ALA MANNI, Lein], celebrated by his compost tions in the lighter species of poetry, was born of o noble family, at Florence, on the 28th October, 1.195 Under the tuition of Jacopo Diacceto, he made such progress in his studies at the university of Florence, as to outstrip all his fellow-students. 'File literary con versazione, which were at this time held in the gar den of Bernardo Ruccllai, were frequented by the most celebrated character4 of the age ; and Alamanni, whn was a regular visiter, did not fail to profit by such choice society.
The republic of Florence was at this time under the government of the cardinal Julius de Medici, to whose Emily and faction the father of Alamanni was strongly attached : The merits of the father were in some mea sure reflected to the son, and Alamanni stood high in the cardinal's favour. The cardinal, however, having issued an order, prohibiting, under a severe punish ment, the carrying of arms, Alamanni was arrested, during night, for a violation of the order, and subjected to the punishment which was threatened. The high spirit of the poet could not brook the injury which he fancied he had received. His irritation against the car dinal swelled into revenge, and he was resolved to gra tify the malignity of his passions. Upon the death of Leo X. in 1521, he entered into a conspiracy with Za nobi Buondelmonti, Jacopo Diacceto, Antonio Bruccioli, and his cousin Tommaso Alamanni, who had different causes of resentment against the cardinal, and conceal ed his designs under the pretence of restoring the liberties of the Florentines. Alamanni, it is said, of fered to assassinate the cardinal with his own hand ; hut the plot was detected, and the conspirators com pelled to save themselves by flight. Alamanni escap ed with difficulty, and took shelter in the states of the duke d'Urbino. Diacceto and his cousin were seized and beheaded ; and he himself was prosecu ted as a rebel, and 500 florins of gold offered fur his person. He now retired to Venice, where he was kindly received by Carlo Capello, a Venetian sena tor, and a learned man, who took a lively interest in the safety of the poet. The cardinal Julius having succeeded to the pontificate, Alamanni did not think himself secure at Venice. He set out for France ; but,
on passing through Brescia, he was arrested by order of the pope. The imprisonment of Alamanni having reached the ears of his friend Capello, he exerted all his influence in his behalf, and, by pretending to be un acquainted with him, he obtained his release. After this narrow escape, Alamanni travelled through differ ent countries, waiting for some fortunate revolution_ which might restore him to his native country. In France he was received by Francis I. with every mark of respect, and was honoured with the most distinguished favours.
In consequence of the occupation of Rome, in 1527, by the arms of Charles V. his holiness was compelled to take reluge in the castle of St Angelo. The nobility and the people took advantage of his ill 'online, and revolted against the family of the Medici, who were obliged to abandon the governmtmt. Alamanni and Buondelmonti were recalled to their native city, where the former devoted himself to his poetical pur suits ; but the unsettled state of parties rendered it prudent for him to spend the greater pan of his time at Genoa.
The emperor Charles having succeeded in placing Alexander de Nledicis at the head of the government of Florence, Alamanni was again obliged, in 1232, to withdraw from his native city. He put himself under the protection of Francis I., who employed him in several important affairs, honoured him with the collar of the order of St Alichat I, and appointed him steward of the household of Catharine de i1edicis. Upon the death of the pope in 1334, and of Alexander de Aledicis in 1537, the hopes of liberty again animated the hearts of the Florentines ; and Alamanni did not fail to en courage them, both by his letter 211C1 his presence. When peace was concluded in 1511, between the em peror and Francis I., Alamanni was sent ambassador to the former. In one of his poems in praise of Francis, there were some satirical passages against the emperor, and one particularly, in which the Cock says to the Eagle, che piu do oral• die beech/ puma.