Sacchi, Bartolomeo, Detto il Platina

Bartolomeo Sacchi, better known as Platina, was an Italian humanist who lived an eventful life. Starting out as a mercenary soldier, he moved to the court of Mantua, spent some years in Florence, before transferring to Rome where he was arrested twice by Pope Paul II, and finally became prefect of the Vatican librarian. Before 1475 he wrote many works, including a very popular cookbook. His compendium of the lives of the popes broke with medieval historical writing on the papacy. He developed original ideas and innovative arguments in his dialogues exploring the themes of love and nobility, as well as in his political works where he analyzed the virtues required by a perfect prince and an ideal citizen. His writings made him a leading figure of the Renaissance.