A little-known text of political Humanism: Francesco Patrizi’s “De gerendo magistratu”

Abstract

The paper intends to investigate the figure of Francesco Patrizi from Siena by analysing an unpublished work, the epistle-treaty titled De gerendo magistratu. The epistle was composed in 1446 and addressed to Achille Petrucci, elected prior of Siena. The work focuses on the widespread theme de optimo magistratu, which aims to support the new prior and to guide him towards virtuous political action inspired by the fundamental principles of humanistic doctrine. This text represents the first political work of the Humanist, enriches the conceptual framework underlying Patrizi’s political thought, and provides additional elements to the genre of humanistic epistolography.