Oratio in laudem rei publicae venetorum (In Praise of the Venetian Republic); Vita Karoli Magni (Life of Charlemagne); Confessio (Confession)

Oratio in laudem rei publicae venetorum (In Praise of the Venetian Republic); Vita Karoli Magni (Life of Charlemagne); Confessio (Confession)

This humanistic miscellany contains three texts: the Florentine humanist Poggio Bracciolini’s encomium of the Venetian system of government, In laudem rei publicae Venetorum written in 1459; the ninth-century historian Einhard’s biography of his patron Charlemagne, the Vita excellentissimi imperatoris Magni Karoli; and Alcuin of York’s Confessio, a prayer of contrition apparently composed for Charlemagne’s recitation on a daily basis. Bracciolini (1380–1459) composed the first work in this manuscript as a slight against the high taxes and incompetence of the Florentine regime, arguing that Venice embodied the Ciceronian ideal of an aristocratic government. Though Bracciolini’s portion is largely unrelated to the others, it concludes with a historical anecdote concerning Charlemagne, recounting how the son of the early Venetian doge Maurizio, having been captured by the Lombard king Desiderius, was liberated by the emperor. The coat of arms on the first page is of the Bembo family of Venice.

Authors: Poggio Bracciolini; Einhard; Alcuin; Scribe: Giovanni di Ubaldino deli Stagnesi (?)

ca. 1480

Manuscript on parchment, 71 fols.

Bryn Mawr College Library, MS 40

Northern Italy