Petrarch

=**Francesco Petrarca **(July 20th, 1304 - July 19th, 1374) =

Although Petrarch is renowned for his contribution to Italian poetry and is often referred to as 'the father of humanism', his criticism of the [|Avignon Papacy] receives far less attention despite its centrality to his writings in the later years of his life. = =

= Early Life = Francesco Petrarca entered into a world where Italian study and reverence for Roman classics was beginning to emerge and from and early age he readily engaged in the study of Latin and prominent figures of classical antiquity.[1] In 1312, Petrarch and his family moved to [|Carpentras], a town fifteen miles north-east of the city of Avignon, where [|Pope Clement V] had established the new seat of the papacy. It was during these years in Carpentras where Petrarch received his first formal schooling in Latin grammar and rhetoric and developed a interest in the writings of [|Cicero].[2] = =


 * [[image:francescopetrarca/pape-clement-cinq.jpg caption="Pope Clement V"]] ||

Petrarch's fascination and admiration for poets and philosophers of Classical Rome was bolstered during his study at university. In 1316, under the instruction of his father, Petrarch was sent to the [|University of Montpellier] to study civil law and he found great joy in having access to works of classic Latin literature.[3] After his time at Montpellier, he was sent to the [|University of Bologna] to complete his study of civil law. The study of jurisprudence was of particular interest to Petrarch, as he was able to revise and ponder the laws of ancient Rome, a subject in which he was already enthralled. Although aspects of law were of interest to Petrarch, his real passion was poetry. Upon receiving news of his father's death in 1326, Petrarch left Bologna to return home to Avignon 'knowing beyond the shadow of a doubt that the legal profession was not for him.'[4]

= Character Traits = Apart from his love of Italy, and perceived connection with ancient Rome, two of Petrarch's best know qualities were his love of solitude and his belief in sobriety. Petrarch understood solitude to be conducive of contemplative thought, virtue, and synonymous with aspects of morality. In Petrarch's compilation of poems [|//The Canzoniere//], he expresses his need for solitude: 'Alone and deep in thought I measure with slow and lingering steps the loneliest of fields, ready to flee if my eyes discern a human footprint on the ground.'[5]
 * [[image:francescopetrarca/bkgpetrarch.jpg caption="The Canzoniere"]] ||

Petrarch's belief in sobriety is aptly expressed after attending a wedding feast held at Milan in 1368, consisting of sixteen courses. He writes: 'I have never liked so-called banquets, those mere feasts of gluttony, enemies of sobriety and good morals.'[6]

Avignon Papacy
Pope Clement V's decision to relocate the papacy to Avignon shook the foundations of Latin Christendom. Criticism of the move was found both from within Italy and from all over Europe. Having spent a number of years in Avignon, both in an ecclesiastic and lay capacity, Petrarch objected to the removal of where he viewed the rightful and traditional seat of the papacy: Rome. The culmination of Petrarch's objection to the Avignon papacy is expressed in his compilation of letters in the [|//Liber sine nomine.//]

Given an understanding of Petrarch's yearning for solitude, and his reasoning that solitude was emblematic of virtue, it becomes apparent why his criticism of the Avignon papacy held such conviction. He declares: 'Instead of holy solitude we find a criminal host and crowds of the most infamous satellites; instead of soberness, licentious banquets.'[7] Furthermore, that the inhabitants of Avignon are 'loaded with gold and glad in purple, boasting the spoils of princes and nations.'[8] Spending considerable time in Avignon, and witnessing what he viewed as a corruption of the sanctity of the papacy, Petrarch was disgusted by the worldliness and fraudulent Avignon papacy.

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 * 1) ^ Kenelm Foster, //Petrarch: Poet and Humanist//, (Edinburgh, 1984), 1.
 * 2) ^ E.H Wikins. //Life of Petrarch//, (Chicago, 1961), 4.
 * 3) ^ Ibid., 5.
 * 4) ^ Ibid., 8.
 * 5) ^ Francesco Petrarca, //The Canzoniere//, or //Rerum Vulgarium Fragmenta//, Translated by Mark Musa, (Bloomington, 1999) poem 35, 1.
 * 6) ^ John Larner, //Italy in the Age of Dante and Petrarch 1216-1380//, (London, 1980), 211.
 * 7) ^ 'Petrarch: Letter Criticising the Avignon Papacy,' [] (accessed September 6th 2011)
 * 8) ^ Ibid.