Stefano Porcari

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Stefano Porcari (* early 15th century in Rome ; † January 9, 1453 ibid) was a Roman politician and Renaissance humanist . He became known through an attempted revolt against Pope Nicholas V and against the papal system of rule in the Papal States with the aim of introducing a republican constitution in Rome.

Life

Origin and political activity

Stefano Porcari came from an old and respected Roman family and received a humanistic education in his youth. He adored Cicero , who for him was the embodiment of all the great ancient Roman virtues. He had the opportunity to study the Roman Republic in more depth and became its ardent admirer. After he went to Florence, thanks to the protection of Pope Martin V, he was elected twice in a row (1427 and 1428) as " capitano del popolo ". From there he made trips to Germany and France.

After his return to Italy (1430) he held various public offices in several Italian cities: in 1432 he was Podestà of Bologna , 1434 of Siena , 1435 of Orvieto and was also governor of the fortress of Trani . In the last years of the pontificate of Eugene IV , who had only recently been taken back to Rome after his expulsion in 1434, he too returned to the city. After his death, before the election of the new pontiff (Cardinal Parentucelli was ultimately elected Pope Nicholas V ) , Porcari called on his fellow citizens several times to overthrow the rule of the popes in the city and in the Papal States and to adopt a regime based on the glorious model of the Roman Republic of the ancient world.

Exile in Bologna

Pope Nicholas V knew of Porcari's machinations, but he forgave him and only removed him from Rome by entrusting him with various assignments. In 1448 Porcari was even appointed rector of the province of Campagna e Marittima ; he settled in Ferentino for some time . New activities by Porcaris, presumably on the occasion of the impending coronation of Frederick III in Rome . , caused the Pope to banish the troublemaker to Bologna, where he could be better monitored. Porcari could move freely within the city walls, but was not allowed to leave the city without the permission of the local authorities and had to report to him daily on the express orders of Cardinal Bessarion (papal legate in the city since 1450). But in the last days of December 1452 Stefano Porcari managed to escape the strict surveillance in Bologna and to flee to Rome.

Conspiracy and death

Memorial plaque for Stefano Porcari in Vicolo delle Ceste

In Rome, Porcari found refuge with his brother-in-law Angelo Masi, who took an active role in organizing an uprising against papal rule. The plan was to occupy the Castel Sant'Angelo in one go, to call the Romans to revolt and to proclaim a republic after the capture of the Pope and the highest dignitaries of the state. Stefano Porcari should then, like his role model Cola di Rienzo, rise to the tribune. They began to recruit mercenaries and made contact with sympathizers: the uprising was to start a few days later, on January 6, 1453, during the celebrations of Epiphany. On the eve of the survey, Porcari could count on considerable support: around 300 mercenaries and 400 volunteers.

Meanwhile, Pope Nicholas V had learned from Cardinal Bessarione of the exile's disappearance and ordered that Porcari's house and those of his confidants and closest friends be searched. The insurgents were discovered and eliminated before they could take action on January 6th. Porcari escaped initially, but was arrested the day after he had tried unsuccessfully to find refuge in the home of Cardinal Latino Orsini . He was brought to justice, convicted and hanged on January 9, 1453 together with several other conspirators in Castel Sant'Angelo . His death was received with indifference by the Roman people.

Works

From the time of his stay in Florence (1427–1428), 16 addresses have survived, with which Porcari, as capitano del popolo, addressed the citizens or their representatives whenever it seemed appropriate (mostly on the occasion of a significant event). They cover a variety of topics, from good city governance to the benefits of republican government to whether or not it makes sense to enlist mercenaries to defend the city. The style of these speeches does not deny the erudition of their author, but is never affected. The quotations are numerous, v. a. Latin authors from Livy to Virgil with a distinct preference for Cicero. Only Aristotle is quoted repeatedly among the Greeks. Some historians ascribe the speeches not to Porcari, but to Buonaccorso da Montemagno .

Source collection

  • Anna Modigliani (Ed.): Congiurare all'antica. Stefano Porcari, Niccolò V, Roma 1453. Con l'edizione delle fonti. Roma nel Rinascimento, Rome 2013, ISBN 978-88-85913-81-3 (critical edition)

literature

  • Massimo Miglio: 'Viva la libertà e populo de Roma'. Oratoria e politica: Stefano Porcari. In: Palaeographica, diplomatica et archivistica. Studi in onore di Giulio Battelli . Volume 1. Edizioni di Storia e Letteratura, Roma 1979, pp. 387-421.

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Ferdinand Gregorovius, History of the City of Rome in the Middle Ages , Vol. III, 1, Munich: dtv 1978, p. 47f
  2. ^ Ferdinand Gregorovius, History of the City of Rome in the Middle Ages , Vol. III, 1, Munich: dtv 1978, p. 61ff
  3. ↑ cf. books.google.it
personal data
SURNAME Porcari, Stefano
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman politician and humanist
DATE OF BIRTH 15th century
PLACE OF BIRTH Rome
DATE OF DEATH January 9, 1453
Place of death Rome