When and where was Lorenzo Valla born?
Lorenzo Valla entered the world in Rome around 1407. His father Luciave della Valla worked as a lawyer within the Papal Curia.
Questions about Lorenzo Valla
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What did Lorenzo Valla prove about the Donation of Constantine?
Valla demonstrated that internal evidence contradicted a fourth century origin for the document. He noted the vernacular style dated to the eighth century instead and argued Romans like Constantine would not have used words such as satrap.
How did Lorenzo Valla die and when did he pass away?
He died in Rome on the 1st of August 1457. His original burial site lay beneath the bronze Lex de imperio Vespasiani behind the altar of Saint John Lateran.
Which works established Lorenzo Valla's contemporary reputation?
Valla made his contemporary reputation with two works: De Voluptate and De Elegantiis Latinae Linguae. Richard Claverhouse Jebb called De Elegantiis the highest level reached in critical study of Latin.
Why did Pope Gregory XIII destroy Lorenzo Valla's tomb?
Pope Gregory XIII destroyed Valla's tomb and epitaph in 1576 when removing bronze to Palazzo dei Conservatori. The pope was a staunch believer in the Donation of Constantine.