biography
| name: |
Cola di Rienzo
|
| |
originally Nicola di Lorenzo
|
pronunciation:
[kohla dee reeaynz
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1313–54)
|
| biography:
| Politician, born in Rome, Latium, Italy. A man of the people, he studied the classics and became a notary. He was part of a delegation that reported on the Roman situation to Pope Clement VI in Avignon. Back in Rome, inspired by lofty ideals and the desire to restore Rome to her former republican glory, he stirred the people to rebellion (1347) and proclaimed himself tribune. He removed authority from the aristocracy and incited all the Italian cities to unite and elect an Italian emperor. Forced to flee Rome by the pope's supporters and the aristocracy (1347), he went to Charles IV's court in Prague (1350), but was arrested and sent to Avignon (1352). He was freed and returned to Rome as a senator by Innocent VI, but his despotic rule led to his death in a riot. Glorified during the Renaissance, he was the subject of an anonymous biography in Roman dialect. |
|
|
