SOME NOTABLE ITALIAN WOMEN
By Matthew V. Grieco
A favorite throughout the ages is undoubtedly the gifted Caterina de’ Medici (1519-1589), whose beauty was matched only by her intellectual prowess. She amassed one of the most admired libraries in Europe, was a patroness of the arts, an accomplished equestrian, and a skilled huntress. She left her native Florence to marry the future King of France, Henry II. Initially greeted with skepticism by both her husband (whom she quickly outshone) and the populace, she won over all, with her talents, patience, tact, fortitude, and dedication to the welfare of her adoptive land. She bore 10 children, and raised several others, including the future Queen of Scotland, Mary Stuart. Following the death of her husband, Caterina ruled as Regent, schooling her children in the arts of leadership and diplomacy. She also introduced the French to the fork, and taught them how to cook without smothering food with heavy sauces.
During her life, Lucrezia Borgia (1480-1519) endured with stoic dignity vicious slanders, occasioned not by any misdeeds on her part, but merely due to guilt by association with a scheming and vicious father, brothers, and husband (whom she was forced to marry). She died days after giving birth to her eighth child (who also died). Unfortunately, the false accusations of poisoning, incest, greed, and other nefarious conduct survived her death, and even appear in a Donizetti opera titled after her. Scholarship has revealed that she was, in fact, a gentle, pious woman, who founded hospitals and convents.
Dr. Maria Montessori (1870-1952) taught the world that learning should be fun and made possible today’s educational toys. She also stressed hygiene, stimulation of all the senses, and respect for individuality.
On the topic of education, the Venetian Elena Cornaro Piscopia (1646-1684) was the first woman to obtain a Ph.D. – in 1678 from the University of Padua. A statue in that university honors her today, as does a stained glass window in the Vassar College Thompson Memorial Library.
The Columbian Lawyers take extra pride in our long history of outstanding female judges. In fact, the first female judge was an Italian – Eleonora d’Arborea (1347-1404). Actually, she was a judge-ruler.
From the 800s to the very early 1400s, the island of Sardinia was divided into four independent kingdoms (Gallura, Logudoro, Arborea, and Cagliari). Unlike most kingdoms of the period, the country was not considered the personal property of the monarch. Even more unusual is that each of the Sardinian states was a kritarchy (ruled by a judge). At various times, the judges were selected by a council or were hereditary.
Eleonora became judge-ruler of Arborea upon the death of her brother in 1383. She was one of the most successful judge-rulers, winning several battles over the powerful Kingdom of Aragon (one day to become Spain). Her struggle on behalf of the island, which she sought to unite, is immortalized in Sardinian verses.
In 1392, she promulgated a code of law, the Carta de Logu or Charter of Law. That comprehensive and enlightened code of civil and criminal law, divided into 198 articles, remained in effect in Sardinia until 1827. Of note, women were given property rights, and all people were equal before the law, without regard to class.
Eleonora lives on in yet another area – ornithology. She was such an avid falconer that a species of falcon, falco eleonorae was named for her.