Poliziano

"No! If they get inside, they'll murder all our supporters and put their own devils in power!"

―Poliziano, after hearing that the Pazzi had taken over the Palazzo della Signoria.

Angelo Ambrogini, commonly known by his nickname, Poliziano-- taken from the Latin name of his birthplace, Mons Politianus-- was an Italian Renaissance classical scholar and poet, one of the revivers of Humanist Latin. He was born in Montepulciano in 1454.

Poliziano serves Lorenzo de' Medici. Ezio meets him after the assassination of Lorenzo's brother, Giuliano, and the attempt on Lorenzo's life.

The database entry for Poliziano is incorrect in a number of ways. Poliziano was writing eloquent letters in Latin at the age of 7. There is little data available as to where and how he learned Greek. He was not published until he was 24, when he wrote of the events of the Pazzi Conspiracy.

His father was killed when he was 10 for adopting the cause of the Medici in Montepulciano. Poliziano moved to Florence and was aided in his education by the Medici as a sign of respect for the Ambrogini family. Afterwards, he lived in Florence as a beggar until he was 16, at which point he wrote a letter to Lorenzo de' Medici, who offered him a job translating the Iliad for Lorenzo's library. He was hired shortly thereafter.

Database Entry

Date of Birth: 1454

Profession: Scholar, Poet

Somewhat of a prodigy, Poliziano learned Latin and Greek at age 10, and by 18 had already become a published author. Lorenzo de' Medici hired him to act as the tutor for his children and made sure he received a post at the Studio Florentino. Unfortunately, Poliziano must not have been everyone's favorite instructor. He died of arsenic poisoning in 1494, probably murdered by Piero de' Medici, his former student.