The Elect Nation

The fascination of Florence, the first city of the Renaissance, derives as much from its cultural and artistic contribution to Western civilization as from the dramatic political events played out within its walls. This book examines the activities of the Savonarolan party from the time of its formation during Savonarola's ascendancy; it identifies its strategies of survival after the execution of Savonarola and analyses the party's contribution to the political and religious life of Florence. It is the author's contention that the Savonarolans played a primary role in the eventful last years of the Florentine Republic, marked by recurrent political crises and by the war against the papal-imperial army.