Search

This study argues for the importance of competitive discourse in placing the study of the ars dictaminis within the cosmopolitan tradition of humanistic Latin literature in the Middle Ages, particularly as it is expressed in the writing of Boncompagno da Signa and Guido Faba at Bologna in the first decades of the thirteenth century. Examining cultural links and similarities to the competitive literary culture of twelfth century humanism in France and northern Europe (especially the Goliardic poets), it also compares the function and relative prestige of ars dictaminis to other studies at Bologna, especally canon law. This comparison focuses in particular on the respective ways each discipline employs narrative fictions, and this comparison establishes the humanistic literary character of the cultivation of ars dictaminis. Ronald Witt has argued that the textual culture of Bologna in Boncompagno's day is dominated by a practical legal orientation, but this study would qualify that claim by exploring the literary copiousness of Boncompagno's writing and the literary character of several of his works, including the Rota Veneris; it likewise links this literary performance to a pattern of competitive discourse that elevates ars dictaminis above other disciplines, Bologna above other studia, and Boncompagno above other masters. The study then turns to the work of Guido Faba, especially the Summa dictaminis and Dictamina rhetorica to explore how Guido deepens and broadens Boncompagno's competitive discourse, especially through the epistolary narrative sequences of the Dictamina rhetorica.

Scholarship has attributed to the Italian teachers of rhetoric of the central Middle Ages a very significant role in the development of political discourse, but their testimony concerning the momentous conflict fought from 1226 to 1250 between the Lombard League, the Papacy and Emperor Frederick II has largely been overlooked. This paper approaches it by focusing on the works of Guido Faba, comparing them with the production of his main colleagues, Boncompagno da Signa and Bene da Firenze, and considering the impact of the conflict upon the schools to which they belonged. It first examines a papal privilege issued to the Lombard cities that only features in Faba's Dictamina rhetorica, arguing that it is most likely a verisimilar work of fiction supporting the contested validity of the Peace of Constance (the settlement reached between the League and Frederick Barbarossa in 1183) and its recognition of the League. The second half of the enquiry then shows that the conflict between Empire and League attracted considerable attention among contemporary teachers of rhetoric, whose schools were directly involved in it. That Faba's works are particularly rich in evidence for the conflict and the engagement of the Papacy should be attributed to his Bolognese background. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Memorabilia - Boletín de Literatura Sapiencial is the property of Universitat de Valencia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)