The Trial of Giordano Bruno

In 1600, Giordano Bruno, one of the leading intellectuals of the Renaissance, was burned at the stake on the charge of heresy by the Roman Inquisition. He is remembered primarily for his cosmological theories, particularly that the universe was infinite with the Earth not being at its centre. Today, he has become a symbol of the struggle for religious and philosophical tolerance. The Trial of Giordano Bruno, originally published in Italian in 2018, provides English audiences with a complete and updated reconstruction of the inquisitorial trial by analysing the accusations, witnesses, and legal proceedings in detail. The author also gives a detailed profile of Bruno as well as the body which arrested and accused him – the Inquisition. This book will appeal to all those interested in the life and death of Giordano Bruno, as well as those interested in Early Modern legal proceedings, the Roman Inquisition, and the history of religious and philosophical tolerance.

Introduction Part 1 "Because When It Was Time He Wanted To Be A Captain" Chapter 1 "My Profession Has Been and Is Letters and All Science". Profile of a Defendant A Restless Novice In Trouble in Geneva Towards the East Return to Italy: A Grand Project Chapter 2 The Circle Closes A Man in Danger Stories of Conclaves Chapter 3 Return to the Past Who is a Christian? The Church’s Judiciary "Agents of a power that intends to dominate the world" Chapter 4 The Machine of the Inquisition The Eradication of Heresy The Law and Discretion Part 2 "Many times have I been threatened that I would be made to come to this Holy Office" Chapter 5 The End in the Beginning An Illegitimate Arrest? A Flood of Accusations The Many Reasons for a "causa ardua" Chapter 6 The Stalemate The Parade of Witnesses The Accused Takes the Floor The Investigation Languishes Chapter 7 In the Prisons of the Inquisition The Secrets of the Capuchins Magic in the Monastery "Listen to the blasphemy this man speaks!" A Protected Enclosure Spies, Spies and More Spies Geography of a Venetian Trial Chapter 8 Before the Throne of Peter A Question of Opportunity Celestino’s Denunciation One Eye on Rome, One on Venice Families, Kinship and Careers: What Revolved Around Bruno? Part 3 "A Willing Martyr" Chapter 9 The Choice Bellarmino the Jesuit The Way to Salvation The Procedural Scheme Chapter 10 The Mysteries of the Capuchin Outside the Protected Enclosure Celestino as Bruno? Chapter 11 The Summer of 1599 Movements behind the Scenes Becoming a Bishop Life in Prison Chapter 12 "Perhaps it is with greater fear that you pronounce the sentence against me…" Follow the Money! The Capuchin’s Shoes Giordano and Celestino Squaring the Circle Substitutions Epilogue. On the Ground of Truth

Germano Maifreda is Professor of Economic History at the Università degli Studi di Milano.