Death in Florence : the Medici, Savonarola and the battle for the soul of the renaissance city

On April 8, 1492, the de facto ruler of Florence, Lorenzo de Medici — “Il Magnifico,” the model for Machiavelli’s prince, the patron of Botticelli, da Vinci and Michelangelo and the “needle of Italy’s compass” for 23 years — died at the age of 43.Historian Paul Strathern opens Death in Florence with de Medici's final suffering and wasting away from congenital gout, a sad contrast to his days of robust glory. De Medici alone is a fascinating and complicated figure, and Strathern draws a finely shaded portrait of a man who was both connoisseur of the arts and mob boss, commanding a government that was part embezzlement and state terrorism, the other part carnivals and giveaways.In his final years, de Medici encountered his one serious threat to perpetuating his family’s rule: “the little friar” Girolamo Savonarola, a charismatic fundamentalist preacher who taught a return to the simple life of early Christianity. In the troubled years that followed de Medici’s death, Savonarola would become the center of power in the city and instigate the notorious 1497 bonfire of the vanities, where crowds of believers destroyed expensive gowns, mirrors, artworks and other symbols of Renaissance worldliness. Before long, Savonarola was aiming his attacks at the corruption of the pope and church in Rome.For many pages, it's hard to see where Strathern's story is going. The protagonist dies less than halfway through the book. The two antagonists, in fact, seem to have reached a working truce: de Medici allowing Savonarola to preach in Florence, and Savonarola refraining from challenging the Medici family's rule.But the death of de Medici and the pact between him and Savonarola were only preliminaries to the great social upheaval that was to follow.Strathern, author of The Venetians and Napoleon in Egypt, has a gift for condensation and for balancing a history overloaded with unappealing characters: the deformed French king Charles VIII; the reigning Borgi "One of the defining moments in Western history, the bloody and dramatic story of the battle for the soul of Renaissance Florence" -- "By the end of the fifteenth century, Florence was well established as the home of the Renaissance. As generous patrons to the likes of Botticelli and Michelangelo, the ruling Medici embodied the progressive humanist spirit of the age, and in Lorenzo de' Medici (Lorenzo the Magnificent) they possessed a diplomat capable of guarding the militarily weak city in a climate of constantly shifting allegiances between the major Italian powers. However, in the form of Savonarola, an unprepossessing provincial monk, Lorenzo found his nemesis. Filled with Old Testament fury and prophecies of doom, Savonarola's sermons reverberated among a disenfranchised population, who preferred medieval Biblical certainties to the philosophical interrogations and intoxicating surface glitter of the Renaissance. Savonarola's aim was to establish a 'City of God' for his followers, a new kind of democratic state, the likes of which the world had never seen before. The battle between these two men would be a fight to the death, a series of sensational events--invasions, trials by fire, the 'Bonfire of the Vanities', terrible executions and mysterious deaths--featuring a cast of the most important and charismatic Renaissance figures. Was this a simple clash of wills between a benign ruler and religious fanatic? Between secular pluralism and repressive extremism? In an exhilaratingly rich and deeply researched story, Paul Strathern reveals the paradoxes, self-doubts, and political compromises that made the battle for the soul of the Renaissance city one of the most complex and important moments in Western history" By The End Of The Fifteenth Century, Florence Was Well Established As The Home Of The Renaissance. As Generous Patrons To The Likes Of Botticelli And Michelangelo, The Ruling Medici Embodied The Progressive Humanist Spirit Of The Age, And In Lorenzo The Magnificent They Possessed A Diplomat Capable Of Guarding The Militarily Weak City In A Climate Of Constantly Shifting Allegiances Between The Major Italian Powers. However, In The Form Of Savonarola, An Unprepossessing Provincial Monk, Lorenzo Found His Nemesis. Filled With Old Testament Fury And Prophecies Of Doom, Savonarola's Sermons Reverberated Among A Disenfranchised Population, Who Preferred Medieval Biblical Certainties To The Philosophical Interrogations And Intoxicating Surface Glitter Of The Renaissance. Savonarola's Aim Was To Establish A 'city Of God' For His Followers, A New Kind Of Democratic State, The Likes Of Which The World Had Never Seen Before.the Battle Which This Provoked Would Be A Fight To The Death, A Series Of Sensational Events - Invasions, Trials By Fire, The 'bonfire Of The Vanities', Terrible Executions And Mysterious Deaths - Featuring A Cast Of The Most Important And Charismatic Renaissance Figures. This Famous Struggle Has Often Been Portrayed As A Simple Clash Of Wills Between A Benign Ruler And Religious Fanatic, Between Secular Pluralism And Repressive Extremism. However, In An Exhilaratingly Rich And Deeply Researched Story, Paul Strathern Reveals The Paradoxes, Self-doubts And Political Compromises Which Made The Battle For The Soul Of The Renaissance City One Of The Most Complex And Important Moments In Western History.