Fulgenzio Micanzio
Encyclopedia
Fulgenzio Micanzio was a Venetian Servite friar and theologian. A close associate of Paolo Sarpi
, he undertook correspondence for Sarpi and became his biographer. He also was a supporter of Galileo Galilei
.
Iteneu Ichanom Itnegluf was a pseudonym he used, derived from Fulgenti Monachi Veneti, “of Fulgentius the Monk of Venice”..
.
He participated in the ridotto Morosini, a broad-minded Venetian intellectual circle including Sarpi and Galileo. Others to be found there were Leonardo Donà, Nicolò Contarini
, and Antonio Querini.
With Sarpi he wrote in 1606 against the Carmelite Giovanni Antonio Bovio (Bovius) who had contributed works on the papal side of the debate over the Venetian Interdict
. It appeared under his transparent pseudonym Itnegluf. The general of the Servites was being asked to forbid the two to enter the service of Venice.
, Sarpi and Johann Baptist Lenk, acting in Venice for Christian of Anhalt
. He had preached carefully scripted sermons, composed with William Bedell
. He was then embarrassed by a diplomatic leak concerning the visit of Giovanni Diodati
: Wotton on the advice of Sarpi and Micanzio had invited him to Venice in 1607. Some redacted correspondence of Diodati to a French recipient was passed to the Venetian authorities by the French ambassador in 1609, representing Micanzio as a Trojan horse for Protestantism in Venice. He was then forbidden to preach.
Micanzio took extensive notes on the Annales of Baronius. He with Sarpi looked to undermine the version of church history represented by the approach taken by Baronius. This put them on a track parallel to the scholars at work in England, particularly Isaac Casaubon
, taking aim at the historiography favoured by the Roman Curia
.
John Donne
's will included a pair of portraits of Sarpi and Micanzio. Micanzio had an abiding reputation as an Anglican sympathiser, being mentioned for example (as "Father Fulgentio") in Samuel Johnson
's essay on Sarpi as "administering to Dr. Duncomb, an English gentleman that fell sick at Venice, the communion in both kinds, according to the Common Prayer, which he had with him in Italian". Eleazar Duncon
is known to have had conversations with Micanzio at Venice c.1648.
and his secretary Thomas Hobbes
, a meeting in Venice led to an extended exchange of letters from 1615 to 1628, covering military and religious affairs. Hobbes translated them out of Italian for Cavendish. Ben Jonson
had access to some of this correspondence, and material from Micanzio found its way into his Discoveries.
Putting out diplomatic feelers to the court of James I of England
, Micanzio worked to have Francis Bacon
's Essays published in Italian (1619). At this period he was also in touch with Dudley Carleton
.
; and that Fabricius of Aquapendente had failed to give Sarpi due credit for his work on venous valves. He had also seen a tidal theory of Sarpi's. Galileo's priority claim to have seen sunspot
s in Padua
in 1610 is documented in the same biography.
Later Micanzio made himself useful to Galileo, in investigating and surmounting the problems involved in getting his works into print. This involved both the local Inquisition, and the House of Elzevir
.
Paolo Sarpi
Fra Paolo Sarpi was a Venetian patriot, scholar, scientist and church reformer. His most important roles were as a canon lawyer and historian active on behalf of the Venetian Republic.- Early years :...
, he undertook correspondence for Sarpi and became his biographer. He also was a supporter of Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei , was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations and support for Copernicanism...
.
Iteneu Ichanom Itnegluf was a pseudonym he used, derived from Fulgenti Monachi Veneti, “of Fulgentius the Monk of Venice”..
Early life
Micanzio joined the Servite Order when still quite young, and then studied in BolognaBologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
.
He participated in the ridotto Morosini, a broad-minded Venetian intellectual circle including Sarpi and Galileo. Others to be found there were Leonardo Donà, Nicolò Contarini
Nicolò Contarini
Nicolò Contarini , was the 97th Doge of Venice, reigning from his election on January 18, 1630 until his death 15 months later...
, and Antonio Querini.
With Sarpi he wrote in 1606 against the Carmelite Giovanni Antonio Bovio (Bovius) who had contributed works on the papal side of the debate over the Venetian Interdict
Venetian Interdict
The Venetian Interdict of 1606 and 1607 was the expression in terms of canon law, by means of a papal interdict, of a diplomatic quarrel and confrontation between the Papal Curia and the Republic of Venice, taking place in the period from 1605 to 1607...
. It appeared under his transparent pseudonym Itnegluf. The general of the Servites was being asked to forbid the two to enter the service of Venice.
Diplomacy with Protestants
In 1609-1610 he was involved in discussions with Henry WottonHenry Wotton
Sir Henry Wotton was an English author and diplomat. He is often quoted as saying, "An ambassador is an honest gentleman sent to lie abroad for the good of his country." -Life:The son of Thomas Wotton , brother of Edward Wotton, 1st Baron Wotton, and grandnephew of the diplomat...
, Sarpi and Johann Baptist Lenk, acting in Venice for Christian of Anhalt
Christian of Anhalt
Christian I, Prince of Anhalt-Bernburg, also known as Christian of Anhalt, was a German prince of the House of Ascania. He was ruling prince of Anhalt and, from 1603, ruling prince of the revived principality of Anhalt-Bernburg...
. He had preached carefully scripted sermons, composed with William Bedell
William Bedell
William Bedell was an Anglican churchman.-Early life:He was born at Black Notley in Essex, and educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he was a pupil of William Perkins. He became a fellow of Emmanuel in 1593, and took orders...
. He was then embarrassed by a diplomatic leak concerning the visit of Giovanni Diodati
Giovanni Diodati
Giovanni Diodati or Deodati was a Swiss-born Italian theologian and translator. He was the first person to translate the Bible into Italian from Hebrew and Greek sources...
: Wotton on the advice of Sarpi and Micanzio had invited him to Venice in 1607. Some redacted correspondence of Diodati to a French recipient was passed to the Venetian authorities by the French ambassador in 1609, representing Micanzio as a Trojan horse for Protestantism in Venice. He was then forbidden to preach.
Micanzio took extensive notes on the Annales of Baronius. He with Sarpi looked to undermine the version of church history represented by the approach taken by Baronius. This put them on a track parallel to the scholars at work in England, particularly Isaac Casaubon
Isaac Casaubon
Isaac Casaubon was a classical scholar and philologist, first in France and then later in England, regarded by many of his time as the most learned in Europe.-Early life:...
, taking aim at the historiography favoured by the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
.
John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
's will included a pair of portraits of Sarpi and Micanzio. Micanzio had an abiding reputation as an Anglican sympathiser, being mentioned for example (as "Father Fulgentio") in Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson
Samuel Johnson , often referred to as Dr. Johnson, was an English author who made lasting contributions to English literature as a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer...
's essay on Sarpi as "administering to Dr. Duncomb, an English gentleman that fell sick at Venice, the communion in both kinds, according to the Common Prayer, which he had with him in Italian". Eleazar Duncon
Eleazar Duncon
Eleazar Duncon was an English royalist divine.-Life:Duncon probably matriculated at Queens' College, Cambridge; but took his B.A. degree as a member of Caius College, and was then elected Fellow of Pembroke Hall in 1618. On 13 March 1624-5, being M. A., he was ordained deacon by William Laud, then...
is known to have had conversations with Micanzio at Venice c.1648.
Later life
He succeeded Sarpi as canonist of Venice. He supported more official recognition of the historical work of Andrea Morosini, alongside Sarpi's.Correspondents
He kept up correspondence with Giovanni Francesco Biondi, in exile in England. With William CavendishWilliam Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire
William Cavendish, 2nd Earl of Devonshire was an English courtier and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1614 until 1626 when he succeeded to the peerage and sat in the House of Lords.-Life:...
and his secretary Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury , in some older texts Thomas Hobbs of Malmsbury, was an English philosopher, best known today for his work on political philosophy...
, a meeting in Venice led to an extended exchange of letters from 1615 to 1628, covering military and religious affairs. Hobbes translated them out of Italian for Cavendish. Ben Jonson
Ben Jonson
Benjamin Jonson was an English Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor. A contemporary of William Shakespeare, he is best known for his satirical plays, particularly Volpone, The Alchemist, and Bartholomew Fair, which are considered his best, and his lyric poems...
had access to some of this correspondence, and material from Micanzio found its way into his Discoveries.
Putting out diplomatic feelers to the court of James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, Micanzio worked to have Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
's Essays published in Italian (1619). At this period he was also in touch with Dudley Carleton
Dudley Carleton, 1st Viscount Dorchester
Dudley Carleton, 1st Viscount Dorchester was an English art collector, diplomat and Secretary of State.-Early life:He was the second son of Antony Carleton of Brightwell Baldwin, Oxfordshire, and of Jocosa, daughter of John Goodwin of Winchendon, Buckinghamshire...
.
Sarpi and Galileo
Micanzio as biographer of Sarpi made some claims on his behalf: that he had helped Galileo with his first telescopeTelescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
; and that Fabricius of Aquapendente had failed to give Sarpi due credit for his work on venous valves. He had also seen a tidal theory of Sarpi's. Galileo's priority claim to have seen sunspot
Sunspot
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the photosphere of the Sun that appear visibly as dark spots compared to surrounding regions. They are caused by intense magnetic activity, which inhibits convection by an effect comparable to the eddy current brake, forming areas of reduced surface temperature....
s in Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
in 1610 is documented in the same biography.
Later Micanzio made himself useful to Galileo, in investigating and surmounting the problems involved in getting his works into print. This involved both the local Inquisition, and the House of Elzevir
House of Elzevir
Elzevir is the name of a celebrated family of Dutch booksellers, publishers, and printers of the 17th and early 18th centuries. The duodecimo series of "Elzevirs" became very famous and very desirable among bibliophiles, who sought to obtain the tallest and freshest copies of these tiny...
.