Letter or Mirror for Princes? Francis Petrarch’s Rerum senilium libri 14, 1

Abstract

It is a relatively common practice of Francis Petrarch to include his writings of various genres in his letter collections or to refer to some of his treatises and invectives as voluminous letters in his dedications. The same applies to the first letter of Book XIV of Rerum senilium libri. The question of genre is also interesting and important since Petrarch's text can indeed be read and interpreted either as a letter or as a mirror for princes. The fact that the letter was published independently under the title De re publica optime administranda shows the validity of the different readings. The lecture will analyse this writing.