Chronicle of Felice Brancacci Ambassador with Carlo Federighi to Cairo for the Commune of Florence 1422

Abstract

This chapter is the translation from Italian to English of Felice Brancacci’s chronicle of his seven-month journey (June 30th, 1422–February 12, 1423) from Florence to Cairo. This English translation is based on Dante Catellaci’s 1881 Italian transcription of Carlo Strozzi’s seventeenth-century copy of Felice’s 1422 text. Part official report, and part travelogue, the text chronicles the daily activities of the Florentines on their trip to and from Cairo, including the sea voyage from Pisa through the strait of Messina to Rhodes, and from there to Alexandria.

Glossary

Cadì della Doana:

Customs officer. Cadi is from Arabic qadhi, “he who judges”, refers to a person who administers justice.

Cadì della Legge:

Legal officer.

Chatibisser:

From Katib-es-sir, which means literally Secret Scribe, which refers to the title of Secretary of the Secret Chancellery of the Sultan. Also referred to as Chancellor.

Commissario al Campo:

Field commissioner.

Consolato del Mare:

Florentine organism founded in the fifteenth century with the goal of administering the affairs related to Pisa’s countryside and port.

Consoli di Mare:

Members of the Consolato del Mare.

Dindar:

Secretary, literally “Prefect of the Inkwell.”

Dieci di Balia:

Special organ of the Commune of Florence in charge of war efforts.

Gonfaloniere di Giustizia:

A post in the government of Medieval Florence. He was one of the nine citizens drawn by lot who formed the government.

Gran Maestro:

Grand Master of the Order of Jerusalem, Friar Antonio Fluviano, of the Priory of Catalonia, who held the position in the Order of Jerusalem, or Knights of Rhodes—later called Knights of Malta—from July 1421 to October 1437.

Luogotenente della Signoria:

Governor of the Signoria .

Mangerie:

Illicit or coerced money payment.

Natarchass:

from Nazir–al-Khas, or Inspector of private property.

Priori:

Members of the Signoria , the main administrative organ in Medieval and Renaissance Florence. The Priori were selected from the ranks of the city Guilds.

Scrivano della Segreta:

Same as Chatibisser (see above), or Secret Scribe, Chancellery Secretary.

Signoria:

In the Medieval and Renaissance city-states, a government run by a Signore (lord, or despot) (see Encyclopedia Britannica).

Turcamanni:

Dragoman or interpreter.