Dear Charles,
the social custom that you refer to was one of the
'bagordi', or feats of daring, undertaken by young patrician giovani.
Such equestrian feats were deliberately provocative and erotic in
nature. They also represented virile displays of personal
dexterity, and could be seen as a complex form of courtship ritual, in
order to win the hand of the 'damigella'. On a more symbolic level, the
lady could also have represented the city of Florence. Thus, by
demonstrating their authority over unified groups of fellow participants
in the 'armeggerie' and other equestrian exercises, one could
interpret the actions of the giovani as public indications that they
considered themselves ready to play a part in the city's political
arena.
A discussion of this practice can be found in _Renaissance
Florence: The Age of Lorenzo de' Medici 1449-1492_, ed. by C. Acidini
Luchinat (Milan, Florence, and the Accademia Italiana, London: Edizioni
Charta, 1993). This book is a catalogue of an exhibition which was held
in London; two of its essays are of particular relevance to the present
discussion:
Paola Ventrone, 'Entertainment in Laurentian Florence'
(pp.57-59)
Mario Scalini, 'The Chivalric "Ludus" in Quattrocento Florence'
(pp. 61-63) - see esp. p. 62
Other works which you might find interesting include:
_'Le Tems Revient' - 'Il Tempo si Rinuova'. Feste e spettacoli
nella Firenze di Lorenzo il Magnifico (1449-1492)_, ed. by Paola
Ventrone (Milan: Amilcare Pizzi Editore, 1992).
_Petrarch's "Triumphs": Allegory and Spectacle'_, ed. by Konrad
Eisenbichler and Armando Iannucci (Toronto: Dovehouse Editions, 1990)
Paolo Orvieto, 'Carnevale e feste fiorentine del tempo di Lorenzo de'
Medici', in _Lorenzo de' Medici e il suo tempo_, ed. by G. Garfagnini
(Florence: Olschki, 1992).
I hope this helps - all the best,
Domenico.
Domenico Zanre',
Department of Italian
19 Woodland Road
University of Bristol
BRISTOL BS8 1TE
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On Fri, 9 Oct 1998, Charles Burroughs wrote:
> Cari colleghi:
>
> Some time ago I came across a reference to a remarkable social custom in
> late-medieval and Renaissance Florence. It was, apparently, the custom for
> young men, obviously of the wealthiest and most powerful families, to
> display their equestrian skill, not to speak of their horse etc., while
> publicly staking a claim, as it were, to a certain young lady. A youth
> would ride at the front of the house of the young woman in question, turning
> away at the last moment but striking the wall with his lance, with all too
> obvious symbolic resonances.
>
> I have mislaid the reference and wonder if anyone knows of this custom and,
> even better, where it is documented, preferably in primary sources. Also,
> the reference I found mentioned only Florence, and I would be interested to
> know if the custom was more widespread.
>
> In grateful anticipation of any help you might be able to supply.
>
> Charles Burroughs
> CEMERS
>
>
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