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Questions about Coluccio Salutati

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When and where was Coluccio Salutati born?

Coluccio Salutati entered the world on the 16th of February 1331 in Stignano. This tiny commune sat near Buggiano within the province of Pistoia in Tuscany.

What nickname did colleagues give to Coluccio Salutati for his writing style?

Colleagues called him the Ape of Cicero or Scimmia di Cicerone in Italian. This title implied high praise for his imitation of Roman rhetorical styles.

How many books did Coluccio Salutati collect during his career?

He spent much of his salary amassing a collection of 800 books. This library slightly trailed the holdings of his contemporary Niccolò de' Niccoli.

Who did Coluccio Salutati bring to Florence to teach Greek in 1397?

He brought the Byzantine scholar Manuel Chrysoloras to Florence in 1397. This move initiated one of the first courses in Greek since the end of the Roman Empire.

Which treatise by Coluccio Salutati modeled itself on Visconti as a figure of despotism?

His treatise De tyranno published in 1400 likely modeled itself on Visconti as a figure of despotism. Despite being a republican, Salutati supported the providential universal monarch proposed by Dante.

On what date did Coluccio Salutati die and how much did Florence pay for his funeral?

Coluccio died on the 4th of May after decades of leadership. Florence paid 250 florins for his funeral in 1406 as testimony to his service.