Giammaria Biemmi
Encyclopedia
Giammaria Biemmi was an Italian priest who published a work on Skanderbeg
titled Istoria di Giorgio Castrioto Scanderbeg-Begh. His work was published in Brescia
, Italy
in 1742.
His work claimed to be derived from sources older than Marin Barleti
's, generally considered the main primary source on Skanderbeg. He made use of contemporary Italian humanists and historians who wrote on Skanderbeg such as Francescus Philephus
(1389-1481), Johanes Jovianus Pontanus (1423-1503), Raffaele Maffei Volaterranus
(1434-1516), while also using two Byzantine chroniclers, Laonikos Chalkokondyles (1423-1464) and George Sphrantzes
(1401-1478). He furthermore made use of archival documents compiled by Odorico Raynaldi
(1595-1671) and G. Sagredo (1616-1696).
He also claimed that he had found a work published in Venice in 1480 from which he could not find the name of the author, although he was an Albanian humanist from Bar
, in modern-day Montenegro
. According to this biographer, his brother was a warrior in Skanderbeg's personal guard. According to Biemmi, the work had lost pages dealing with Skanderbeg's youth, the events from 1443-1449, the Siege of Krujë (1467), and Skanderbeg's death. Biemmi referred to the author the work as Antivarino, meaning the man from Bar.
The passages given by Antivarino come out as being more neutral than Barleti's panegyric
work. There is no rhetoric and both Skanderbeg's failures and successes are mentioned without leaning towards either side. Using Antivarino as his main work, Biemmi drew harsh criticism against Barleti; however, he criticizes Antivarino on certain points and still agrees with Barleti's major points.
, defends Biemmi, saying that he gives us, through Antivarino, valuable information about Albanian society and its princes at the time. Several years later, however, Franz Babinger
, in his work dealing with the foundation of Elbasan
, asserted that Antivarino never existed. He furthermore stated in Eine Gefälschte Radolt inkunabel that Biemmi aimed to raise interest in his work so he falsified a source. Fan Noli, in his PhD thesis for the University of Boston, George Castroiti Scanderbeg (1405-1468), regards Babinger's conclusions as unconvincing and furthermore argues that the wealth of information could not have been falsified. American historian Kenneth M. Setton states that Noli had not discovered that Biemmi invented the Anonymous of Antivari. Noli argues, however, that Luccari, a Ragusan
annalist, knew of a History of Scanderbeg by the Archbishop of Durrës
who was from Antivari. Rinaldina Russell, a PhD recipient for Italian literature from Columbia University
, states that Antivarino's work, provided by Biemmi, is more reliable than Barleti's.
Skanderbeg
George Kastrioti Skanderbeg or Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu , widely known as Skanderbeg , was a 15th-century Albanian lord. He was appointed as the governor of the Sanjak of Dibra by the Ottomans in 1440...
titled Istoria di Giorgio Castrioto Scanderbeg-Begh. His work was published in Brescia
Brescia
Brescia is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella and the Naviglio, with a population of around 197,000. It is the second largest city in Lombardy, after the capital, Milan...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1742.
His work claimed to be derived from sources older than Marin Barleti
Marin Barleti
Marin Barleti . was an Albanian historian and Catholic priest. He is considered the first Albanian historian, especially because of his biography on Skanderbeg, translated in many languages in the 16th to the 18th centuries.-Life:Barleti lived in Shkodër and was a scholar and a clergyman...
's, generally considered the main primary source on Skanderbeg. He made use of contemporary Italian humanists and historians who wrote on Skanderbeg such as Francescus Philephus
Francesco Filelfo
Francesco Filelfo was an Italian Renaissance humanist.-Biography:Filelfo was born at Tolentino, in the March of Ancona. He is believed to be a third cousin of Leonardo Da Vinci. At the time of his birth, Petrarch and the students of Florence had already brought the first act in the recovery of...
(1389-1481), Johanes Jovianus Pontanus (1423-1503), Raffaele Maffei Volaterranus
Raffaello Maffei
Raffaello Maffei,OSM was an Italian humanist, historian and theologian; and member of the Servite Order...
(1434-1516), while also using two Byzantine chroniclers, Laonikos Chalkokondyles (1423-1464) and George Sphrantzes
George Sphrantzes
George Sphrantzes, also Phrantzes or Phrantza was a late Byzantine Greek historian. He was born in Constantinople. At an early age he became secretary to Manuel II Palaiologos; in 1432 protovestiarites; in 1446 prefect of Mistras, and subsequently great logothete...
(1401-1478). He furthermore made use of archival documents compiled by Odorico Raynaldi
Odorico Raynaldi
Odorico Raynaldi or Rinaldi , was an Italian historian and Oratorian. He is also known as Odericus Raynaldus, or just Raynald.Raynaldi was born at Treviso of a patrician family...
(1595-1671) and G. Sagredo (1616-1696).
He also claimed that he had found a work published in Venice in 1480 from which he could not find the name of the author, although he was an Albanian humanist from Bar
Bar
-Food and drink:* Bar , a retail establishment that serves alcoholic beverages* Bar , the counter at which drinks are served by a bartender* Dessert bar, a type of cookie-Law:...
, in modern-day Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
. According to this biographer, his brother was a warrior in Skanderbeg's personal guard. According to Biemmi, the work had lost pages dealing with Skanderbeg's youth, the events from 1443-1449, the Siege of Krujë (1467), and Skanderbeg's death. Biemmi referred to the author the work as Antivarino, meaning the man from Bar.
The passages given by Antivarino come out as being more neutral than Barleti's panegyric
Panegyric
A panegyric is a formal public speech, or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing, a generally highly studied and discriminating eulogy, not expected to be critical. It is derived from the Greek πανηγυρικός meaning "a speech fit for a general assembly"...
work. There is no rhetoric and both Skanderbeg's failures and successes are mentioned without leaning towards either side. Using Antivarino as his main work, Biemmi drew harsh criticism against Barleti; however, he criticizes Antivarino on certain points and still agrees with Barleti's major points.
Antivarino
Since Antivarino's work has never been found, polemics over Antivarino's authenticity arose. As a result, most scholars used Barleti's work instead, despite criticisms against it. The first modern historians to use Biemmi were Francesco Tajani and J. E. Pisko, who both regarded Antivarino's work as the earliest one on Skanderbeg. Fan Noli in his first work on Skanderbeg, Historia e Skënderbeut, mbretit të shqiptarëve, holds that Antivarino is an authentic source which Biemmi used. Athanas Gegaj, in his dissertation prepared for the University of ParisUniversity of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
, defends Biemmi, saying that he gives us, through Antivarino, valuable information about Albanian society and its princes at the time. Several years later, however, Franz Babinger
Franz Babinger
Franz Babinger was a pioneering historian of the Ottoman Empire, best known for his authoritative biography of the great Ottoman emperor Mehmed II known as the Conqueror, originally published as Mehmed der Eroberer und seine Zeit...
, in his work dealing with the foundation of Elbasan
Elbasan
Elbasan is a city in central Albania. It is located on the Shkumbin River in the District of Elbasan and the County of Elbasan, at...
, asserted that Antivarino never existed. He furthermore stated in Eine Gefälschte Radolt inkunabel that Biemmi aimed to raise interest in his work so he falsified a source. Fan Noli, in his PhD thesis for the University of Boston, George Castroiti Scanderbeg (1405-1468), regards Babinger's conclusions as unconvincing and furthermore argues that the wealth of information could not have been falsified. American historian Kenneth M. Setton states that Noli had not discovered that Biemmi invented the Anonymous of Antivari. Noli argues, however, that Luccari, a Ragusan
Republic of Ragusa
The Republic of Ragusa or Republic of Dubrovnik was a maritime republic centered on the city of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia , that existed from 1358 to 1808...
annalist, knew of a History of Scanderbeg by the Archbishop of Durrës
Durrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
who was from Antivari. Rinaldina Russell, a PhD recipient for Italian literature from Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, states that Antivarino's work, provided by Biemmi, is more reliable than Barleti's.