The Life of Cola di Rienzo

The Life of Cola di Rienzo, translated by John Wright
Class: History 110- Medieval, Renaissance, and Reformation Europe

A bronze statue of a hooded man stands reaching his hands towards the air. This real life statue of Cola di Rienzo is located near the Campidoglio in Rome where he was killed. A skilled politician, the rise to the top ended with a sudden fall.

The son of an innkeeper and washerwoman, Cola di Rienzo was learned in Latin and the classical texts. He was able to read inscriptions around his hometown of Rome that others could not. In Cola’s Rome, nobles were corrupt and took advantage of the people, unlike the classical Rome that Cola studied. When Rienzo’s brother was murdered, Rienzo decided it was his duty to bring back the former glory of Rome. Elected by the people, Cola di Rienzo took up the old title of Tribune to govern over Rome and its inhabitants. Strict on the actions of the nobles, Rienzo was fast to make enemies. Even the Pope who first gave him favor later turned against him. Exiled from Rome, Rienzo lived with the Holy Roman Emperor in Prague, pretending to be a distant relative instead of the son of an innkeeper. Rienzo was able to win back favor after seven years and was welcomed back by being given the title of knight. However, with most political stories, success is short. A new agricultural tax is unpopular and the nobles are quick to turn the people against Cola di Rienzo. One failed escape attempt later, the nobles at the Campidoglio stab Rienzo to death where his statue now stands.

A pivotal figure in political history, Cola di Rienzo brought back the tradition of rule by election from the people instead of the popular monarchy. A true tale of power through ascension instead of descending rule, Cola is not the only fascinating character. I’m going to go out on a limb and call the narrator one fascinating dude. A notary, like Cola di Rienzo at the beginning of the tale, this author is also very well learned, taking breaks from the story to insert his own opinion as well as offer extra information by referencing classical texts such as the Bible or Aristotle. Aside from the knowledge of these characters, there are also some pretty cool battles. Feuding Roman families (also fighting for control of the papacy) have been fighting for centuries and are now becoming increasingly violent against each other, the lower classes, and of course Rienzo. There are many battles and riots with many deaths worth hearing about. Interesting, though, is that the narration is pretty dry except for descriptions of Cola’s clothes in two scenes, one when he becomes Tribune and another when he becomes Knight. I guess the physical description is enough to show that this is no longer the son of low birth but instead someone who claims rule for himself and claims false relations to an emperor.

A classic tale of rising and falling out of political favor is an interesting topic seeing that it happens almost every time we turn on the news. Its interesting to see that this Renaissance man had a similar story centuries early. The only difference today is that the nobles don’t kidnap a disliked politician to the Capitol building and stab him to death. They know better. The reading experience was fine if totally necessary, but I will let you know that I fell asleep twice; so beware.

I chose this quote because it was reading that spurred the lives of both of these men into action:
“Once you learn to read, you will be forever free.”
- Frederick Douglass