Piagnoni

History

While Savonarola was still alive, the Piagnoni supported his campaigns against illicit sex, gambling and blasphemy. Savonarola also organized groups of followers that persuaded the people to hand over secular items to be burned in a bonfire of the vanities. The Piagnoni survived underground, even after Medici rule was reinstalled in Florence, although they gradually abandoned their goals. The Piagnoni are also linked to the presence of reformation ideas in Florence as some later Piagnoni already in 1520 praised the views of Martin Luther. Many other late followers of Savonarola were first attracted to Luther's attacks on the pope and clergy, but later had disagreements with his other theology.

Some Piagnoni converted to Protestantism, while others wrote against the views of Luther. Petrus Bernandinus was a follower of Savonarola and had a fanatical zeal to his teachings. Petrus preached in Florence while Savonarola was alive and continued to do so after he was killed. Later Petrus and his companions were burned for heresy while others were expelled from Florence. Philip Neri was a devoted follower of the teachings of Savonarola; later he would be an influential figure in the Counter-Reformation.

Famous piagnoni

The following list is derived from Lorenzo Polizzotto (1994), The Elect Nation: The Savonarolan Movement in Florence 1494–1545, Clarendon Press.

• Alamanno Salviati
• Antonio Canigiani
• Bartolomeo da Faenza
• Bartolomeo Redditi
• Benedetto da Foiano
• Benedetto Luschino
• Bernardo Nasi
• Domenico Benivieni
• Domenico Buonvicini
• Domenico Bonsi
• Francesco Valori
• Giovambattista Ridolfi
• Girolamo Benivieni
• Jacopo Salviati
• Jacopo da Sicilia
• Lanfredino Lanfredini
• Lorenzo Lenzi di Anfrione
• Lorenzo Violi
• Luca Bettini
• Niccolò Valori
• Paolo Antonio Soderini
• Pietro Bernardino
• Piero Guicciardini
• Santes Pagnino
• Silvestro Maruffi
• Silvestro da Marradi
• Tommaso Caiani
• Tommaso Soderini
• Zaccaria da Lunigiana