1. In the thirteenth century the majority of the Florentines were still being buried in their parish cemeteries. The relatively modest column of Brunetto Latini fits this picture. It appears to be a marker, indicating the burial plot of the Latini family, rather than a commemoration. It gives no date of birth nor death and the abbreviated message merely states: S(epulchrum) S(er) Brunetti Latini et Filio(rum), the grave of Brunetto Latini and his children.
2. In contrast to his professional biography - which I have discussed earlier - there is only limited evidence on the private life of Brunetto Latini. To a large extent, his personal life remains, therefore, enshrouded in mystery.
For instance, we do not know the exact date of his birth. He is said to be born into a privileged, though probably not noble family around 1220. There are no data on Latini’s formative years, although some scholars deem it probable that he studied at the university of Bologna. His family home was situated in the Florentine gate-district of Porta Duomo in the parish of Santa Maria Maggiore. In a recently discovered list of 1291 Brunetto Latini is, in fact, mentioned as a city notary residing in this very gate-district. He died in 1293/4. Villani mentions his death under the year 1294 in his chronicle, but his death is already attested in another document of 6 December 1293.
Looking at the genealogy chart included above, we should keep in mind that his father, Bonaccorso di Latino, has traditionally been portrayed as a notary. His oldest brother, Michael, also continued the family profession. Another brother, Latinus Bonaccursi, has been linked to a banking firm, which was especially active in Southern Italy, the Angevin Kingdom, until it failed in 1312.
Brunetto Latini was married. Two of his sons were also in contact with the Angevin court. Bonaccursus Brunetti served as an ambassador to the court of King Robert of Naples (r. 1309-1343) in 1314, while Perseo was attached to the same court, probably until 1321. Finally, another son, Cresta, and a daughter, Bianca, married in 1248 to Guido di Filippo da Castiglionchio, have been identified.
3. As you exit from the church, turn right and cross Via de’ Cerretani into Via de’ Conti. At Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, turn right again and follow Via del Canto de’ Nelli. Follow the curve until you reach the front entrance of the Basilica of San Lorenzo.
Photo credit:
1. Santa Maria Maggiore, Chapel - Maaike Napolitano-Rietrae, 2016
2. Santa Maria Maggiore, Memorial Brunetto Latini - Maaike Napolitano-Rietrae, 2016
3. Santa Maria Maggiore, Memorial Brunetto Latini (fragment) - Maaike Napolitano-Rietrae, 2016
4. Genealogy chart (reproduced from: Julia Bolton Holloway, Twice-Told Tales. Brunetto Latino and Dante Alighieri (New York: Peter Lang, 1993), p. 172)
