (through the French from the med. Lat. legenda, things to be read, from legere, to read)

legend adds that he foretold he should preach for eight years . And now, for the better setting forth of his doctrines, to silence pedants, and confute See also:

• MALIGNANT (Lat. malignus, evil-disposed, from maligenus)

malignant misinterpretation, he published a collection of his writings .

These proved his knowledge of the See also:

• ANCIENT
• ANCIENT (also spelt ANTIENT; derived, through the Fr. ancien, old, from the late Lat. antianum, from ante, before)

ancient philosophy he so fiercely condemned, and showed that no See also:

• IGNORANCE (Lat. ignorantia, from ignorare, not to know); want of knowledge, a state of mind which in law has important consequences. A well-known legal maxim runs: ignorantia juris non excusat ("ignorance of the law does not excuse")

ignorance of the fathers caused him to seek See also:

• INSPIRATION (Lat. inspirare, breathe upon or into)

inspiration from the See also:

• BIBLE
• BIBLE, ENGLISH

Bible alone . The Triumph of the See also:

• CROSS

Cross is his See also:

• PRINCIPAL

principal See also:

• WORK

work, but everything he wrote was animated by the ardent spirit of piety evidenced in his life . Savonarola's See also:

• SOLE (Solea)

sole aim was to bring mankind nearer to See also:

• GOD

God . In 1491 he was invited to preach in the See also:

• CATHEDRAL

cathedral, Sta Maria del Fiore, and his rule over Florence may be said to begin from that date . Lorenzo sent leading citizens to him to See also:

• PRIOR (from Lat. prior—former, and hence superior, through O. Fr. priour)
• PRIOR, MATTHEW (1664-1721)

Prior of See also:

• MAR, EARLDOM OF
• MAR, JOHN ERSKINE, 1ST OR 6TH EARL OF (d. 1572)
• MAR, JOHN ERSKINE, 2ND OR 7TH EARL
• MAR, JOHN ERSKINE, 6TH OR 11TH EARL OF (1675-1732)

mar" St m urge him to show more respect to the head of the See also:

• STATE
• STATE, GREAT OFFICERS OF

state . Mark's . Savonarola rejected their See also:

• ADVICE (Fr. avis, from Lat. ad, to, and visum, viewed)

advice and foretold the impending deaths of Lorenzo, of the pope and of the See also:

• KING
• KING (O. Eng. cyning, abbreviated into cyng, cing; cf. O. H. G. chun- kuning, chun- kunig, M.H.G. kiinic, kiinec, kiinc, Mod. Ger. Konig, O. Norse konungr, kongr, Swed. konung, kung)
• KING [OF OCKHAM], PETER KING, 1ST BARON (1669-1734)
• KING, CHARLES WILLIAM (1818-1888)
• KING, CLARENCE (1842–1901)
• KING, EDWARD (1612–1637)
• KING, EDWARD (1829–1910)
• KING, HENRY (1591-1669)
• KING, RUFUS (1755–1827)
• KING, THOMAS (1730–1805)
• KING, WILLIAM (1650-1729)
• KING, WILLIAM (1663–1712)

king of See also:

• NAPLES
• NAPLES (Ital. Napoli, and Lat. Neapolis)
• NAPLES, KINGDOM OF

Naples . In the See also:

• JULY

July of the same year he was elected prior of St Mark's . As the convent had been rebuilt by Cosimo, and enriched by the See also:

• BOUNTY (through O. Fr. bontet, from Lat. bonitas, goodness)

bounty of the Medici, it was considered the See also:

• DUTY (from " due," that which is owing, O. Fr. deu, dil, past participle of devoir; Lat. debere, debitum; cf. " debt ")

duty of the new superior to See also:

• PRESENT

present his See also:

• HOMAGE (from homo, through the Low Lat. hominaticum, which occurs in a document of 1035)

homage to Lorenzo . Savonarola, however, refused to conform to the usage . His See also:

• ELECTION
• ELECTION (from Lat. eligere, to pick out)

election was due to God, not Lorenzo; to God alone would he promise submission . Upon this the See also:

• SOVEREIGN

sovereign angrily exclaimed: " This stranger comes to dwell in my See also:

• HOUSE
• HOUSE (O. Eng. hiss, a word common to Teutonic languages, cf. Dut. huis, Ger. Haus; in Gothic it is only found in gudhiss, a temple; it may be ultimately connected with the root of " hide," conceal)

house, yet will not stoop to pay me a visit." Nevertheless, disdaining to recognize the enmity of a mere monk, he tried, but in vain, conciliatory See also:

• MEASURES

measures .

The Magnifico then sought to undermine his popularity, and Fri Mariano was employed to attack him from the pulpit . But the preacher's scandalous accusations missed their mark, and disgusted his hearers without hurting his See also:

• RIVAL

rival . Savonarola took up the See also:

• CHALLENGE (O. Fr. chalonge, calenge, &c., from Lat. calumnia, originally meaning trickery, from calvi, to deceive, hence a false accusation, a " calumny ")

challenge; his eloquence prevailed, and Fra Mariano was silenced . But the latter, while feigning indifference, was thenceforth his rancorous and determined foe . In See also:

• APRIL

April 1492 Lorenzo de' Medici was on his See also:

• DEATH

death-See also:

• BED
• BED (a common Teutonic word, cf. German Bett, probably connected with the Indo-European root bhodh, seen in the Lat. fodere, to dig; so " a dug-out place " for safe resting, or in the same sense as a garden " bed ")

bed at Careggi . Oppressed by the See also:

• WEIGHT

weight of his crimes, he summoned the unyielding prior to shrive his soul . Savonarola reluctantly came, and offered See also:

• ABSOLUTION (Lat. absolutio from absolvo, loosen, acquit)

absolution upon three conditions . Lorenzo asked in what they consisted . First, " You must repent and feel true faith in God's mercy." Lorenzo assented . Secondly, " You must give up your See also:

• ILL

ill-gotten See also:

• WEALTH

wealth." This, too, .Lorenzo promised, after some hesitation; but upon See also:

• HEARING (formed from the verb " to hear," O. Eng. hyran, heron, &c., a common Teutonic verb; cf. Ger. Koren, Dutch hooren, &c.; the O. Tent. form is seen in Goth. hausjan; the initial h makes any connexion with " ear," Lat. audire, or Gr. &Kobew very doub

hearing the third clause, " You must restore the liberties of Florence," Lorenzo turned his See also:

• FACE (from Lat. fades, derived either from facere, to make, or from a root fa-, meaning " appear "; cf. Gr. cbatvstv)

face to the See also:

• WALL (O. Eng. weal, weall, Mid. Eng. wal, wane, adapted from Lat. vallum, rampart; the original O. Eng. word for a wall was wag or tenth)
• WALL, RICHARD (1694-1778)

wall and made no reply . Savonarola waited a few moments and then went away . And shortly after his penitent died unabsolved .

Savonarola's See also:

• INFLUENCE (Late Lat. influentia, from influere, to flow in)

influence now rapidly increased . Many adherents of the See also:

• LATE

late prince came over to his See also:

• SIDE
• SIDE (mod. Eski Adalia)

side, disgusted by the violence and incompetency of See also:

• PIERO (1443—1496)

Piero de' Medici's rule . The Prophetic same year witnessed the fulfilment of Savonarola's Vis . second prediction in the death of Innocent VIII . (July 1492); men's minds were full of anxiety, an anxiety increased by the scandalous election of See also:

• CARDINAL (Lat. cardinalis)

Cardinal See also:

• BORGIA, CESARE
• BORGIA, FRANCIS (1510-1572)
• BORGIA, LUCREZIA (1480-1519)

Borgia to the papal chair . The friar's utterances became more and more fervent and impassioned . It was during the delivery of one of his See also:

• ADVENT (Lat. Adventus, sc. Redemptoris, " the coming of the Saviour ")

Advent sermons that he beheld the celebrated See also:

• VISION (from Lat. videre, to see), or SIGHT

vision, recorded in contemporary medals and engravings, that is almost a See also:

• SYMBOL (Gr. o-uµ(3oXov, a sign)

symbol of his doctrines . A See also:

• HAND
• HAND (a word common to Teutonic languages; cf. Ger. Hand, Goth. handus)
• HAND, FERDINAND GOTTHELF (1786-185r)

hand appeared to him bearing a flaming See also:

• SWORD (0. Eng. sweord; ultimately from an Indo-European root meaning to wound)

sword inscribed with the words: " Gladius Domini supra terram cito et velociter." He heard supernatural voices See also:

• PRO

pro-claiming mercy to the faithful, vengeance on the 'guilty, and mighty cries that the wrath of God was at hand . Then the sword See also:

• BENT
• BENT (E1. BENI)
• BENT, JAMES THEODORE (1852–1897)

bent towards the See also:

• EARTH
• EARTH (a word common to Teutonic languages, cf. Ger. Erde, Dutch aarde, Swed. and Dan. jord; outside Teutonic it appears only in the Gr. 'pq'e, on the ground; it has been connected by some etymologists with the Aryan root ar-, to plough, which is seen in
• EARTH, FIGURE OF
• EARTH, FIGURE OF THE

earth, the See also:

• SKY (M. Eng. skie, cloud; O. Eng. skua, shade; connected with an Indo-European root sku, cover, whence " scum," Lat. obscurus, dark, &c.)

sky darkened, See also:

• THUNDER

thunder pealed, See also:

• LIGHTNING

lightning flashed, and the whole world was wasted by See also:

• FAMINE (Lat. fames, hunger)

famine, bloodshed and pestilence . It was probably the See also:

• NOISE (a word of doubtful origin; O. Fr. nogse or nose; Prov. nausa, which points to Lat. nausea, sickness, as the origin; others take Lat. noxia, harm, as the source)

noise of these sermons that caused the friar's temporary removal from Florence at the instance of Piero de' Medici . He was presently addressing enthusiastic congregations at See also:

• PRATO

Prato and Bologna . In the latter See also:

• CITY (through Fr. cite, from Lat. civitas)

city his courage in rebuking the wife of See also:

• BENTIVOGLIO, GIOVANNI (1443-1508)
• BENTIVOGLIO, GUIDO (1579-1644)

Bentivoglio, the reigning lord, for interrupting divine service by her noisy entrance nearly cost him his life .

Assassins were sent to kill him in his See also:

• CELL (from Lat. cella, probably from an Indo-European kal —seen in Lat. celare, to hide; another suggestion connects the word with Lat. cera, wax, taking the original meaning to refer to the honeycomb)

cell; but awed, it is said, by Savonarola's words and demeanour they fled dismayed from his presence . At the See also:

• CLOSE
• CLOSE (from Lat. clausum, shut)
• CLOSE, MAXWELL HENRY (1822-1903)

close of his last sermonthe undaunted friar publicly announced the See also:

• DAY (O. Eng. dreg, Ger. Tag; according to the New English Dictionary, " in no way related to the Lat. dies")
• DAY, JOHN (1574-1640?)
• DAY, THOMAS (1748-1789)

day and See also:

• HOUR

hour of his departure from Bologna; and his lonely See also:

• JOURNEY (through O. Fr. jornee or journee, mod. Fr. journee, from med. Lat. diurnata, Lat. diurnus, of or belonging to dies, day)

journey on See also:

• FOOT

foot over the See also:

• APENNINES (Gr. 'A1T- vvLvos, Lat. Appenninus—in both cases used in the singular)

Apennines was safely accomplished . He was rapturously welcomed by the community of St Mark's, and at once proceeded to re-establish the discipline of the See also:

• ORDER
• ORDER (through Fr. ordre, for earlier ordene, from Lat. ordo, ordinis, rank, service, arrangement; the ultimate source is generally taken to be the root seen in Lat. oriri, rise, arise, begin; cf. " origin ")
• ORDER, HOLY

order and to sweep away abuses . For this purpose he obtained, after much difficulty, a papal brief emancipating the See also:

• DOMINICANS

Dominicans of St Mark from the rule of the Lombard vicars of that order . He thus became an See also:

• INDEPENDENT

independent authority, no longer at the command of distant superiors . He relegated many of the brethren to a quieter See also:

• RETREAT (O. Fr. retrete, mod. retraite, from Lat. retrahere, to draw back)

retreat outside the city, only retaining in Florence those best fitted to aid in intellectual labour . To render the convent self-supporting, he opened schools for various branches of See also:

• ART

art, and promoted the study of See also:

• ORIENTAL

Oriental See also:

• LANGUAGES

languages . His efforts were successful; religion and learning made equal progress; St Mark's became the most popular monastery in Florence, and many citizens of See also:

• NOBLE, SIR ANDREW (1832- )

noble See also:

• BIRTH (a word common in various forms to Teutonic languages from the root of the verb " to bear ")

birth flocked thither to take the vows . Meanwhile Savonarola continued to denounce the abuses of the church and the See also:

• GUILT

guilt and corruption of mankind, and thundered forth predictions of heavenly wrath . In 1494 the See also:

• DUKE (corresponding to Fr. duc, Ital. duca, Ger. Herzog)

duke of See also:

• MILAN
• MILAN (Ital. Milano, Ger. Mailand, anc. Mediolanum, q.v.)

Milan demanded the aid of See also:

• FRANCE
• FRANCE, ANATOLE (1844– )

France, and King See also:

• CHARLES
• CHARLES (1270-1325)
• CHARLES (1421-1461)
• CHARLES (1525-1574)
• CHARLES (c. 1319-1364)
• CHARLES (Fr. Charles; Span. Carlos; Ital. Carlo; Ger. Karl; derived from O.H.G. Charal,latinized as Carolus, meaning originally " man ": cf. Mod.Ger., Kerl," fellow," A.S. ceorl, Mod. Eng. " churl ")
• CHARLES (KARL EITEL ZEPHYRIN LUDWIG; in Rum. CAROL)
• CHARLES [KARL ALEXANDER] (1712-1780)
• CHARLES, ELIZABETH (1828-1896)
• CHARLES, JACQUES ALEXANDRE CESAR (1746-1823)
• CHARLES, THOMAS (1755-1814)

Charles VIII. brought an See also:

• ARMY
• ARMY (from Fr. armee, Lat. armata)

army across the See also:

• ALPS

Alps . Piero de' Medici, made See also:

• ALLIANCE

alliance with the Neapolitan sovereign whose See also:

• KINGDOM

kingdom was claimed by Charles . Then, repenting this ill-judged step, he hurried in See also:

• PERSON, OFFENCES AGAINST THE

person to the See also:

• FRENCH
• FRENCH, DANIEL CHESTER (1850– )
• FRENCH, NICHOLAS (1604-1678)

French See also:

• CAMP (from Lat. campus, field)

camp at Pietra See also:

• SANTA

Santa and humbled himself before the king .

Not content with agreeing to all the latter's demands, he further promised large sums of See also:

• MONEY

money and the surrender of the strongholds of See also:

• PISA
• PISA, COUNCIL OF (1409)

Pisa and See also:

• LEGHORN (Ital. Livorno, Fr. Livourne)

Leghorn . This See also:

• NEWS

news drove Florence to revolt . But even at this crisis Savonarola's influence was all-powerful, and a bloodless revolution was effected . Piero See also:

• CAPPONI, GINO, MARQUIS (1792-1876)
• CAPPONI, PIERO (1447-1496)

Capponi's See also:

• DECLARATION (from Lat. declarare, to make fully clear, clams)

declaration that " it was time to put an end to this baby See also:

• GOVERNMENT
• GOVERNMENT (0. Fr. governement, mod. gouvernement, O. Fr. governer, mod. gouverner, from Lat. gubernare, to steer a ship, guide, rule; cf. Gr. xv(3epvav)

government " was the sole weapon needed to depose Piero de' Medici . The resuscitated See also:

• REPUBLIC (Lat. respublica, a commonweal or common-wealth)

republic instantly sent a fresh See also:

• EMBASSY

embassy to the French king, to arrange the terms of his reception in Florence . Savonarola was one of the envoys, Charles being known to entertain the greatest veneration for the friar who had so See also:

• LONG, GEORGE (1800-1879)
• LONG, JOHN DAVIS (1838– )

long predicted his coming and declared it to be divinely ordained . He was most respectfully received at the camp, but could obtain no definite pledges from the king, who was bent on first coming to Florence . Returning full of hope from Pietra Santa, Savonarola might well have been dismayed by the distracted state of public affairs . Nevertheless, with the aid of Capponi, he guided the bewildered city safely through these See also:

• CRITICAL (in alphabetical order of authors)

critical days . Charles entered Florence on the 17th of See also:

• NOVEMBER (Lat. novem, nine)

November 1494, and the citizens' fears evaporated in jests on the puny exterior of the " threatened See also:

• SCOURGE (Ital. scoriada, from Lat. excoriare, to flay, corium, skin)

scourge . " But the exorbitance of his demands soon showed that he came as a foe . Disturbances arose, and serious collision with the French troops seemed inevitable .

The signory resolved to be rid of their dangerous guests; and, when Charles threatened to See also:

• SOUND
• SOUND, THE (Danish Oresund)

sound his trumpets unless the sums exacted were paid, Capponi tore up the treaty in his face and made the memorable reply: " Then we will See also:

• RING (O.E. hring; a word common to Teutonic languages; and probably cognate with the Lat. circus, Gr. KtpKOS or KpLKOS, Skt'. chakra, wheel, circle, cf. also " harangue "); in art, a band of circular shape of varying sizes, made of any material and used f

ring our bells." The monarch was cowed, accepted moderate terms, and, yielding to Savonarola's remonstrances, left Florence on the 24th of November . After seventy years' subjection to the Medici Florence had forgotten the art of self-government, and See also:

• FELT (cognate with Ger. Filz, Du. vilt, Swed. and Dan. fill; the root is unknown; the word has given Med. Lat. filtrum, " filter ")

felt the need of a. strong guiding hand . So the citizens turned to the patriot monk whose words had freed them of King Charles, and Savonarola became the lawgiver of Florence . The first thing done at his instance was to relieve the starving populace within and without the walls; shops were opened to give work to the unemployed; all taxes, especially those weighing on the See also:

• LOWER

lower classes, were reduced; the strictest See also:

• ADMINISTRATION (Lat. administrare, to serve)

administration of See also:

• JUSTICE (Lat. justitia)

justice was enforced, and all men were exhorted to See also:

• PLACE (through Fr. from Lat. platea, street; Gr. IrAar6s, wide)

place their See also:

• TRUST

trust in the Lord . And, after much debate, as to the constitution of the new republic, Savonarola's influence carried the day in favour of See also:

• SODERINI, PIERO (1450-1513)

Soderini's proposal of a universal or See also:

• GENERAL
• GENERAL (Lat. generalis, of or relating to a genus, kind or class)

general government, with a See also:

• GREAT

great council on the Venetian See also:

• PLAN
• PLAN (from Lat. planes, flat)

plan . The great council consisted of 3200 citizens of blameless reputation and over twenty-five years of age, a third of the number sitting for six months in turn in the See also:

• HALL
• HALL (generally known as SCHWABISCH-HALL, tc distinguish it from the small town of Hall in Tirol and Bad-Hall, a health resort in Upper Austria)
• HALL (O.E. heall, a common Teutonic word, cf. Ger. Halle)
• HALL, BASIL (1788-1844)
• HALL, CARL CHRISTIAN (1812–1888)
• HALL, CHARLES FRANCIS (1821-1871)
• HALL, CHRISTOPHER NEWMAN (1816—19oz)
• HALL, EDWARD (c. 1498-1547)
• HALL, FITZEDWARD (1825-1901)
• HALL, ISAAC HOLLISTER (1837-1896)
• HALL, JAMES (1793–1868)
• HALL, JAMES (1811–1898)
• HALL, JOSEPH (1574-1656)
• HALL, MARSHALL (1790-1857)
• HALL, ROBERT (1764-1831)
• HALL, SAMUEL CARTER (5800-5889)
• HALL, SIR JAMES (1761-1832)
• HALL, WILLIAM EDWARD (1835-1894)

hall of the Cinquecento expressly built for the purpose . There was also an upper council of eighty, which in See also:

• CONJUNCTION (from Lat. conjungere, to join together)

conjunction with the signory decided all questions of too important and delicate a nature for discussion in the larger See also:

• ASSEMBLY, UNLAWFUL

assembly . These institutions were approved by the people, and gave a See also:

• FAIR

fair promise of justice . Savonarola's See also:

• PROGRAMME, or PROGRAM

programme of the new government was comprised in the following See also:

• FORMULA
• FORMULA (Lat. diminutive of forma, shape, pattern, &c., especially used of rules of judicial procedure)

formula:—(r) fear of God and See also:

• PURIFICATION

purification of manners; (2) promotion of the public welfare in preference to private interests; (3) a general See also:

• AMNESTY (from the Gr. &µvrly-ria, oblivion)

amnesty to See also:

• POLITICAL

political offenders; (4) a council on the Venetian See also:

• MODEL (0. Fr. modelle, mod. modele; It. modello, pattern, mould; from Lat. modus, measure, standard)

model, but with no See also:

• DOGE

doge . At first the new machinery acted well; the public mind was tranquil, and the See also:

• WAR
• WAR (O. Eng. werre, Fr. guerre, of Teutonic origin; cf. O.H.G. werran, to confound)

war with Pisa—not as yet of threatening proportions—was enough to occupy the Florentines and prevent internecine feuds . Without holding any See also:

• OFFICIAL (Late Lat. QJicialis, for class. Lat. apparitor, from officium, office, duty)

official See also:

• POST

post in the See also:

• COMMONWEALTH

commonwealth he had created, the prior of St Mark's was the real head of the state, the See also:

• DICTATOR (from the Lat. dictare, frequentative of dicere, to speak)

dictator of Florence, and guarded the public weal "Dictator with extraordinary political See also:

• WISDOM, BOOK OF, or WISDOM OF SOLOMON (Sept. Io4ia IaXwµwvos; Lat. Vulg. Liber sapientiae)

wisdom . At his instance or Florence .

" the tyrannical See also:

• SYSTEM

system of arbitrary imposts and so- called voluntary loans was abolished, and replaced by a tax of io% (la decima) on all real See also:

• PROPERTY

property . The See also:

• LAWS

laws and edicts of this period read like paraphrases of Savonarola's sermons, and indeed his counsels were always given as addenda to the religious exhortations in which he denounced the sins of his country and the pollution of the church, and urged Florence to See also:

• CAST (from the verb meaning " to throw "; the word is Scand. in origin, cf. Dan. kaste, and Swed. kasta; " cast " in Middle Eng. took the place of the A.S. weor pan, cf. Ger. werf en)

cast off iniquity and become a truly See also:

• CHRISTIAN
• CHRISTIAN, WILLIAM (1608-1663)

Christian city, a See also:

• PATTERN

pattern not only to See also:

• ROME
• ROME (Roma)

Rome but to the world at large . His eloquence was now at the See also:

• FLOOD (in O. Eng. flod, a word common to Teutonic languages, cf. Ger. Flut, Dutch vloed, from the same root as is seen in " flow," " float ")
• FLOOD, HENRY (1732-1791)

flood . Day by day his impassioned words, filled with the spirit of the Old Testament, wrought upon the minds of the Florentines and strung them to a See also:

• PITCH
• PITCH, MUSICAL

pitch of pious emotion never before—and never since—attained by them . Their fervour was too hot to be lasting, and Savonarola's uncompromising spirit roused the hatred of political adversaries as well as of the degraded court of Rome . Even now, when his authority was at its highest, when his fame filled the land, and the vast cathedral and its precincts lacked space for the crowds flocking to hear him, his enemies were secretly preparing his downfall . Pleasure-loving Florence was completely changed . Abjuring pomps and vanities, its citizens observed the ascetic regime of the cloister; See also:

• HALF

half the year was devoted to See also:

• ABSTINENCE (from Lat. abstinere, to abstain)

abstinence and few dared to eat See also:

• MEAT

meat on the fasts ordained by Savonarola . See also:

• HYMNS

Hymns and lauds rang in the streets that had so recently echoed with Lorenzo's dissolute songs . Both sexes dressed with Puritan plainness; husbands and wives quitted their homes for convents; See also:

• MARRIAGE

marriage became an awful and scarcely permitted rite; mothers suckled their own babes; and persons of all ranks—nobles, scholars and artists—renounced the world to assume the Dominican robe . Still more wonderful was Savonarola's influence over See also:

• CHILDREN, LAW RELATING TO

children, and their response to his appeals is a See also:

• PROOF (in M. Eng. preove, proeve, preve, &°c., from O. Fr . prueve, proeve, &c., mod. preuve, Late. Lat. proba, probate, to prove, to test the goodness of anything, probus, good)

proof of the magnetic power of his goodness and purity . He organized the boys of Florence in a See also:

• SPECIES

species of sacred See also:

• MILITIA (Fr. milice, Ger. Miliz, from Lat. miles, soldier, militia, military service)

militia, an inner republic, with its own magistrates and officials charged with the enforcement of his rules for the See also:

• HOLY

holy life .

It was with the aid of these youthful enthusiasts that Savonarola arranged the religious See also:

• CARNIVAL (Med. Lat. carnelevarium, from taro, tarns, flesh, and levare, to lighten or put aside; the derivation from valere, to say farewell, is unsupported)

carnival of 1496. when the citizens gave their costliest possessions in See also:

• ALMS

alms to the poor, and tonsured monks, crowned with See also:

• FLOWERS, ARTIFICIAL

flowers, sang lauds and performed See also:

• WILD, JONATHAN (c. 1682-1725)

wild dances for the See also:

• GLORY (through the O. Fr. glorie, modern gloire, from Lat. gloria, cognate with Gr. KXebs, abets)

glory of God . In the same spirit, and to point the See also:

• DOCTRINE

doctrine of renunciation of worldly enjoyments, he celebrated the carnival of 1497 by the famous " burning of the vanities " (i.e. masks and other See also:

• OBJECTS

objects pertaining to the carnival festivities, indecent books and pictures, &c.) in the Piazza della Signoria . A Venetian See also:

• MERCHANT (O. Fr. marcheant, modern marchand; from Lat. mercari, to trade, merx, goods, merchandise)

merchant is known to have bid 22,000 See also:

• GOLD
• GOLD [symbol Au, atomic weight 195.7(H = 1),197.2(0 =16)]

gold florins for the doomed vanities, but the scandalized authorities not only rejected his offer but added his portrait to the See also:

• PILE

pile . Nevertheless the See also:

• ARTISTIC

artistic value of the objects consumed has been greatly exaggerated by some writers . There is no proof that any See also:

• BOOK

book or See also:

• PAINTING

painting of real merit was sacrificed, and Savonarola was neither foe to art nor to learning . On the contrary, so great was his respect for both that, when there was a question of selling the Medici library to pay that family's debts, he saved the collection at the expense of the convent See also:

• PURSE (Late Lat. bursa, adapted from Gr. Gupta, hide, skin; possibly O. Eng. pusa, bag, has influenced the change from b to p)

purse . Meanwhile events were taking a turn hostile to the prior . See also:

• ALE

Ale See also:

• CIDER (q.v.)
• CIDER, or CYDER (from the Fr. cidre, derived from the Lat. sicera or cisera, Gr. mucepa, Heb. shade, strong drink)

cider VI. had long regretted the enfranchisement of St Mark's from the rule of the Lombard Dominicans, and now, having seen a transcript of one of Savonarola's denunciations of his crimes, resolved to silence this daring preacher . See also:

• BRIBERY (from the O. Fr. briberie, begging or vagrancy, bribe, Mid. Lat. briba, signifying a piece of bread given to beggars; the Eng. " bribe " has passed through the meanings of alms, blackmail and extortion, to gifts received or given in order to influ

Bribery was the first weapon employed, and a See also:

• CAR (Late Lat. carra)

car- w wit h the dinal's See also:

• HAT

hat was held out as a bait . But Savonarola pope. indignantly spurned the offer, replying to it from the pulpit with the prophetic words: " No hat will I have but that of a martyr, reddened with my own See also:

• BLOOD

blood . " So long as King Charles remained in Italy See also:

• ALEXANDER
• ALEXANDER (1461-1506)
• ALEXANDER (ALEXANDER OF BATTENBERG) (1857-1893)
• ALEXANDER (ALEXANDER OsxENOVici) (1876-1903)
• ALEXANDER, ARCHIBALD (1772—1851)
• ALEXANDER, FRANCIS (1800—1881)
• ALEXANDER, GEORGE (1858— )
• ALEXANDER, JOHN WHITE (1856- )
• ALEXANDER, JOSEPH ADDISON (18o9—186o)
• ALEXANDER, SIR JAMES EDWARD (1803—1885)
• ALEXANDER, WILLIAM (1824— )
• ALEXANDER, WILLIAM LINDSAY (1808—1884)

Alexander's concern for his own safety prevented vigorous measures against the friar . But no Borgia ever forgot an enemy .

He bided his time, and the trans-formation of sceptical Florence into an austerely Christian republic claiming the Saviour as its head only increased his resolve to crush the See also:

• MAN
• MAN, ISLE OF (anc. Mona)

man who had wrought this marvel . The potent duke of Milan, Ludovico See also:

• SFORZA
• SFORZA, CATERINA (1463-1509)

Sforza, and other foes were labouring for the same end, and already in July 1495 a papal brief had courteously summoned Savonarola to Rome . In terms of equal See also:

• COURTESY (O. Fr. curtesie, later courtoisie)

courtesy the prior declined the invitation, nor did he obey a second, less softly worded, in September . Then came a third, threatening Florence with an See also:

• INTERDICT (Lat. interdictum, from interdicere, to forbid by decree, lit., interpose by speech)

interdict in See also:

• CASE
• CASE, JOHN (d. 1600)

case of renewed refusal . Savonarola disregarded the command, but went to preach for a while in other Tuscan cities . But in See also:

• LENT (0. Eng. lenclen, " spring," M. Eng. lenten, lente, lent; cf. Dut. lente, Ger. Lenz, " spring," 0. H. Ger. lenzin, lengizin, lenzo, probably from the same root as " long " and referring to " the lengthening days ")

Lent his celebrated sermons upon See also:

• AMOS
• AMOS, SHELDON (1835–1886)

Amos were delivered in the duomo, and again he urged the See also:

• NECESSITY (Lat. necessitas)

necessity of reforming the church, striving by ingenious arguments to reconcile See also:

• REBELLION

rebellion against Alexander with unalterable fidelity to the Holy See . All Italy recognized that Savonarola's See also:

• VOICE (Fr. voix, from Lat. vox)

voice was arousing a See also:

• STORM (in O. Eng..storm, and so in Du. and Low Ger.; in O. H. Ger. and mod. Ger. Sturm; the root is probably that seen in " stir," to rouse, move, disturb, cf. Ger. storen)
• STORM, THEODOR WOLDSEN (1817-1888)

storm that might shake even the power of Rome . Alive to the danger, the pope knew that his foe must be crushed, and the religious carnival of 1496 afforded a See also:

• GOOD, JOHN MASON (1764-1827)

good pretext for stronger proceedings against him . The threatened See also:

• ANATHEMA (from Gr. avarz6 'cu, to lift up)

anathema was deferred, but a brief uniting St Mark's to a new Tuscan See also:

• BRANCH (from the Fr. branche, late Lat. branca, an animal's paw)

branch of the Dominicans now deprived Savonarola of his independent power . However, in the beginning of 1497 the Piagnoni were again in See also:

• OFFICE (from Lat. officium, " duty," " service," a shortened form of opifacium, from facere, " to do," and either the stem of opes, " wealth," " aid," or opus, " work ")

office, with the prior's staunch friend, See also:

• FRANCESCO
• FRANCESCO, 210

Francesco Valori, at their head . In See also:

• MARCH
• MARCH (1) (from Fr. marcher, to walk; the earliest sense in French appears to be " to trample," and the origin has usually been found in the Lat. marcus, hammer; Low Lat. marcare, to hammer; hence to beat the road with the regular tread of a soldier: cf.
• MARCH, AUZIAS (c. "1395-1458)
• MARCH, EARLS OF
• MARCH, FRANCIS ANDREW (1825– )

March the aspect of affairs changed . The Arrabbiati and the Medicean See also:

• FACTION (through the French, from Lat. factio, a company of persons combined for action, facere, to do; from the other French derivative facon comes " fashion ")

faction merged political See also:

• DIFFERENCES, CALCULUS OF (Theory of Finite Differences)

differences in their See also:

• COMMON

common hatred to Savonarola .

Piero de' Medici's fresh See also:

• ATTEMPT (Lat. adtemptare, attentare, to try)

attempt to re-enter Florence failed; nevertheless his followers continued their intrigues, and party spirit increased in virulence . The citizens were growing weary of the monastic austerities imposed on them, and Alexander foresaw that his revenge was at hand . A signory openly hostile to Savonarola took office in May, and on See also:

• ASCENSION
• ASCENSION, FEAST OF THE

Ascension Day his enemies ventured on active insult . His pulpit in the duomo was defiled, an See also:

• ASS (O.E. assa; Lat. asinus)
• ASS, FEAST OF THE

ass's skin spread over the See also:

• CUSHION (from O. Fr. coisson, coussin; according to the New English Dict., from Lat. coxa, a hip; others say from Lat. culcita, a quilt)

cushion, and See also:

• SHARP, GRANVILLE (1735-1813)
• SHARP, JAMES (1618-1679)
• SHARP, JOHN (1645-1714)
• SHARP, RICHARD (1759-1835)
• SHARP, WILLIAM (1749-1824)
• SHARP, WILLIAM (1856-1905)

sharp nails fixed in the hoard maned. on which he would strike his hand . The See also:

• OUTRAGE (through O. Fr. ultrage, oltrage, oultrage, from Lat. ultra, beyond, exceeding, cf. Ital. oltraggio; the meaning has been influenced by connexion with " rage," anger)

outrage was discovered and remedied before the service began; and, although the Arrabbiati half filled the church and even sought to attempt his life, Savonarola kept his composure and delivered an impressive sermon . But the signory, in feigned anxiety for the public See also:

• PEACE
• PEACE, BREACH OF THE

peace, besought him to suspend his discourses . Shortly afterwards the threatened See also:

• BULL
• BULL, GEORGE (1634–1710)
• BULL, JOHN (c. 1562–1628)
• BULL, OLE BORNEMANN (18ro-188o)

bull of See also:

• EXCOMMUNICATION (Lat. ex, out of, away from; communis, common)

excommunication was launched against him, and Fra Mariano was in Rome stimulating the pope's wrath . Savonarola remained undaunted . The See also:

• SENTENCE (Lat. sententia, a way of thinking, opinion, judgment; vote, sentire, to feel, think)

sentence was null and void, he said . His mission was divinely inspired; and Alexander, elected simoniacally and laden with crimes, was no true pope . Nevertheless the reading of the bull in the duomo with the appropriate, terrifying ceremonial made a deep impression on the Florentines . And now, the Arrabbiati signory putting no check on the Compagnacci, the city returned to the wanton See also:

• LICENCE (through the French from Lat. licentia, licere, to be lawful)

licence of Lorenzo's reign .

But in July Savonarola's See also:

• FRIENDS, SOCIETY
• FRIENDS, SOCIETY OF

friends were again in power and did their best to have his ex-communication removed . Meanwhile party strife was stilled by an outbreak of the See also:

• PLAGUE (in Gr. Xotµos; in Lat. pestis, pestilentia)

plague . During this time Rome was horror-struck by the mysterious See also:

• MURDER

murder of the young duke of See also:

• GANDIA

Gandia, and the bereaved pope mourned his son with the wildest grief . Savonarola addressed to the pontiff a See also:

• LETTER (through Fr. lettre from Lat. littera or litera, letter of the alphabet; the origin of the Latin word is obscure; it has probably no connexion with the root of linere, to smear, i.e. with wax, for an inscription with a stilus)

letter of condolence, boldly urging him to See also:

• BOW (pronounced " bo ")

bow to the will of Heaven and repent while there was yet time . The plague ended, Florence was plunged in fresh troubles from Medicean intrigues, and a See also:

• CONSPIRACY (from Lat. conspirare, literally to breathe together, to agree, combine, and especially to form a secret plot)

conspiracy for the restoration of Piero was discovered . Among the five leading citizens concerned in the See also:

• PLOT
• PLOT, ROBERT (164o-1696)

plot was Bernardo del See also:

• NERO (37-68)

Nero, a very aged man of lofty talents and position . The gonfalonier, Francesco Valori, used his strongest influence to obtain their condemnation, and all five were put to death . It is said that at least Bernardo del Nero would have been spared had Savonarola raised his voice, but, although refraining from any active See also:

• PART

part against the prisoners, the prior would not ask mercy for them . This silence proved fatal to his popularity with moderate men, gave new adherents to the Arrabbiati, and whetted the fury of the pope, Sforza and all potentates well disposed to the Medici faction . He was now interdicted from See also:

• PREACHING (Fr. preecher, from Lat. praedicare, to proclaim)

preaching even in his own convent and again summoned to Rome . As before, the See also:

• MANDATE (Mandatum)

mandate was disobeyed . He refrained from public preaching, but held conferences in St Mark's with large gatherings of his disciples, and defied the interdict on See also:

• CHRISTMAS (i.e. the Mass of Christ)

Christmas Day by publicly celebrating See also:

• MASS (O.E. maesse; Fr. messe; Ger. Messe; Ital. messa; from eccl. Lat. missa)
• MASS, IN

mass and heading a procession through the cloisters .

The year 1498, in which Savonarola was to See also:

• DIE
• DIE (Fr. de, from Lat. datum, given)

die a martyr's death, opened amid seemingly favourable auspices . The Piagnoni were again at the head of the state, and by their See also:

• REQUEST, LETTERS OF

request the prior resumed his sermons in the duomo, while his dearest See also:

• DISCIPLE

disciple, Fra Domenico Buonvicini, filled the pulpit of St Lorenzo . For the last time the carnival was again kept with See also:

• STRANGE, SIR ROBERT (1721-1792)

strange religious festivities, and some valuable books and See also:

• WORKS

works of art were sacrificed in a second See also:

• BONFIRE (in Early English " bone-fire," Scottish " bane-fire ")

bonfire of " vanities." But menacing briefs poured in from Rome; the pope had read one of Savonarola's See also:

• RECENT

recent sermons on See also:

• EXODUS, BOOK OF
• EXODUS, THE

Exodus; the city itself was threatened with interdict, and the Florentine See also:

• AMBASSADOR (also EMBASSADOR, the form sometimes still used in America; from the Fr. ambassadeur, with which compare Ital. ambasciatore and Span. embajador, all variants of the Med. Lat. ambassiator, ambassiator, ambasator, &c., derived from Med. Lat. amba

ambassador could barely obtain a See also:

• SHORT, FRANCIS JOB (1857– )

short delay . Now too the Piagnoni quitted office; the new signory was less friendly, and the prior was persuaded by his adherents to retire to St Mark's . There he continued to preach with unabated zeal; and, since the See also:

• WOMEN

women of Florence deplored the loss of his teachings, one day in the See also:

• WEEK (from A.S. wicu, Germanic *wikon, probably=change, turn)

week was set apart for them . The signory tried to conciliate the pope by See also:

• RELATING

relating the wonderful spiritual effects of their preacher's words, but Alexander was obdurate . The Florentines must either silence the man themselves, or send him to be judged by a See also:

• ROMAN

Roman tribunal . Undismayed by See also:

• PERSONAL

personal danger, Savonarola resolved to See also:

• APPEAL

appeal to all Christendom against the unrighteous pontiff, and despatched letters to the rulers of See also:

• EUROPE

Europe adjuring them to assemble a council to condemn this antipope . The council of See also:

• CONSTANCE
• CONSTANCE (Ger. Konstanz or Costnitz)
• CONSTANCE, COUNCIL OF
• CONSTANCE, LAKE OF (called by the Romans Lacus Brigantinus or lake of Bregenz, and now usually named in German Bodensee, as well as the " Swabian Sea ")

Constance, and the deposition of See also:

• JOHN
• JOHN (1167–1216)
• JOHN (1290-c. 1320)
• JOHN (1296-1346)
• JOHN (1371–1419)
• JOHN (1468-1532)
• JOHN (1801-1873)
• JOHN (Heb. llni')
• JOHN (ZAPOLYA) (1487-1540)
• JOHN, 4TH MARQUESS OF TWEEDDALE (c. 1695-1762)
• JOHN, DON (1545-1578)
• JOHN, DON (1629–1679)
• JOHN, GOSPEL OF ST
• JOHN, or HAYS (1513–1571)
• JOHN, THE APOSTLE
• JOHN, THE EPISTLES OF

John See also:

• XXIII

XXIII., were satisfactory precedents still remembered by the world . One of these letters being intercepted and sent to Rome by the duke of Milan (it is said) proved fatal to the friar . The papal threats were now too urgent to be disregarded, and the cowed signory entreated Savonarola to put an end to his sermons . He reluctantly obeyed, and concluded his last discourse with the tenderest and most touching farewell .

The government now hoped that Alexander would be appeased and Florence allowed to breathe freely . But although silenced the prophet was doomed, and the folly of his disciples The precipitated his See also:

• FATE

fate . A creature of the krrabbiati, See also:

• ORDEAL (O.Eng. ordal, ordael, judgment)

ordeal of a Franciscan friar named Francesco di Puglia, chalflre . lenged Savonarola to prove the truth of his doctrines by the ordeal of See also:

• FIRE (in O. Eng. f j'r; the word is common to West German languages, cf. Dutch vuur, Ger. Feuer; the pre-Teutonic form is seen in Sanskrit pu, pavaka, and Gr. irup; the ultimate origin is usually taken to be a root meaning to purify, cf. Lat. purus)

fire . At first the prior treated the provocation with merited contempt, but his too zealous disciple Fri Domenico accepted the challenge . And, when the Franciscan declared that he would enter the fire with Savonarola alone . Fri Domenico protested his willingness to enter it with any one in See also:

• DEFENCE
• DEFENCE (Lat. defendere, to defend)

defence of his See also:

• MASTER (Lat. magister, related to tnagis, more, as the corresponding minister is to minus, less; the English form is due partly to the O. Eng. maegister, and partly to O. Fr. maistre, mod. maitre; cf. Du. meester, Ger. Meister, Ital. maestro)

master's cause . As Savonarola resolutely declined the trial, the Franciscan deputed a convert, one Giuliano dei Rondinelli, to go through the ordeal with Fri Domenico . There were long preliminary disputes . Savonarola, perceiving that a See also:

• TRAP (0. Eng. treppe or traepee, properly a step, as that or which an animal places its foot and is caught, cf. Ger. Treppe flight of stairs)

trap was being laid for him, discountenanced the " experiment " until his calmer See also:

• JUDGMENT

judgment was at last overborne by the fanaticism of his followers . Aided by the signory, which was playing into the hands of Rome, the Arrabbiati and Compagnacci pressed the See also:

• MATTER

matter on, and the way was now clear for Savonarola's destruction . On the 7th of April 1498 an immense throng gathered in thePiazza della Signoria to enjoy the barbarous sight .

Two thick banks of combustibles 40 yds. long, with a narrow space between, had been erected in front of the See also:

• PALACE (Lat. Palatium, the name given by Augustus to his residence on the Palatine Hill)

palace, and five See also:

• HUNDRED

hundred soldiers kept a wide circle clear of the See also:

• CROWD, CROUTH, CROWTH

crowd . Some writers aver that the piles were charged with See also:

• GUNPOWDER

gunpowder . The Dominicans from one side, the See also:

• FRANCISCANS (otherwise called Friars Minor, or Minorites; also the Seraphic Order ; and in England Grey Friars, from the colour of the habit, which, however, is now brown rather than grey)

Franciscans from the other, marched in See also:

• SOLEMN (Lat. sollemnis, sollemnis, less correctly solennis, yearly, annual; from sollus = totus, whole, entire, Gr. Mos., and annus, year)

solemn pro-cession to the Loggia dei See also:

• LANZI, LUIGI (1732–1810)

Lanzi, which had been divided by a hoarding into two See also:

• SEPARATE

separate compartments . The Dominicans were led by Savonarola carrying the See also:

• HOST

host, which he reverently deposited on an See also:

• ALTAR (Lat. altare, from alias, high; some ancient etymological guesses are recorded by St Isidore of Seville in Etymologiae xv. 4)

altar prepared in his portion of the loggia . The magistrates signalled to the two champions to advance . Fri, Domenico stepped forward, but neither Rondinelli nor Fra Francesco appeared . The Franciscans began to urge fantastic objections, and, when Savonarola insisted that his See also:

• CHAMPION (Fr. champion, Late Lat. campio from campus; a field or open space, i.e. one " who takes the field " or fights; cf. Ger. Kampf, battle, and Kampfer, fighter)

champion should See also:

• BEAR
• BEAR, BLACK
• BEAR, BROWN
• BEAR, GRIZZLY
• BEAR, ISABELLINE
• BEAR, WHITE

bear the host, they cried out against the See also:

• SACRILEGE

sacrilege of exposing the Redeemer's See also:

• BODY

body to the flames . All was turmoil and confusion, the crowd frantic . And, although Rondinelli had not come, the signory sent angry messages to ask why the Dominicans delayed the trial . It was now late in the day, and a storm shower gave the authorities a pretext for declaring that heaven was against the ordeal . The Franciscans slipped away unobserved, but Savonarola raising the host attempted to See also:

• LEAD
• LEAD (pronounced iced)

lead his monks across the piazza in the same solemn order as before . On this the popular fury burst forth .

Defrauded of their bloody 'diversion, the people were wild with rage . Fri Girolamo's power was suddenly at an end . Neither he nor his brethren would have lived to reach St Mark's but for the devoted help of Salviati and his men . Against the real culprits, the Franciscans, no anger was felt; the zealous prior, the prophet and lawgiver of Florence, was made the popular scapegoat . Notwithstanding the anguish that must have filled his See also:

• HEART
• HEART, LUNG

heart, the fallen man preserved his dignity and See also:

• CALM

calm . Mounting his own pulpit in St Mark's he quietly related the events of the day to the faithful assembled in the church, and then withdrew to his cell, while the See also:

• MOB

mob on the square outside was clamouring for his blood . The next See also:

• MORNING

morning, the signory having decreed the prior's banishment, Francesco Valori and other leading Piagnoni hurried to him to See also:

• CONCERT (through the French from Lat. con-, with, and certare, to strive)

concert measures for his safety . _ Meanwhile the government decided on his See also:

• ARREST (Fr. arrester, arreeter, to stop or stay)

arrest, and eaa st no sooner was this made public than the populace Tr1aL rushed to the attack of the convent . The doors of St Mark's were hastily secured, and Savonarola discovered that his adherents had secretly prepared arms and munitions and were ready to stand a See also:

• SIEGE (0. Fr. sege, siege, mod. siege, seat, ultimately from sedere, to sit, cf. Class. Lat. obsidium, a siege)

siege The signory sent to order all laymen to quit the cloister, and a See also:

• SPECIAL

special See also:

• SUMMONS (Fr. semonce, from semonner or semondre, Lat. summonere, summonitio)

summons to Valori . After some hesitation the latter obeyed, hoping by his influence to ;ally all the Piagnoni to the See also:

• RESCUE (in Middle Eng. rescous, from O. Fr. recousse, Low Lat. rescussa, from reexcussa,reexcutere, to shake off again, re, again, ex, off, quatere, to shake)

rescue . But he was murdered in the See also:

• STREET
• STREET, GEORGE EDMUND (1824-1881)

street, and his palace sacked by the mob . The monks and their few remaining friends made a most desperate defence .

In vain Savonarola besought them to See also:

• LAY

lay down their arms . When the church was finally stormed Savonarola was seen praying at the altar, and Fri Domenico, armed with an enormous See also:

• CANDLESTICK

candlestick, guarding him from the blows of the mob . A few disciples dragged their beloved master to the inner library and urged him to See also:

• ESCAPE (in mid. Eng. eschape or escape, from the O. Fr. eschapper, modern echapper, and escaper, low Lat. escapium, from ex, out of, and cappa, cape, cloak; cf. for the sense development the Gr. iichueoOat, literally to put off one's clothes, hence to sli

escape by the window . He hesitated, seemed about to consent, when a cowardly monk, one Malatesta Sacramoro, cried out that the shepherd should lay down his life for his See also:

• FLOCK

flock . Thereupon Savonarola turned, bade farewell to the brethren, and, accompanied by the faithful Domenico, quietly surrendered to his enemies . Later, betrayed by the same Malatesta, Fri Silvestro was also seized . The prisoners were conveyed to the Palazzo Vecchio, and Savonarola was lodged in the See also:

• TOWER (Lat. turris; Fr. tour, clocker; Ital. torre; Ger. Thurm)

tower cell which had once harboured Cosimo de' Medici . Now came an exultant brief from the pope . His well-beloved Florentines were true sons of the church, but must See also:

• CROWN

crown their good deeds by despatching the criminals to Rome . Sforza was equally rejoiced by the news, and the only potentate who could have perhaps saved Savonarola's life, Charles of France, had died on the day of the ordeal by fire . Thus another of the friar's prophecies was verified, and its fulfilment cost him his sole See also:

• PROTECTOR

protector . The signory refused to send their prisoners to Rome, but they did Rome's behests .

Savonarola's See also:

• JUDGES, THE BOOK OF

judges were chosen from his bitterest foes . Day after day he was tortured, and in his agony, with a See also:

• FRAME

frame weakened by See also:

• CONSTANT, BENJAMIN (1845-1902)

constant austerity and the mental See also:

• STRAIN (through O. Fr. straindre, estraindre, mod. i treindre, from Lat. stringere, to draw tight, related to stress, stretch, string, &c.)

strain of the past months, he made every See also:

• ADMISSION

admission demanded by his tormentors . But directly he was released from the See also:

• RACK

rack he always withdrew the confessions uttered in the See also:

• DELIRIUM (a Latin medical term for madness, from delirare, to be mad, literally to wander from the lira, or furrow)

delirium of See also:

• PAIN (from Lat. poena, Gr. robin, penalty, that which must be paid: O. Fr. peine)
• PAIN, BARRY (1867– )

pain . These being too incoherent to serve for a legal See also:

• REPORT (O.Fr. report or raport, modern rapport, from O.Fr. reporter, mod. rap porter, Lat. reportare, to bring back, in poetical use only, of bringing back an account, news, &c.)

report, a false See also:

• ACCOUNT
• ACCOUNT (through O. Fr. acont, Late Lat. comptum, cornputare, to calculate)

account of the friar's avowals was See also:

• DRAWN

drawn up and published . Though physically unable to resist See also:

• TORTURE (from Lat. torquere, to twist)

torture, Savonarola's clearness of mind returned whenever he was at peace in his cell . So long as See also:

• WRITING
• WRITING (the verbal noun of " to write," O. Eng. writan, to inscribe)

writing materials were allowed him he employed himself in making a commentary on the See also:

• PSALMS, BOOK
• PSALMS, BOOK OF, or PSALTER

Psalms, in which he restated all his doctrines . Alexander was frantically eager to see his enemy die in Rome . But the signory insisted that the false prophet should suffer death before the Florentines whom he had so long led astray . The matter was finally compromised . A second See also:

• MOCK

mock trial was held by two apostolic commissioners specially appointed by the pope . One of the new judges was a Venetian general of the Dominicans, the other a Spaniard . Meanwhile the trial of See also:

• BROTHERS, RICHARD (1757-1824)

Brothers Domenico and Silvestro was still in progress .

The former remained faithful to his master and himself . No extremity of torture could make him recant or See also:

• EXTRACT (from Lat. extrahere, to draw out)

extract a syllable to Savonarola's hurt; he steadfastly repeated his belief in the divinity of the prior's mission . Fra Silvestro on the contrary gave way at mere sight of the rack, and this seer of heavenly visions owned himself and his master guilty of every See also:

• CRIME (Lat. crimen, accusation)

crime laid to their See also:

• CHARGE
• CHARGE (through the Fr. from the Late Lat. carricare, to load in a carrus or wagon; cf. " cargo ")

charge . The two commissioners soon ended their task . They had the pope's orders that Savonarola was to die " even were he a second John the Baptist." On three successive days they " examined " the prior with worse tortures than before . But he now resisted pain better, and, although more than once a promise to recant was extorted from him, he reasserted his innocence when unbound, crying out, " My God, I denied Thee for fear of pain." On the evening of the 22nd of May sentence of death was pronounced on him and his two disciples . Savonarola listened unmoved to the awful words, and then quietly resumed his interrupted devotions . Fra Domenico exulted in the thought of dying by his master's side; Fra Silvestro, on the contrary, raved with despair . The only favour Savonarola craved before death was a short interview with his See also:

• FELLOW

fellow victims . This the signory unwillingly granted . The memorable See also:

• MEETING (from " to meet," to come together, assemble, 0. Eng. metals ; cf. Du. moeten, Swed. mota, Goth. gamotjan, &c., derivatives of the Teut. word for a meeting, seen in O. Eng. Wit, moot, an assembly of the people; cf. witanagemot)

meeting took place in the hall of the Cinquecento . During their See also:

• FORTY

forty days of confinement and torture each one had been told that the others had recanted, and the false report of Savonarola's See also:

• CONFESSION (Lat. confessio, from confiteor, acknowledge, confess)

confession had been shown to the two monks .

The three were now face to face for the first time . Fra Domenico's See also:

• LOYALTY

loyalty had never wavered, and the weak Silvestro's See also:

• ENTHUSIASM

enthusiasm rekindled at sight of his See also:

• CHIEF (from Fr. chef, head, Lat. caput)

chief . Savonarola prayed with the two men, gave them his blessing, and exhorted them by the memory of their Saviour's crucifixion to submit meekly to their fate . Midnight was long past when Savonarola was led back to his cell . Jacopo Niccolini, one of a religious fraternity dedicated to consoling the last See also:

• HOURS, CANONICAL

hours of condemned men, remained with him . Spent with weakness and fatigue he asked leave to See also:

• REST (O. Eng. rest, reste, bed, cognate with other Teutonic forms, e.g. Ger. Rast, Riiste, rest, and probably Gothic Rasta, league, i.e. resting or stopping place)

rest his head on his See also:

• COMPANION (through the O. Fr. compaignon or compagnon, from the Late Lat. companio,—cum, with, and panis, bread,—one who shares meals with another; the word has been wrongly derived from the Late Lat. compagnus, one of the same pages or district)

companion's See also:

• LAP

lap, and quickly See also:

• FELL
• FELL, JOHN (1625-1686)

fell into a quiet See also:

• SLEEP (0. Eng. slcepan; Ger. schlafen; cf. Lat. labi, to glide, and " slip ")

sleep . As Niccolini tells us, the martyr's face became serene and smiling as a child's . On awaking he addressed See also:

• KIND (O. E. ge-cynde, from the same root as is seen in " kin," supra)

kind words to the compassionate See also:

• BROTHER

brother, and then prophesied that dire calamities would befall Florence during the reign of a pope named See also:

• CLEMENT (Lat. Clemens, i.e. merciful; Gr. K)4gs)
• CLEMENT, FRANCOIS (1714-1793)
• CLEMENT, JACQUES (1567-1589)

Clement . The carefully recorded prediction was verified by the siege of 1529 . The See also:

• EXECUTION (from Lat. ex-sequor, exsecutus, follow or carry out)

execution took place the next morning . A See also:

• SCAFFOLD
• SCAFFOLD, SCAFFOLDING (from the O. Fr. escafaut, originally escafalt, modern echafaud, a corruption of the Italian or Spanish calafalco, a platform, especially a canopy over a bier, a catafalque; this word is composed of O. Span. altar, O. Ital. catare, t

scaffold, connected by a wooden See also:

• BRIDGE

bridge with the magistrates' rostrum, had been erected on the spot where the piles of the ordeal had stood . At one end of the See also:

• PLATFORM (Fr. plateforme, i.e. ground plan)

platform was a huge cross with faggots heaped at its See also:

• BASE

base .

As the prisoners, clad in See also:

• PENITENTIAL (Lat. poenitentiale, libellus poenitentialis, &c.)

penitential haircloth, were led across the bridge, wanton boys thrust sharp sticks between the planks to See also:

• WOUND (O. Eng. wund,connected with a Teutonic verb, meaning to strive, fight, suffer, seen in O. Eng. winnan, whence Eng. " win ")

wound their feet . First came the ceremonial of degradation . Sacer- dotal See also:

• ROBES (Fr. robe, Late Lat. roba, raupa, meaning (1)

robes were thrown over the victims, and then roughly stripped off by two Dominicans, the See also:

• BISHOP (A.S. bisceop, from Lat. episcopus, Gr. irio-Korros, " overlooker " or " overseer ")
• BISHOP, ISABELLA (1832-1904)
• BISHOP, SIR HENRY ROWLEY (1786-1855)

bishop of Vasona and the prior of Sta Maria Novella . To the bishop's formula, " I separate thee from the church militant and the church triumphant," Savonarola replied in See also:

• FIRM

firm tones, " Not from the church triumph-ant; that is beyond thy power." By a refinement of See also:

• CRUELTY (through the O. Fr. crualte, mod. cruaute, from the Lat. crudelitas)

cruelty Savonarola was the last to suffer . His disciples' bodies already dangled from the arms of the cross before he was hung on the centre See also:

• BEAM
• BEAM (from the O. Eng. beam, cf. Ger. Baum, a tree, to which sense may be referred the use of " beam " as meaning the rood or crucifix, and the survival in certain names of trees, as horn-beam)

beam . Then the pile was fired . For a moment the See also:

• WIND
• WIND (a common Teut. word, cognate with Skt. vats, Lat. ventus, cf. " weather," to be of course distinguished from to " wind," to coil or twist, O.Eng. windan, cf. "wander," "wend," &c.)

wind blew the flames aside, leaving the corpses untouched . "A See also:

• MIRACLE (Lat. miraculum, from mirari, to wonder)

miracle," cried the weeping Piagnoni; but then the fire leapt up and ferocious yells of triumph rang from the mob . At dusk the martyrs' remains were collected in a See also:

• CART (A.S. crcet, Gaelic cairt; connected with " car ")

cart and thrown into the See also:

• ARNO (anc. Arnus)
• ARNO, ARN

Arno . Savonarola's party was apparently annihilated by his death, but, when in 1529–1530 Florence was exposed to the horrors predicted by him, the most heroic defenders of his beloved if ungrateful city were Piagnoni who ruled their lives by his precepts and revered his memory as that of a See also:

• SAINT (lat. sanctus, " holy ")

saint . Savonarola's writings may be classed in three categories:—(1) numerous sermons, collected mainly by Lorenzo Violi, one of his most enthusiastic hearers; (2) an immense number of devotional and moral essays and some theological works, of which Il Trionfo della Croce is the chief ; (3) a few short poems and a political treatise on the government of Florence . Although his faith in the dogmas of the Roman See also:

• CATHOLIC (Gr. KcaBoXuK6s, general, universal)

Catholic Church never swerved, his strenuous protests against papal corruptions, his reliance on the Bible as his surest See also:

• GUIDE (in Mid. Eng. gyde, from the Fr. guide; the earlier French form was guie, English " guy," the d was due to the Italian form guida; the ultimate origin is probably Teutonic, the word being connected with the base seen in O. Eng. witan, to know)

guide, and his intense moral earnestness undoubtedly connect Savonarola with the See also:

• MOVEMENT

movement that heralded the See also:

• REFORMATION
• REFORMATION, THE

Reformation .