brief biographic notes on Francesco Guicciardini 1482 - 1540

From the Start. After a brief dedication to Countess of Pomfert (who may be this person), and a note 'To the Reader' on the current (2nd) edition, ... our translator of Guicciardini, Austin Goddard, gives us 'The Life of Francesco Guicciardini ...'. Goddard says this came from a Signior Domenico Manni, an 18th century Florentine philologist and historian. Maybe that's this Domenico Manni. This is the briefest of summaries of that brief life.

Guicciardini was born into a powerful and venerable, noble family. As testament to this nobility they could point to sixteen of its members that were Gonfaloniere in Florence. Many kinsmen were also sent to foreign embassies when communications with the outside world were so important. The center of the family was and had remained a central house on the Arno, near Chiesa Santa Felicita, just down the street and within sight of the famous Ponte Vecchio, as well as viewing (or almost in view of) every part of the center of the city itself. The family had a number of other castles , and benefited a number of churches, chief of which was Santa Felicita. One of their family houses was sold in 1445 for 3000 florins.

His father, named Piero, was a lawyer and appointed Commissary General of Florence in 1501. Later as ambassador to Pope Leo X, the father Piero once gave a speech so well before the pope and his audience, that they proclaimed no one else could say a speech as well as the Florentines. Manni - our source here - tells us that although people say that eloquence is not hereditary, there should be an exception in this case, since the son turned out so like his father in this way.

His mother, Simona Gianfiliazzi bore seven more siblings than Francesco, three brothers and four sisters. Manni tells us that he himself saw a manuscript in Guicciardini's own hand that described his life.

"... Doctor of Civil and Common Law, was born the 6th of March, 1482, in Florence about Ten of the Clock.... [named for] Francesco Nerli ...[his father's mother's father].... I was also Christened by the Name of Thomas, the Day I was born happening to be the Festival of Saint Thomas Aquinas. My Godfathers were M Marsilio Ficino the greatest Platonic Philosopher then in the Universe, Giovanni Canacci and Piero del Nero, also Philosophers."

He began to study law in Florence in 1498. His uncle, Archdeacon of the Metropolitan Church of Florence, nearing death decided to give his benefices to Francesco before his own five sons. Francesco was delighted since he thought he might be young enough to go through the system, the Way of Profferments and one day become a Cardinal in the Church. His purpose was not to end up lazy and idle but to do the work necessary to reach this exalted station.

He says he received his Degrees - of Doctor of Civil Law - from the chapter of St Lawrence at the University of Pisa, in November 1505. He lists his sponsors for that accomplishment: M Antoni Malagonelli, M Francesco Pepi, & M Vittorio Sonderini. He chose Civil Law instead of Canon Law, as that was 'of little Importance'.

Austin Goddard (our 18th century translator) says that Guicciardini, in his 23rd year, was made 'Professor of the Institutes', for Florence and widely consulted as a lawyer. In 1506 he married Maria Salviati, daughter of Allemano Everardo Salviati, called then, the greatest man in Florence. In 1507 he was selcted by 'many Cities' to be standiing Counsellor in Law. In 1509 he was chosen 'Advocate of the Florentine Chapter' and elected 'Advocate of the Order of Camaldoli' . He worked for two more years like this.

In January 1512, Guicciardini was selected by the city as Ambassador on behalf of the city, to King Ferdinand of Spain.From Florence's point of view, France and Spain were in league together against the whole of Italy. He served so well, for two years, that they didn't have to replace him. Then his father died and he came home.

In 1515, the day after (probably) that Manni tells us, Giovanni di Lorenzo Medici became pope as Leo X, Francesco was made his Advocate of the Consistory.
In 1518, Guicciardini became governor of Modena and Reggio. This was a new direction that would occupy his talents for most of the rest of his years.
In 1526 he was made President of Romagna by pope Clement VII and on June 6th was named Lieutenant General of all the papal troops. This claim is uniquely followed by a number of old citations. But the entire passage from the third or fourth page is a kind of praiseworthy declamation that modernists call hagiography.

Part way between encomium and brassy argument, hagiography is a form of description that lists honors and accomplishments with only cursory looks at (or for) the traits of an individual. This form of history, itself a kind of digest, a praiseworthy but prosaic simplification of a life, reduces individualism to a few motifs, usually of grandeur and successes. It is deeply European and by our records, stretches back to earliest written forms. Yet it is at minimum an historical shorthand, for books. Often it is all that's left, especially with Roman emperors, Christian saints, etc. Our term hagiography perhaps has changed since the 19th century Romantic Age of European literature, since people or books don't really use this style anymore. In any event, remembered or not, Guicciardini was clearly judged by his contemporaries as being very good at Civil Order and Political Transactions. [p. xiii]

Guicciardini served at the pleasure then, of two of his Florentine compatriots, the two Medici popes from 1515-34. But he was also there at the coronation of Emperor Charles V in 1530, and sought out by His Imperial Highness, just to be able to talk about history with him.
He was made Governor of Bologna in 1531 by pope Clement and held the city after that pope died and usurpers tried to take the city. and overwhelm his castle, and him. Some time after this he was able to retire and write his many books. He died, says the manuscript, of grief, or fever, or self-administered poison, upset at the state of the loss of freedom for the City of his birth, on 27 May 1540.

Described as tall, 'with a Venerable aspect, large Shoulders, plain Face, a strong and robust Constitution', his visage and voice could command a room or a field of troops. He was 'quick and high Conception, singular of Judgement, good Memory, profound and prudent in Counsels...'. Again this should probably be seen as hagiography: a bit too shiny or glowing of a picture.
His wife lived until 1559. They had three daughters that survived him. He also had three brothers that survived. The wiki has a list of his written works.

Alll the above taken from the online photocopy of the John Adams Library copy of this Second Edition of Austin Goddard's translation of 'The Life of Francesco Guicciardini' in The History of Italy, volume i, London, 1763.