The state of Florence in Italy was originally a republican state but eventually was run by one primary family the Medici’s. Also in Florence was a preacher by the name of Girolamo Savonarola. In the 1490s Savonarola went there to live and became a well known preacher with many followers. He gave impactful sermons that could change peoples lives and even people such as Botticelli and Michelangelo came to hear him preach. The thing Savonarola hated above all else was the Renaissance. He thought the secular paintings and ideas drew people away from God and he got people to burn their luxuries and paintings. He detested the pope at that time, who was pope Alexander VI, for his immoral ways. Eventually he came to hold power in Florence as well and began a sort of righteous dictatorship encouraging people to report their sinful neighbors to the government. Eventually pope Alexander VI grew tired of the accusations against him and asked the people of Florence to hand him over. In return Savonarola asked to hold an ecumenical council to depose the pope. At this the people of Florence began to lose faith in him since the last thing they wanted was another schism. Even Savonarola’s most devoted followers fell away when he refused to walk through fire to prove the divine nature of his messages, even though he had said he would do this many times. At this point Florence was done with him and he was arrested and executed.
Meanwhile in 15th century France another remarkable figure was in power. Louis XI of France was fascinating in that he had so many things going on. He lived simply and ate food similar to that of a peasants. He was a sincere Catholic and always carried his rosary with him. But the thing that he was most obsessed with was centralizing France. The feudal system that had developed during the Viking invasions had reduced the power of the king greatly so now Louis XI wanted to unit France under his absolute power. He had many spies as well not only in France but also in Italy, England and other countries. He could be brutal as well telling exiles that if they came back he would cut off their private parts. All of these things combined made the incredible figure of Louis XI.