Girolamo Savonarola

Girolamo Savonarola was a Dominican friar and religious reformer in Renaissance Florence, known for his fiery sermons against corruption, secularism, and moral decay in society. He preached about returning to a pious lifestyle and challenged the authority of the Pope and the Medici family. Savonarola’s influence peaked in the 1490s, leading to the infamous "Bonfire of the Vanities," where people burned objects considered sinful. Ultimately, his radical views led to his downfall; he was excommunicated, imprisoned, and executed in 1498. Today, he is often remembered as a significant figure in the history of religious reform and the tumultuous politics of Renaissance Italy.