Antonio de Venafro
Encyclopedia
Antonio Giordano, called Antonio da Venafro, was born in 1459 in Venafro
, Molise
. He moved to Siena
and attended the university there graduating in jurisprudence
. In 1488 Venafro was elected professor of law at the University of Siena
. In November 1493 Antonio was elected Appellate Judge. As such he was arrested by the avant-garde of Charles VIII and forced to follow them in their march to Rome. He was freed a few days later only by a direct order of the King himself. A trusted adviser and private secretary of the Lord of Siena, Pandolfo Petrucci
, he was named by the latter counsellor and prime minister. In the month of October 1502 Venafro represented Pandolfo Petrucci at the Diet of La Magione; and later he went to Imola with Paolo Orsini, where a peace agreement was signed between Cesare Borgia
and the conspirators of La Magione represented by Paolo Orsini. Venafro was a statesman of high calibre, appreciated and respected by men such as Guicciardini, Vettori
and Niccolò Machiavelli. In 1515, under constant pressure by Pope Leo X
, Antonio left Siena and returned to his native town of Venafro. But a few years later, in 1919, Antonio moved to Naples there he became a member of the Consiglio Collaterale and professor of jurisprudence at the University of Naples. He died there in 1530.
, where the prince private counselors are discussed, Niccolò Machiavelli praises Antonio Venafro, seeing him as an excellent minister of Pandolfo Petrucci
of Siena.
Venafro
Venafro is a comune in the province of Isernia, region of Molise, Italy. It has a population of around 12,000, having expanded quickly in the post-war period.-Geography:...
, Molise
Molise
Molise is a region of Southern Italy, the second smallest of the regions. It was formerly part of the region of Abruzzi e Molise and now a separate entity...
. He moved to Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
and attended the university there graduating in jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
. In 1488 Venafro was elected professor of law at the University of Siena
University of Siena
The University of Siena in Siena, Tuscany is one of the oldest and first publicly funded universities in Italy. Originally called Studium Senese, the University of Siena was founded in 1240. The University has around 20,000 students, nearly half of Siena's total population of around 54,000...
. In November 1493 Antonio was elected Appellate Judge. As such he was arrested by the avant-garde of Charles VIII and forced to follow them in their march to Rome. He was freed a few days later only by a direct order of the King himself. A trusted adviser and private secretary of the Lord of Siena, Pandolfo Petrucci
Pandolfo Petrucci
Pandolfo Petrucci was a ruler of the Italian city of Siena during the Renaissance.-Biography:...
, he was named by the latter counsellor and prime minister. In the month of October 1502 Venafro represented Pandolfo Petrucci at the Diet of La Magione; and later he went to Imola with Paolo Orsini, where a peace agreement was signed between Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia
Cesare Borgia , Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI and his long-term mistress Vannozza dei Cattanei. He was the brother of Lucrezia Borgia; Giovanni Borgia , Duke of Gandia; and Gioffre Borgia , Prince of Squillace...
and the conspirators of La Magione represented by Paolo Orsini. Venafro was a statesman of high calibre, appreciated and respected by men such as Guicciardini, Vettori
Francesco Vettori
Francesco Vettori was an Italian diplomat, politician and writer from Florence, who served his city during both the republican and de Medici regimes...
and Niccolò Machiavelli. In 1515, under constant pressure by Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
, Antonio left Siena and returned to his native town of Venafro. But a few years later, in 1919, Antonio moved to Naples there he became a member of the Consiglio Collaterale and professor of jurisprudence at the University of Naples. He died there in 1530.
Mention In the Prince
In chapter 22 of The PrincePrince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
, where the prince private counselors are discussed, Niccolò Machiavelli praises Antonio Venafro, seeing him as an excellent minister of Pandolfo Petrucci
Pandolfo Petrucci
Pandolfo Petrucci was a ruler of the Italian city of Siena during the Renaissance.-Biography:...
of Siena.