Question

Savonarola initially had many followers, including well-known writers and artists. Why might his words have found such a ready audience in florence at that time?

Answer 1

Girolamo Savonarola was an Italian priest active in Renaissance Florence. He was well known because of his denunciation of the Church's corruption, but also because of his prophecies of biblical renewal. He believed Florence would become the "new" Jerusalem, and that all secular art would be destroyed. He was eventually excommunicated, hanged and burnt in the main square of Florence.

He was able to amass a huge following during most of his life, and there were several reasons why his doctrine became so popular:

• General discontent with the abuses of the Church among the population. He also criticized the power abuses of the Medici, and the ills of society.
• It gave the people an alternative to the standard understanding of Catholicism. In fact, he criticized much of what Martin Luther would later condemn. Because of this, he is considered a precursor of the Reformation.
• His prophecies of destruction coincided with the invasion of Charles VIII of France, which threw Italy into chaos. Many believed this was proof of Savonarola's gift of prophecy.