The family of the Medici had raised Florence to a high degree of prosperity, and were enjoying princely power under the forms of a republic. Cosmo de' Medici (died 1464) was the Rothschild of the age. His gifted nephew Lorenzo (died 1492) followed in his footsteps, promoted commerce, letters, and philosophy, and made Florence the temporary centre of a golden age. But beneath the outward polish of refined culture, the moral corruption of high and low festered as an ulcer. In 1492 Lorenzo's son Pietro II followed him as master of Florence, while his younger son, Giovanni — who was made a cardinal at the age of twelve, four years before his father's death — aimed at the papal chair. Such was the' condition of Florence at the time when Savonarola began his efforts at political and ecclesiastical reform. He began his lectures in the cloister; then transferred them to the cloister garden; and, when the multitude overflowed this, he repaired to a spacious church. Here, on Aug. 1, 1491, he commenced his elucidation of the Apocalypse before an immense multitude. "The Church must be renewed," said he; "but previously God will send severe judgments upon Italy, and that, too, speed- ily." He tore off" the thin disguise of glory from the much-boasted Medicean age, and exposed the great gulf of moral rottenness beneath. He spared neither rank nor sex nor age; neither pope nor monk nor layman. " Your sins," exclaimed he, " make me a prophet ! Hith- erto I have been but as .lonah warning Nineveh. But, if you heed not my words, I shall be as Jeremiah, pre- dicting your destruction, and weeping over the ruins: for God will renew his Church, and that will not take place without blood."
It was not a doctrinal, but a jnoral reformation, which he more immediately contemplated; and closely with this he connected the restoration of the former liberties of the republic. In the main he ^vas in accord with Catholic orthodoxy, and he carried the monkish princi- ples of abstinence and self-denial to an intense extreme. But he laid great emphasis on certain doctrines which the clergy of the age had greatly neglected, viz. that the Scriptures lead us chiefly to Christ, and not to the saints; that witiiout the forgiveness of God no priestly absolution is of any avail ; and that salvation comes of faith and submission to the Redeemer, and not from out- ward works or educational polish. Still there was felt throughout his sermons rather more of the earnestness
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of the law than of the gontleness of the Gospel. One year after his arrival in Florence he was made prior of San Marco. Contrary to all precedent, Savonarola omit- ted to call and pay his respects to the civil ruler of the city, Lorenzo. This was all tlie more singular as Lo- renzo had made large gifts to San JNIarco, anil had always shown all respect to the ])riesthood. But Savonarola saw in him simply the incarnation of worldlincss, and the robber of his country's liberties. He feared his friendship more than his hatred. Lorenzo resorted to all the arts of cunning and flattery, but in vain ; he did not win the smiles of the stern preacher of righteous- ness. Lorenzo died April 8, 14',>2. On his death-bed he sent for Savonarola and desired absolution. Savona- rola exacted three things: faith in Christ; the restora- tion of all ill-gotten property; and the re-establishment of the city's liberties. To the first two he cheerfully assented; to the latter he demurred. Thereupon the stern prior of San Marco departed. This third demand is not mentioned by Politiau ; it may be apocryphal.
The death of Lorenzo was the signal for the outbreak of the storm. He was succeeded by his rash and ar- bitrary son, Pietro II. The same year the notorious car- dinal Borgia ascended the papal throne as Alexander VI. Savonarola continued his exhortations to repent- ance and his predictions of speed}' judgments. "A storm will break in," said he, " a storm that will shake the mountains; over the Alps there will come against Italy one like (Jyrus of whom Isaiah wrote." Soon thereafter Charles VIII of France actually came with a great army, not to reform the Church, however, but to take the vacant throne of Naples. Pietro Medici capit- ulated without resistance. Thereupon the wrath of the people broke out, and the Medici were forced to fly to Bologna. Tiie senate pronounced them traitors, and set a price on their heads. But, as the aristocratic faction still desired to retain all political ofKccs, Savonarola summoned a great popular assembly in the cathedral, and assumed the role of a theocratic tribune. By gen- eral consent he became the legislator of Florence. As the foundation of the new order of tilings, he proposed four principles: (1) fear God; (2) prefer the weal of the republic to thine own; (3) a general amnesty; (4) a council after the pattern of Venice, but without a doge. His political maxims he borrowed mostly from Aquinas. He was not opposed to monarchy, but he believed that circumstances called for a democracy in Florence. "God alone will be thy king, O Florence!" exclaimed he; "even as he was king in Israel under the old covenant." The ruling element in this " city of (iod" was to be, not self-seeking, but love — love to God and love to the neighbor. "How can. we have peace with God if we have it not with each other?" Viva Cristo. viva Fi- renze! responded the people to the proposition of the enthusiastic monk, ami, in the beginning of 1495, com- mitted to him tiie remodelling of the state. With the details of the new order of things he did not. however, concern himself. His attitude was rather that of a judge in Israel, or of a Roman censor with dictatorial power. He regarded himself as the organ of Christ for the Christocratic republic. He guided it with his coun- sels, and breathed into it from his throne, the pulpit, a deep moral and religious earnestness. His influence over the people lasted for three years, and was of ui:- precedented power. This is the testimony not only of the prudent historian (iuicciardini, but of the deep- seeing Machiavelli. The latter ascribes his downfall to the envy of the people, who can never long endure the spectacle of one great character towering above all the others.