RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
A1 Stejskal, Jan
T1 Paths of Reform. On the Preparation of a Travel Diary Edition by Ambrogio Traversari
JF Historica Olomucensia
YR 2012
VO 43
IS 3
SP 29
OP 40
UL https://historica.upol.cz/artkey/hol-201203-0002.php
AB Ambrogio Traversari (1386-1439) was the general superior of the strict Camaldolese Congregation (Benedictine monastic order) and spent most of his life within the Florentine monastery of Santa Maria degli Angeli. His historical importance, however, lies in his texts - particularly in his numerous translations from Greek, but also in his rich correspondence. He is rightly considered one of the most distinguished intellectuals of that time. He was a friend of many of them (N. Niccoli, Poggio Bracciolini, L. Valla etc.). Pope Eugene IV designed Traversari not just to the office of general superior of Camaldolese, but also commissioned him to reform the religious life (not only of Camaldolese, but also of the "related" Congregation Vallombrosa). The pope also sent Traversari to the Council of Basel and to the court of Emperor Sigismund. In addition Traversari became a key player at the Council of Ferrara - Florence. Nevertheless, this excellent humanist is virtually unknown in the Czech historiography. The presented text is an attempt to change this fact and to introduce the preparation of the Czech edition of Traversari's text - Hodoeporicon (travel diary from the years 1431-1434). It is not only a record of Traversari's travels within Italy, but especially evidence of implementation of the reform of his own congregation. His careful travel notes are easy to confront with his rich contemporary correspondence in order to reconstruct the way in which he tried to change monasteries and hermitages of his congregations. Czech edition of Hodoeporicon will be completed by the end of next year.