Savonarola Used Published Works To Spread Message: From 1496

Another crucial development in the spread and popularity of Friar Girolamo Savonarola lay in the transmission of the written word. While it is true, much of that came from sermons over time, Lauro Martines tells us that the Friar himself oversaw proof sheets for documents and was keenly interested in the whole editing and translating process. As an another example of Savonarola's sharpness and effectiveness in spreading his message, Martines spends some time giving several examples of this activity. Here Savonarola is both a man of his time and also furthering his views in novel ways.

During the winter following the departure of the French from Italy, the Friar spent time writing and editing and collating previous treatises after he had received word from the pope asking him to desist from preaching. But Martines tells us, the Friar had previously seen the effectiveness of a well documented Medici propaganda campaign that was in response to a prior papacy's likely involvement in the Pazzi conspiracy in Florence eighteen years before. The pope had excommunicated Lorenzo de Medici, placed the whole city under indictment and denied all sacraments to the people of Florence. The de Medici waged a capable and effective PR campaign.

"Lorenzo and his friends fought the Pope's circulating accusations by issuing printed tracts, letters, a scathing account of the conspiracy, a soldier's confession, and even poems. It was an onslaught of the printed word, intended to win the sympathies of Italian ruling elites.... Savonarola saw -- must have seen -- the importance of reaching minds with a version of events that was not otherwise available; that is, of taking control away from the controllers. This meant recourse to the printing press." [p.86]

If the Friar could put the accusation of nepotism in the church or corruption of the ungodly in front of the very faces of the literate, it would force them to deal with their consciences. If he could get this message into more and more hands, he could persuade more and more people. More than this, as his popularity rose and as he was heard more in political circles, he gained more detractors who generated their own treatises and circulars. With printed works the Friar as well could refute many of his critics. He had Latin works translated back into Italian so more could read them, and sent letters around to elicit responses. These in turn were published in his lifetime and gained wide dispersion. There were multiple editions as well of his popular treatises and sermons.

As example, Martines highlights On the Simplicity of the Christian Life which was brought out in Latin in August 1496 and published again in an Italian translation by Girolamo Benivieni two months later. But there were so many that came out. In the years 1491-1500, six different presses in Florence were publishing his works. By the end of the 1400's Martines says, there were 108 items of his that were published in Florence with only ten printed for those of that most popular of Florentine poets, Dante Alighieri. More and more people wanted to -- had to know what the fuss was with this preacher. [p. 88]
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notes and pagination from Martines, Lauro: Fire In The City: Savonarola and the struggle for the soul of Renaissance Florence ; Oxford University Press, New York, 2006