Marko Marulić

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Marko Marulić
Spalato, Republic of Venice
(modern-day Split, Croatia)
Died(1524-01-05)5 January 1524 (aged 73)
Spalato, Republic of Venice
(modern-day Croatia)
OccupationPoet, humanist
LanguageLatin, Croatian
PeriodRenaissance
Notable worksJudita
Davidiad

Marko Marulić Splićanin (Croatian pronunciation:

epic poem Judita "is the first long poem in Croatian", and "gives Marulić a position in his own literature comparable to Dante in Italian literature."[6] Furthermore, Marulić's Latin poetry is of such high quality that his contemporaries dubbed him "The Christian Virgil."[7]

Marulić has been called the "crown of the Croatian medieval age", the "father of the Croatian Renaissance",[8] and "The Father of Croatian literature."[1][3][9]

According to Marulić scholar

Erasmus of Rotterdam. Marulić also composed epic works of Christian poetry, humanist elegies, and even satirical and erotic epigrams.[10]

According to Franz Posset, Marulić aspired to the Renaissance humanist ideal of the uomo universale ("universal man"). To this end, he was interested in painting and drawing, local and national history, languages, and poetry. His overall goal always remained renovatio Christiana ("The Renewal of Christianity") as represented by the future

Roman Catholic priests and members of the Hierarchy in often violent language throughout his writings.[11]

However, even though Marulić and

Roman Catholicism and loyal to the Holy See, while Martin Luther and his adherents did not.[12]

At the same time, though, Marulić's writings were admired both by many of the greatest and most influential Catholic saints of the

Sola Scriptura, by generations of believers in Protestantism.[14]

Marulić's writings in

literary translation of Thomas à Kempis' The Imitation of Christ
in 1989, and the Glasgow Codex in 1995, continue to resurface and to belatedly see publication for the first time.

More recently,

Solin, Croatia.[17]

Biography

Marulić was born on 18 August 1450 into the

Italian nobility.[20]

Very little is known about his life, and the few facts that remain are often unreliable. It is certain that he attended a school in Split run by the Italian Renaissance humanist scholar Tideo Acciarini (1430–1490). Marulić's education is known also to have included instruction in the Greek language by Hieronymus Genesius Picentinus. Although his library later contained many textbooks on the language, Marulić read and spoke it imperfectly and only rarely used Greek words.[21]

After completing school, Marulić is believed to have studied law at

buried her alive, a grieving Marulić lived for about two years as a postulant at a monastery on the island of Šolta, in the Adriatic Sea.[22] Returning to Split, Marulić practiced law, serving as a judge
, examiner of notarial entries and executor of wills. Owing to his work, he became the most distinguished member of Split's humanist circle.

Marulić's Evangelistarium ("Evangelistary"), a moral and theological compendium of Old and New Testament texts, was first published in 1487. The book was later republished by

Italian Jewish publisher Gershom Soncino at Pisa and a copy of that edition was purchased by the German humanist scholar and Hebraist Johann Reuchlin in 1492.[23] In 1519, another edition of the "Evangelistary" was published by Sebastian Münster.[24]

Between 1496 and 1499, Marulić worked on a compendium of

Eusebius of Caesarea, John Cassian, the lives of the saints, and other Ecclesiastical writers.[26]

The book was first published in Latin at Venice in 1507 and became well known in the

Germanosphere when Adam Petri reprinted it at Basel in 1513. The compendium was widely and repeatedly reprinted and translated into many vernacular languages, which established Marulić's fame throughout Europe.[27]

Occasionally Marulić visited Venice (to trade) and Rome (to celebrate the year 1500).

Marulić was also a great admirer of the late Medieval religious movement known as Devotio Moderna. By 1509, Marulić had finished translating Thomas à Kempis' The Imitation of Christ, a highly important literary and devotional work of the movement, from Medieval Latin into Croatian. His translation, however, remained unpublished until 1989.[28]

In 1510, Marulić wrote The Deeds of the Kings of Dalmatia and Croatia and Quinquaginta parabole ("Fifty Parables"). He finished writing The Life of St. Jerome in 1513.[29] The following year, he completed Carmen de doctrina Domini nostri Iesu Christi pendentis in cruce ("Poem about the Teaching of Our Lord Jesus Christ Hanging on the Cross"), which has usually been published as part of De institutione bene vivendi and which remains his most famous work of Christian poetry in Latin. [30]

In 1517, Marulić finished his epic poem the Davidiad, which was considered lost for more than 400 years, only rediscovered in 1952, and published for the first time in 1954.[31] He wrote De humilitate et gloria Christi ("On the Humility and Glory of Christ") and An Account of Illustrious Men of the Old Testament the following year.[32]

His final works were De ultimo Christi judicio ("On the Last Judgment of Christ") and Judita, Marulić's Christian work of epic poetry retelling the Book of Judith in the Croatian language, which he produced between 1520 and 1522. The latter earned him the title "Father of Croatian literature."[33]

Marko Marulić died in Split on 5 January 1524 and was buried in the Church of St. Francis in the historic city center.[34]

Legacy

Marulić's Liber de laudibus Herculis ("A Book in Praise of Hercules"), in which he, "lets the followers of Hercules, the titan of the pagans, compete with the titan of the Christians, that is, Jesus Christ, who, of course, is ultimately the victor", was posthumously published in 1524. It is also known under the title Dialogus de Hercule a Christicolis superato ("The Dialogue about Hercules, Who was Surpassed by Those Who Worship Christ").[35]

For this reason, Marulić must now be considered one of the most dynamic and most influential theological and devotional writers of the Renaissance era.[36]

During 16th and 17th century, Marulić's three most popular and most widely read works were De institutione bene vivendi per exempla sanctorum ("Instruction on How to Lead a Virtuous Life Based on the Examples of Saints"), Evangelistarium ("Evangelistary"), and Quinquaginta parabole ("Fifty Parables"). By 1680, these three books had been republished more than eighty times not only in the original Latin, but also after translation into many European

Flemish, and even Icelandic.[37]

Latin-language copy of Marulić's Evangelistiarium, a book that was read in English and recommended to the King by Sir Thomas More. Extensive margin notes in the King's own hand prove that Marulić's book was a major source used by the King in the writing of his polemic against Lutheranism; Defence of the Seven Sacraments.[38]

De institutione bene vivendi per exempla sanctorum ("Instruction on How to Lead a Virtuous Life Based on the Examples of Saints"), a voluminous book of

Christian morality based on examples from the Bible and which concludes with the Latin poem Carmen de doctrina Domini nostri Iesu Christi pendentis in cruce ("Poem about the Teaching of Our Lord Jesus Christ Hanging on the Cross"). The book was first published in 1506 in Venice
. The concluding poem, which remains Marulić's most famous work of Latin
Cistercian abbot Henricus Urbanus in 1514.[39]

De Institutione was seen by

Society of Jesus. Writing in 1961, Marulic scholar Ante Kadič announced that recent inquiries about the volume had come up empty and that he believed that the Saint's copy must have been destroyed during the May 1931 arson attack by Spanish Republicans against the Jesuit monastery in Madrid.[40]

Further research, however, will be needed to determine whether excerpts from De institutione were translated into

Society of Jesus as Sanctos no go-sagyô no uchi nukigakkan dai-ichi ("Extracts from the Acts of the Saints") in 1591.[41]

While imprisoned for

John Justus of Landsberg's Alloquia Jesu Christi ad animam fidelem ("An Epistle in the Person of Jesus Christ to the Faithful Soule") during his imprisonment in the Tower, which was posthumously published at Antwerp, in the Spanish Netherlands (1595). St. Philip Howard's translation of Marulić's poem was published instead of a preface to the Antwerp edition[42] and again, with updated English orthography, as part of the March/April 2022 issue of the literary magazine, St. Austin Review.[43]

On October 4, 1998, Pope John Paul II quoted from Marulić's Carmen de doctrina Domini nostri Iesu Christi pendentis in cruce ("Poem about the Teaching of Our Lord Jesus Christ Hanging on the Cross") during an apostolic visit to Solin, Croatia, "One of your poets has written, Felix qui semper vitae bene computat usum ('Happy the one who always puts his life to good use.') It is vital to choose true values, not those which pass, to choose genuine truth, not half-truths and pseudo-truths. Do not trust those who promise you easy solutions. Nothing great can be built without sacrifice."[44]

Writing

The central figure of the humanist circle in Split, Marulić was inspired by the Bible, Antique writers and Christian hagiographies. Main topics of his writings were Christian theological by nature. He was a poet and writer who wrote many poems, discussions on theology and Christian ethics, stories and epic poetry.[8] He wrote in three languages: Renaissance Latin (more than 80% of his surviving opus), Croatian and Italian (three letters and two sonnets are preserved).

Croatian works

Monument in Knin
Bust of Marko Marulić by Ivan Meštrović in Split.

In the works written in Croatian, Marulić achieved a permanent status and position that has remained uncontested. His central Croatian oeuvre, the epic

mother tongue
and described by him as u versi haruacchi slozhena ("arranged in Croatian stanzas"). His other works in Croatian are:

American historian

John Van Antwerp Fine, Jr. emphasizes that Marulić belongs to a group of humanists and clerics placed in the "Croat" camp who, at least at the time they wrote their texts, did not seem to have a Croatian ethnic identity.[46]
It must be noted however, that a critical review of John Van Antwerp's work highlighted subjective conclusions. Neven Budak of the University of Zagreb noted "ideological prejudices", "omission of historical facts" and "preconceived conclusions" due to John Van Antwerp's personal bias regarding former Yugoslavia and its various ethnic groups.[47]

Latin works

Tuscan
-language edition, translated by Silvano Razzi from Latin original.

His European fame rested mainly on his works written in Renaissance Latin which were repeatedly re-published.

He published Psichiologia de ratione animae humanae, which contains the earliest known literary reference to psychology.

In 1517, Marulić completed the

King David in Virgilian Latin with multiple references to Greek and Roman mythology
.

In addition to the small portions that attempt to recall

philologist Miroslav Marcovich also detects "the influence of Ovid, Lucan, and Statius" in the work.[50]

Unfortunately, the Davidiad was considered lost by 1567 and long remained so. After a search lasting nearly two centuries by Croatian

literary scholars at libraries and archives throughout Europe, Marulic's original manuscript (Ms. T) resurfaced at the Turin National University Library in 1922, only to have the news of its existence and the fact that it had never previously been published spread throughout Classical academia by Carlo Dionisotti in 1952.[51]

The

Latinist Veljko Gortan eventually corrected around 50 instances of misread words and published his own critical edition in 1974.[52][55]

A

literary translation of the Davidiad into Croatian hexameters was made by Branimir Glavačić and published facing the Latin original as part of Veljko Gortan's edition in 1974.[56]

Marulić was active in the struggles against the Ottoman Turks who were invading the Croatian lands at that time. To this end, he wrote a Latin Epistola to

Janissaries were invading Christendom.[57]

Glasgow codex

A recently discovered manuscript of Marko Marulić in the University Library of Glasgow throws a new light on his work and persona. It was discovered in 1995 by Darko Novaković and he states that in comparison with Marulić's known carmina minora the poems in the codex introduce three thematic novelties. Unexpectedly vehement, satirical epigrams are featured and the intensity of his satirical impulse is startling: even in such conventional poems as epitaphs. Three poems reveal his love of animals. The greatest revelation are the verses which show Marulić as the author of love poems. This aspect represents the most serious challenge to our traditional picture of the Poet: the last epigram in the collection is a true Priapeum marked with lascivious ambiguity.[58]

Marko Marulić's illustration for Judita, a page from second edition, Zadar 1522.
Order of Danica Hrvatska with face of Marko Marulić is Croatian state decoration awarded for special merits for culture

Visual artist

According to Fisković,[59] Marulić was an accomplished illustrator. In his will he left to his sister a book he illustrated and conceived.[60] The second edition of Judita,[61] prepared by Zadar publisher Jerolim Mirković, dated 30 May 1522, is adorned with nine woodcuts, the last of which is signed "M". It is assumed that the illustrations were created by Marulić himself.

Commemoration

Marulić's portrait was depicted on the obverse of the Croatian 500 kuna banknote, issued in 1993.[62]

Croatian state decoration awarded for special merits for culture, Order of Danica Hrvatska is ornamented with the face of Marko Marulić.[63]

Festival of Croatian Drama in Split is named after Marulić 'Festival Marulićevi dani' (Festival of Marulić days) and gives annual MARUL awards.

Revue Marulić (hr) and journal Colloquia Maruliana[64] are named after him. Marulianum is scientific centre of Split Literary Circle dedicated to researches on Marulić.[65]

By the decree of

Croatian government declared 2024 as the Year of Marko Marulić, in remembrance to 500 years of his death.[68]

Notes

  1. ^ Marko Marulić Splićanin is the form he himself used to sign his works. It means Marko Marulić of Split.
  2. ^ Alternative Latin forms include Marcus de Marulis and Marcus Marulus Dalmata ("the Dalmatian").[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Marulić, Marko". Croatian Encyclopedia (in Croatian). Zagreb: Miroslav Krleža Lexicographic Institute. 2013–2024.
  2. ^ Catholic Advocate of the Evangelical Truth: Marcus Marulus, Franz Posset, preface xxix, pp. 2
  3. ^ a b c Darko Zubrinic, Zagreb (1995) Croatian Humanists, Ecumenists, Latinists, and Encyclopaedists. croatianhistory.net
  4. ^ "psihologija". Hrvatski jezični portal (in Croatian). Retrieved 3 June 2013.
  5. ISBN 9780226855882
    .
  6. ^ Gutsche (1975), p. 310.
  7. ^ Gutsche (1975), p. 310.
  8. ^ a b c Marulianum Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Center for study of Marko Marulić and his literary activity. – Retrieved on 28 November 2008.
  9. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page 35.
  10. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page ix.
  11. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page 35.
  12. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page 26.
  13. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page x.
  14. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page xii.
  15. ^ Moderna Vremena i Marko Marulić – Retrieved on 28 November 2008.
  16. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page x.
  17. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page xxiv.
  18. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page 33.
  19. ^ European Fame and Forbidden Love of Marko Marulić
  20. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page 33.
  21. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Pages 33–34.
  22. ^ European Fame and Forbidden Love of Marko Marulić
  23. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page 17.
  24. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page 20.
  25. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Pages 8–9.
  26. ^ Ante Kadič, St Francis Xavier and Marko Marulić, "The Slavic and Eastern European Journal", Spring 1961, pp. 12–18.
  27. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Pages 8–9.
  28. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Pages 3–4.
  29. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page xxix.
  30. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page 9.
  31. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page xxx.
  32. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page xxx.
  33. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page xxx.
  34. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page xxx.
  35. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page xxx, 35.
  36. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page 26.
  37. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page x.
  38. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page 18.
  39. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page xii.
  40. ^ Ante Kadič, St Francis Xavier and Marko Marulić, "The Slavic and Eastern European Journal", Spring 1961, pp. 12–18.
  41. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page xxix.
  42. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Pages 38–39.
  43. ^ By Marko Marulić, Translated by St. Phillip Howard, Edited by Brendan D. King, A Dialogue betwixt a Christian and Christ Hanging on the Cross, St. Austin Review, March/April 2022 The Age of Shakespeare, pages 16–18.
  44. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Page 10, 27.
  45. ^ Marko Marulić Archived 15 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine at HRT archives. – Retrieved on 28 November 2008.
  46. ISBN 0-472-02560-0
    . Thus it seems that identity as "Croat", and particularly one with a feeling for such as an ethnic identity, was missing - at least at the time when those men wrote their texts - in all these figures. And they I might add included two figures placed in the "Croat" camp at the beginning of the chapter: Marko Marulić and Šimun Kožić
  47. ISSN 0353-295X
    . Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  48. ^ Marcovich (1973), p. 371.
  49. ^ Gutsche (1975), p. 310.
  50. ^ Marcovich (2006), p. vii.
  51. ^ Ante Kadic, St Francis Xavier and Marko Marulić, "The Slavic and Eastern European Journal", Spring 1961, pp. 12–18.
  52. ^ a b c Marcovich (1973), p. 374.
  53. ^ Marcovich (2006), pp. viii–ix.
  54. ^ Bruere (1959), p. 198.
  55. ^ Marcovich (2006), p. ix.
  56. ^ Marcovich (2006), page ix.
  57. Wipf and Stock Publishers
    . Pages xii-xiii.
  58. ^ "Dva nepoznata Marulićeva rukopisa u Velikoj Britaniji: MS. ADD. A. 25 u oxfordskoj Bodleiani i Hunter 334 u Sveučilišnoj knjižnici u Glasgowu" (PDF). Colloquia Maruliana (in Croatian). 6. April 1997. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  59. ^ C. Fisković: O Marulićevu slikanju, Prilozi povijesti umjetnosti u Dalmaciji, Split 1986–87, str. 393–424.
  60. ^ "Marko Marulić - otac hrvatske književnosti - Iz drugih medija - Magicus.info". 28 December 2008.
  61. ^ "Digitalne zbirke Nacionalne i sveučilišne knjižnice u Zagrebu".
  62. ^ Croatian National Bank. Features of Kuna Banknotes Archived 6 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine: 500 kuna Archived 4 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine. – Retrieved on 30 March 2009.
  63. ^ "Pravilnik Reda Danice hrvatske". Narodne novine (in Croatian) (108). 2000. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  64. ^ "Colloquia Maruliana" (in Croatian). Split Literary Circle. Retrieved 6 January 2024. Referenced in Hrčak, portal of scientific journals of Croatia
  65. ^ "Marulianum" (in Croatian). Split Literary Circle. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  66. ^ "Dan hrvatske knjige u spomen na Marka Marulića: Pogledajte virtualnu izložbu NSK o ocu hrvatske književnosti". narod.hr (in Croatian). 22 April 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  67. ^ "2021. godina proglašena Godinom čitanja u Hrvatskoj" (in Croatian). Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  68. ^ "Vlada Republike Hrvatske 2024. godinu proglasila "Godinom Marka Marulića"" (in Croatian). Ministry of Culture and Media of the Republic of Croatia. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.

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