Alamanno Rinuccini
Alamanno Rinuccini (22 May 1426 – 12 May 1499) was an Italian humanist of the second half of the fifteenth century.
Biography
Born into a wealthy merchant family, he studied at the University of Florence and went into civil service, which became the main source of his income. Rinuccini's career depended largely on a relationship with the Medici family, which ruled Florence. He held many important positions, in 1471 he became Gonfaloniere of Justice. A conflict with Lorenzo de' Medici in 1475 led to his resignation.
Rinuccini's political views were reflected in the dialogue De libertate, the main work of his life, written after the failed Pazzi conspiracy in 1479, and in Ricordi storici, a chronicle begun by his father Filippo and continued, from 1460 by Rinuccini, and then by his brother Neri.
Rinuccini's legacy includes many letters and speeches, most notably the Discorso funebre di Matteo Palmieri (1475). In his worldview, there was a close relationship between socio-political and ethical ideas. Rinuccini advocated an active civic life, serving the common good, patriotism, he linked the implementation of these principles to the presence of civil political freedom, equality of citizens, justice, and popular democracy. Unlike the early exponents of civil humanism, Rinuccini linked the ethical ideal not only with political and civil activity, but also with scientific research.
References
- Böninger, Lorenz (2016). "Rinuccini, Alamanno Zanobi." In: Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani, Vol. 87.
