Rooman tasavallan kansanvaltaiset piirteet Firenzen poliittisessa ajattelussa quattrocenton loppua kohti

Författare

• Pirkko Haapanen

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study the manner in which the most popular elements of the Roman Republic — participatory ideology, assemblies of the people, and tribunes of the plebs — were employed in the political thought of the Florentine quattrocento, before the period of the Great Council. The primary sources of the paper are the views of Rome expressed by L. Bruni, P. Bracciolini, F. Biondo, A. L. Brandoli- nus, A. Fiocchi, P. Leto, F. Patrizi, Platina and B. Rucellai. The interest of the Florentines in the Roman Republic was closely connected with the political development of Florence and the mainstream of political thought in that period of time, that is, with the discussion concerning the form of government (republic vs. principality). This paper is essentially an attempt to establish the claim that the Roman Republic was a relevant model, in many respects, for the Florentine thinkers and scholars of the quattrocento, but that the Roman popular institutions were somewhat of a problem for them. A certain unease around popular institutions is expressed indirectly for the most part in the narratives concerning those institutions, but towards the end of this period more explicit and more theoretical views are heard. The discussion concerning governo largo vs. governo stretto was not yet truly started..