Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

History

Faculty/School

Faculty of Arts

First Advisor

Dr. Chris Nighman

Advisor Role

Thesis Supervisor

Second Advisor

Dr. Steven Bednarski

Advisor Role

Committee Member

Third Advisor

Dr. Altay Coskun

Advisor Role

Committee Member

Abstract

This thesis explores the transmission of the Epitome Rei Militaris of Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus and the Strategemata of Sextus Iulius Frontinus in the Compendium Moralium Notabilium. Completed by Paduan judge Geremiah of Montagnone in around 1310, the Compendium Moralium Notabilium is a large medieval florilegium contemporary with Thomas of Ireland’s Manipulus Florem. The Compendium is distinct from typical medieval florilegium due to its lay author, its internal organisation, and its inclusion of many classical Roman and Greek authors as well as common Italian proverbs and secular liturature. The Compendium also includes over 199 distinct selections from the military manuals of Vegetius and Frontinus, found both within its forty chapters on warfare and elsewhere in the book. This thesis pursues questions around Montagnone’s purpose for composing the Compendium, for including such a heavy selection of quotes regarding war, and what his audience may perhaps have been. It is organised around a heavy textual analysis of the content of the transmissions in question. Dismissing the possibility that the Compendium’s selections on warfare were meant for military professionals, the thesis focuses on determining whether the evidence supports a general litterati target audience or that of a class of ‘learned-warriors’. This class of individual was explained to include men associated with diplomacy and the adminitrative function of a city, from simple messengers to spies to official resident ambassadors. This thesis concluded with the determination that the current evidence for Montagnone’s target audience best fits a general audience of litterati. However, much more work is needed on the Compendium to solidify this thesis – and the ‘learned warrior’ hypothesis remains attractive.

Convocation Year

2015

Convocation Season

Fall

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