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The Burning of the Vanities: Savonarola and the Borgia Pope
In the 1490s Girolamo Savonarola, a visionary friar, dominated Renaissance Florence, terrifying the city with his uncannily accurate prophecies.
Best remembered for his ‘burning of the vanities’ – the destruction of ‘profane art’ in public bonfires – Savonarola has often been caricatured as a hell-fire fanatic. Yet Victorian England saw him as an Italian Martin Luther, while his career inspired George Eliot’s novel, Romola .
Savonarola prophesied the French invasion of Italy with alarming precision and foretold the deaths of Lorenzo the Magnificent and Pope Innocent VIII. Yet there was more to him than prophecies of doom. He restored republican government to Florence and many of its citizens – including Michelangelo and Machiavelli – were convinced that no better Italian government had ever existed.
Savonarola’s undoing was his denunciation and attempt to depose the Borgia Alexander VI, one of the most corrupt popes in history. Had he succeeded, the Reformation might have been avoided. But in the end, Alexander turned the Florentines against Savonarola and destroyed him. They stormed his friary and, after a mockery of a trial during which he was tortured by the strappado and condemned as a heretic, he was hanged and burned in chains.
Dramatic, colourful and compelling, The Burning of the Vanities brings to life an extraordinary man whose story is one of the great Renaissance tragedies.
Desmond Seward is a British popular historian, best known for The Hundred Years War , never out of print since 1978, The Monks of War, The Wars of the Roses and Richard III - all republished by the Folio Society. His latest is The Demon's Brood , a history of the Plantagenet kings in one short volume.
Best remembered for his ‘burning of the vanities’ – the destruction of ‘profane art’ in public bonfires – Savonarola has often been caricatured as a hell-fire fanatic. Yet Victorian England saw him as an Italian Martin Luther, while his career inspired George Eliot’s novel, Romola .
Savonarola prophesied the French invasion of Italy with alarming precision and foretold the deaths of Lorenzo the Magnificent and Pope Innocent VIII. Yet there was more to him than prophecies of doom. He restored republican government to Florence and many of its citizens – including Michelangelo and Machiavelli – were convinced that no better Italian government had ever existed.
Savonarola’s undoing was his denunciation and attempt to depose the Borgia Alexander VI, one of the most corrupt popes in history. Had he succeeded, the Reformation might have been avoided. But in the end, Alexander turned the Florentines against Savonarola and destroyed him. They stormed his friary and, after a mockery of a trial during which he was tortured by the strappado and condemned as a heretic, he was hanged and burned in chains.
Dramatic, colourful and compelling, The Burning of the Vanities brings to life an extraordinary man whose story is one of the great Renaissance tragedies.
Desmond Seward is a British popular historian, best known for The Hundred Years War , never out of print since 1978, The Monks of War, The Wars of the Roses and Richard III - all republished by the Folio Society. His latest is The Demon's Brood , a history of the Plantagenet kings in one short volume.
392 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2006
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About the author
Desmond Seward
57 books61 followersDesmond Seward was an Anglo-Irish popular historian and the author of over two dozen books. He was educated at Ampleforth and St, Catherine's College, Cambridge. He was a specialist in England and France in the Middle Ages and the author of some thirty books, including biographies of Eleanor of Aquitane, Henry V, Richard III, Marie Antoinette and Metternich.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 3, 2025
This book is 282 pages before notes. Girolamo Savonarola is sometimes referred to as a monk.
He actually became a Dominican Friar. He has been referred to as a "Mad Monk." In reading this book, my impression was he was influenced by the writings of Thomas Aquinas at a young age, and it drove his extreme philosophy.
He was born in Ferrara, Italy, in 1452. His grandfather became a wealthy physician. He taught Girolamo to write, read, and speak fluently in Latin.
He planned to become a physician as his grandfather, who served the court of Ferrara.
When he was around 7 yrs old, Pope Pius II visited Ferrara with his vice Chancellor, Cardinal Roderigo Borgia. The Cardinal was about 28 yrs. old at the time.
This Borgia was a handsome man with a cheerful face and charming conversation. He was described as a man who was like a magnet attracting women like iron filings.
Girolamo would never imagine that this young cardinal would excommuncate him and have him tortured and burned.
Girolamo felt a strong spiritual calling to dedicate his life to serving God as a "Knight of Christ".
He joined a Dominican priory at age 23 because of his profound disgust with the world's misery, wickedness, and lack of good.
He abandoned his worldly ambitions, including medical studies and his family's wishes, to dedicate his life to God by entering the Dominican Order in Bologna, seeking a more devout and simple life.
Girolamo claimed he was beginning to have visions and premonitions.
He aimed to transform Florence into a "City of God" by purging it of worldly pleasures and corrupt practices. This vision was in opposition to the Medici's patronage of arts and culture.
While Girolamo was developing his philosophy, Roderigo Borgia was advancing his position in the Vatican ranks.
He did this brilliantly through a combination of nepotism, simony (bribing), political skill, and wealth.
His initial rapid rise was due to his uncle, Pope Callixtus III, who appointed him a cardinal and Vice Chancellor. When Pope Innocent VIII died, Rodrigo used his wealth and alliances to bribe cardinals and secure the papacy.
He became Pope Alexander VI and was elected in 1492.
Savonarola began his attempts to bring down Pope Alexander VI in 1495 after being summoned to Rome for ignoring Florence's refusal to join the Holy League, which included the French king Charles VIII.
Savonarola had allied with the French king who had 40,000 French troops and artillery behind him.
Savonarola continued his attacks on the corrupt papal curia, defying further summons to Rome and criticizing the Pope and clergy as evil and corrupt, leading to his excommunication in 1497.
Savonarola was imprisioned. He was tortured by the strappado before his execution.
Interrogators used the painful method to coerce a confession from him.
Pope Alexander VI did not pardon Savonarola because he was accused of heresy, sedition, and schism for his defiant preaching against the Pope's corruption and the Church's laxity, which directly challenged papal authority.
Savonarola's actions, including ignoring papal orders to stop preaching and his political influence in Florence, created a deeply contentious relationship with Alexander VI, who ultimately had no interest in sparing his rival.
He was condemned with two other Friars. They were hanged before burning, although the fires were lit before they had quite expired.
Girolamo Savonarola
is best remembered for
the Bonfire of the Vanities.
This was a massive public incineration of "sinful" objects in Florence in 1497, organized by Savonarola to eliminate temptation and promote a spiritual reformation of the city's morals.
Objects burned included books, artwork, musical instruments, cosmetics, fine clothing, and other luxury items deemed immoral or distracting from religious life.
It has never been proven, but it is claimed Botticelli may have willingly burned some of his beautiful paintings in support of Savonarola.
He actually became a Dominican Friar. He has been referred to as a "Mad Monk." In reading this book, my impression was he was influenced by the writings of Thomas Aquinas at a young age, and it drove his extreme philosophy.
He was born in Ferrara, Italy, in 1452. His grandfather became a wealthy physician. He taught Girolamo to write, read, and speak fluently in Latin.
He planned to become a physician as his grandfather, who served the court of Ferrara.
When he was around 7 yrs old, Pope Pius II visited Ferrara with his vice Chancellor, Cardinal Roderigo Borgia. The Cardinal was about 28 yrs. old at the time.
This Borgia was a handsome man with a cheerful face and charming conversation. He was described as a man who was like a magnet attracting women like iron filings.
Girolamo would never imagine that this young cardinal would excommuncate him and have him tortured and burned.
Girolamo felt a strong spiritual calling to dedicate his life to serving God as a "Knight of Christ".
He joined a Dominican priory at age 23 because of his profound disgust with the world's misery, wickedness, and lack of good.
He abandoned his worldly ambitions, including medical studies and his family's wishes, to dedicate his life to God by entering the Dominican Order in Bologna, seeking a more devout and simple life.
Girolamo claimed he was beginning to have visions and premonitions.
He aimed to transform Florence into a "City of God" by purging it of worldly pleasures and corrupt practices. This vision was in opposition to the Medici's patronage of arts and culture.
While Girolamo was developing his philosophy, Roderigo Borgia was advancing his position in the Vatican ranks.
He did this brilliantly through a combination of nepotism, simony (bribing), political skill, and wealth.
His initial rapid rise was due to his uncle, Pope Callixtus III, who appointed him a cardinal and Vice Chancellor. When Pope Innocent VIII died, Rodrigo used his wealth and alliances to bribe cardinals and secure the papacy.
He became Pope Alexander VI and was elected in 1492.
Savonarola began his attempts to bring down Pope Alexander VI in 1495 after being summoned to Rome for ignoring Florence's refusal to join the Holy League, which included the French king Charles VIII.
Savonarola had allied with the French king who had 40,000 French troops and artillery behind him.
Savonarola continued his attacks on the corrupt papal curia, defying further summons to Rome and criticizing the Pope and clergy as evil and corrupt, leading to his excommunication in 1497.
Savonarola was imprisioned. He was tortured by the strappado before his execution.
Interrogators used the painful method to coerce a confession from him.
Pope Alexander VI did not pardon Savonarola because he was accused of heresy, sedition, and schism for his defiant preaching against the Pope's corruption and the Church's laxity, which directly challenged papal authority.
Savonarola's actions, including ignoring papal orders to stop preaching and his political influence in Florence, created a deeply contentious relationship with Alexander VI, who ultimately had no interest in sparing his rival.
He was condemned with two other Friars. They were hanged before burning, although the fires were lit before they had quite expired.
Girolamo Savonarola
is best remembered for
the Bonfire of the Vanities.
This was a massive public incineration of "sinful" objects in Florence in 1497, organized by Savonarola to eliminate temptation and promote a spiritual reformation of the city's morals.
Objects burned included books, artwork, musical instruments, cosmetics, fine clothing, and other luxury items deemed immoral or distracting from religious life.
It has never been proven, but it is claimed Botticelli may have willingly burned some of his beautiful paintings in support of Savonarola.
October 12, 2023
I am currently doing an on-line course with the Victoria & Albert Museum on ‘European Art of the High Renaissance’, and thought that this history book would fit right in. For a long time I had known of Savonarola as the mad priest who went around causing anarchy and burning great works of art in late fifteenth century Florence (the ‘Bonfire of the Vanities’), and destroying the great Medici art legacy. I had visions of him tossing the odd Michaelangelo, Raphael or da Vinci into the flames and chortling with glee.
Turns out I was (almost) completely wrong. He was against the Medici family, whom he regarded as corrupt tyrants (they were, but are remembered fondly as patrons of some of the greatest Western art ever). Savonarola wanted Florence to be a democratic republic. He wanted an end to vice and crime in the city. He wanted everyone to lead a pure Christian life, the poor to be looked after and cared for. He was a devout Roman Catholic, but objected to the selling of favours by the church, the nepotism, the wanton debauchery of a number of priests and nuns, and most of all to the criminal sinfulness of Pope Alexander VI. This was the Borgia Pope, who bought his title (simony), installed his mistress and illegitimate offspring (8 children by three different women) in high offices (ie Cesare Borgia)), but he did sponsor some great art on the way.
Savonarola wanted a full-scale reformation of the church, and of the Italian political scene – but in that, created many powerful enemies. He promised the Florentines, that if they led good Christian lives, Florence would be favoured by God before all other cities, and become a model for the world. Savonarola encouraged the King of France to invade Italy (on his way to claiming the throne of Naples), to purify the Church, and depose (kill) Alexander VI. The King invaded, overstayed his welcome in Florence, went to Rome, but left the Pope in office, then went home to France.
Savonarola was a very effective preacher, and had many devoted followers. He also believed that God spoke through him, and gave him visions of the future. So, he was known in Florence as a prophet.
There was much to commend him, he led a simple life never seeking wealth or power, remaining true to his Dominican office. But he was a fanatic, and did create chaos (although well-meaning) in Italy. He didn’t order the destruction of great works or art or books, but did object to the Renaissance preoccupation with Classical art depicting pagan gods. He did organise a couple of bonfires, but it was not what I had imagined.
I found this book fascinating, and look forward to seeing how it all fits into art history.
Recommended to all fans of history – particularly that of Italy and the Catholic Church.
Turns out I was (almost) completely wrong. He was against the Medici family, whom he regarded as corrupt tyrants (they were, but are remembered fondly as patrons of some of the greatest Western art ever). Savonarola wanted Florence to be a democratic republic. He wanted an end to vice and crime in the city. He wanted everyone to lead a pure Christian life, the poor to be looked after and cared for. He was a devout Roman Catholic, but objected to the selling of favours by the church, the nepotism, the wanton debauchery of a number of priests and nuns, and most of all to the criminal sinfulness of Pope Alexander VI. This was the Borgia Pope, who bought his title (simony), installed his mistress and illegitimate offspring (8 children by three different women) in high offices (ie Cesare Borgia)), but he did sponsor some great art on the way.
Savonarola wanted a full-scale reformation of the church, and of the Italian political scene – but in that, created many powerful enemies. He promised the Florentines, that if they led good Christian lives, Florence would be favoured by God before all other cities, and become a model for the world. Savonarola encouraged the King of France to invade Italy (on his way to claiming the throne of Naples), to purify the Church, and depose (kill) Alexander VI. The King invaded, overstayed his welcome in Florence, went to Rome, but left the Pope in office, then went home to France.
Savonarola was a very effective preacher, and had many devoted followers. He also believed that God spoke through him, and gave him visions of the future. So, he was known in Florence as a prophet.
There was much to commend him, he led a simple life never seeking wealth or power, remaining true to his Dominican office. But he was a fanatic, and did create chaos (although well-meaning) in Italy. He didn’t order the destruction of great works or art or books, but did object to the Renaissance preoccupation with Classical art depicting pagan gods. He did organise a couple of bonfires, but it was not what I had imagined.
I found this book fascinating, and look forward to seeing how it all fits into art history.
Recommended to all fans of history – particularly that of Italy and the Catholic Church.
March 23, 2024
I read this in June 2010 and thought it was fantastic, very interesting, with no lags.
Savanarola comes off as a very brave, honest, and sincere man who was going up against the very corrupt Borgia Pope. I tend to think it's sort of a black and white account. This is coming from a Protestant nearly 600 years after the fact. Also, I read it over 13 years ago. So you tell me, Pal (YTMP, had an irritating boss from Louisiana that over-used that phrase).
Savanarola comes off as a very brave, honest, and sincere man who was going up against the very corrupt Borgia Pope. I tend to think it's sort of a black and white account. This is coming from a Protestant nearly 600 years after the fact. Also, I read it over 13 years ago. So you tell me, Pal (YTMP, had an irritating boss from Louisiana that over-used that phrase).
May 11, 2022
Savonarola was a divisive figure in Catholicism. Much of what's been written about him has been negative, presumably because the authors were Catholics and/or pro-Medici. Early Protestants saw him as a proto-Protestant: he wasn't.
He was a Dominican monk in fifteenth century Florence who objected to and preached against the rampant corruption of Florence and the even greater corruption in the Papacy under the aegis of Alexander VI, the Borgia Pope.
He also claimed the power of prophesy, inviting the King of France to invade Italy to sweep it clean of corruption. This was naïve of him. Big mistake. Besides, given the wars between the supporters of Spanish and French Catholicism, the Guelfs and Ghibellines, in previous centuries, it was hardly prophetic to suggest that invasion was likely.
Prophesy meant he claimed to hear God directly rather than going through the collective switchboard of the Vatican. This is always fatal - see Joan of Arc for details. So it proved for Savonarola too who expired after several rounds of church-sanctioned violence.
Desmond Seward's account is more balanced than anything else I've read, sympathetic, even. If interested in the period around the end of the 15th century, this is a valuable addition.
He was a Dominican monk in fifteenth century Florence who objected to and preached against the rampant corruption of Florence and the even greater corruption in the Papacy under the aegis of Alexander VI, the Borgia Pope.
He also claimed the power of prophesy, inviting the King of France to invade Italy to sweep it clean of corruption. This was naïve of him. Big mistake. Besides, given the wars between the supporters of Spanish and French Catholicism, the Guelfs and Ghibellines, in previous centuries, it was hardly prophetic to suggest that invasion was likely.
Prophesy meant he claimed to hear God directly rather than going through the collective switchboard of the Vatican. This is always fatal - see Joan of Arc for details. So it proved for Savonarola too who expired after several rounds of church-sanctioned violence.
Desmond Seward's account is more balanced than anything else I've read, sympathetic, even. If interested in the period around the end of the 15th century, this is a valuable addition.
April 7, 2021
Great telling
If you're interested in learning more about Savonarola, this is a great book. I want sure what to expect, as there are several histories I've read... But this telling seems to be a well balanced portrait of a most interesting character.
If you're interested in learning more about Savonarola, this is a great book. I want sure what to expect, as there are several histories I've read... But this telling seems to be a well balanced portrait of a most interesting character.
December 10, 2023
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It was a pleasure to read, although the story has a tragic ending. Read about the mush needed reform of the Church in the late 15th century and the man who tried his best to reform it.
December 15, 2022
I loved it - but it is not for everyone.
February 23, 2024
While being a history of turbulent times I didn't think it brought any great insight to the subject, I also thought a little difficult to read or was it my attention drifting?
July 31, 2011
Well written history of Savanarola and his role in Renaissance Florence. But from the subtitle, I was expecting more information about Rodrigo Borgia, Pope Alexander VI. The book only dealt with the Borgia Pope in regard to Savanarola's interaction with Alexander's papacy.
August 19, 2012
Seward's writing style is fantastic!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews