Death in Florence: the Medici, Savonarola and the Battle for the Soul of the Renaissance City by Strathern Paul

Author:Strathern, Paul [Strathern, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781446477618
Publisher: Random House
Published: 2011-10-31T00:00:00+00:00

15

The Voices of Florence

DESPITE THE EVIDENT popularity of Savonarola’s sermons, along with widespread satisfaction that Medici rule had been replaced by a more republican government, Florence was now a divided city. And the focus of this division was undeniably Savonarola. The most loyal supporters of the ‘little friar’ remained the Frateschi (the ‘Friar’s Men’), mainly drawn from amongst the monks of San Marco and their intellectual friends. However, Savonarola’s largest support came from those referred to derisively as the Piagnoni – a word that covered a spectrum of meanings. Literally, it means ‘snivellers’, ‘grumblers’ or ‘wailers’ – that is the downtrodden who were always snivelling away or complaining, and wailing out their prayers. These were Savonarola’s beloved ‘simple folk’, who despite his pleas for forgiveness and reconciliation still retained a deep-seated hatred for the Medici and their supporters, many of whom had of course fled the city. However, although those who remained behind had for the time being prudently adopted a low profile, they nonetheless represented a considerable force, who referred to themselves as the Bigi (the ‘Greys’), and would soon begin plotting for the return of Piero de’ Medici. As for Piero de’ Medici himself, he too still represented a distinct threat to Florence. Along with his well-connected brother Cardinal Giovanni, he had begun to solicit support for the Medici cause amongst various states, as well as the upper echelons of the Church, especially Alexander VI. Savonarola’s rejection of the Holy League had ensured that opinion in Rome, and indeed amongst leaders throughout Italy, was now swinging behind the reinstatement of the Medici.

However, the main opposition to Savonarola soon emerged from within Florence itself, in the form of the Arrabbiati (the ‘Enraged Ones’),fn1 a widespread group who resented Savonarola’s interference in the city’s secular government, some of whom also favoured a return to the old Medici days. Then there were the secular liberals who called themselves the Bianchi (the ‘Whites’), to distinguish themselves from the ‘Greys’; though glad to see the back of the Medici, they retained a nostalgic affection for the easygoing times of Lorenzo the Magnificent, and also believed that priests had no place in a republican government. Another group on the same side of the divide as the Arrabbiati, though hardly as passionate in their views, were the Tiepidi (the ‘Tepid Ones’ – that is, lukewarm, or moderate in their opinions). The Tiepidi were opposed to Savonarolan reform and drew much of their support from the permissive priests who saw no reason why their vows should confine them to a life of puritan penury. Besides being popular amongst the wealthy families from which many of the Tiepidi originated, this faction also had important links with Rome.

Nonetheless, the two main opposing groups in Florence remained the Arrabbiati and the Piagnoni, with the others aligning themselves alongside either one of these, with more or less sympathy. Savonarola remained the essential divisive factor. Both of these leading factions had their fervent advocates in the Great Council, even though the disenfranchised Piagnoni were not directly represented.

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