The satirical pamphlet titled The Last Will and Testament of the Elephant Hanno, published in 1516, launched a career that defined 16th-century Italian letters. By mocking the Roman Papal Curia, the writer secured a reputation for biting social commentary, earning the moniker scourge of princes for his fearless critique of monarchs, popes, and powerful political figures.
Early Life and Roman Ascent
Born in 1492 in Arezzo to Margherita Bonci and shoemaker Luca Del Tura, he eventually abandoned his father's name. After a formative decade in Perugia, he traveled to Rome under the protection of the banker Agostino Chigi. His early professional life involved navigating the complex political landscape of the Vatican, where he sharpened his skills by transforming the traditional Roman pasquinade into a potent satirical weapon.
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His career faced disruption following the publication of sixteen erotic sonnets, the Sonetti Lussuriosi, which accompanied explicit drawings by Giulio Romano. After fleeing Rome, he sought patrons in Mantua and under the condottiero Giovanni de' Medici. By 1527, he settled permanently in Venice, a city he regarded as the seat of all vices, where he flourished as a dramatist, journalist, and confidant to artists such as Titian.
Literary Style and Extortion
Beyond his plays, such as La cortigiana and La talenta, his fame rested on a vast collection of published letters. These documents functioned as a tool for both literary self-promotion and strategic blackmail. He effectively maintained a state of siege against elites, accepting pensions from Francis I of France and Charles V simultaneously.
Fast facts
- Born: 1492, Arezzo
- Died: 1556, Venice
- Citizenship: Republic of Venice
- Nickname: Scourge of princes
- Buried: Venice
- Language of work: Italian
Questions readers ask
What caused the end of his career in Rome?
He was forced to flee following the publication of sixteen erotic sonnets designed to accompany pornographic drawings by Giulio Romano.
Why was he placed on the Index of Prohibited Books?
Three years after his death, in 1559, his entire literary output was banned by the Church due to his satirical, erotic, and religious commentary.
