Filelfo, Traversari, Bracciolini, Vergerio, Veronese

János Palailogosz
Konstanz
Alexander the Great
Francesco Filfelfo (1398-1481)

Italian humanist, who taught in Florence and worked in Milan for the governor enjoying his support for a long time. His contemporaries respected his Greek knowledge (he had studied Greek in Constantinople) besides his literary works. He arrived in Buda with the Greek Emperor, Ioannes Palailogos, in 1423, then spent some months at King Sigismund's court. In February 1424 he escorted Sigismund to Cracow, to the wedding of the Polish king, and performed humanist oracles there. He wrote a long epistle to King Wladislas I, in which he encouraged the Hungarians to attack the Turks. He was in connection with Ladislaus Vetési and praised his works.

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Ambrogio Travesari (around 1386- 1439)

A Florentine humanist and Camaldolese monk, who translated Greek works into Latin. He also spoke Hebrew. Before 1437 he visited Hungary as a Florentine minister, and after returning home he praised King Sigismund's constructions in Buda.

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Poggio Bracciolini (1380-1459)

Italian humanist, the employee of the papal chancellery. He was the chancellor of Florence from 1453. At the Council of Constance (1414-1418) - where Hungarians escorting King Sigismund were also present, including the lecturers of the Óbuda University - he wrote an encouraging letter to the Emperor. After the council he intended to go to Hungary, where he was invited as a lecturer, but his plan failed. He got into contact with John Hunyadi, which was proved by a letter sent to him.

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Pier Paolo Vergerio (1370-1444)

A humanist born in Capodistria, the father of modern pedagogy. He was a philosopher, a doctor and a lawyer, as well as a consecrated priest, who worked in Italy. At the Council of Constance he represented King Sigismund's interests, then, from 1418 he lived in Hungary in the king's service, and died in Buda. He translated Arrianos's book about Alexander the Great and Herodotos' historiography into Latin for King Sigismund, and also wrote about Sigismund's life (this latter work either lost or in an unknown location). He reformed rhetorics, epistole and comedy according to ancient models. His book called the Noble Morales of Youth and Free Sciences (De ingenius moribus et liberalibus adolescentiae studiis, 1402) was the first humanist work on education, which was used by the succeeding generations for a long time.

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Guarino Veronese (or Guarino da Verona, 1374-1460)

A brilliant humanist, one of the greatest pedagogues of the 15th century besides Vergerio and Vittorino da Feltre. He worked in Florence and Venice, and in 1436 governor Ercole d' Este invited him to Ferrara, where he taught until his death. He was the teacher of the Este family, and also taught at the university. His school was visited by the most eminent students from Italy and Europe, Janus Pannonius's colleagues studied with him. Janus lived in his house in Ferrara - almost as a family member.

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