Savonarola, Fra Girolamo. Italian preacher. Born in Ferrara in 1452. Savonarola acquired great political influence in Florence, where he denounced abuses of all kinds. He was twice sent as envoy to Charles VIII of France, and after the expulsion of Piero de' Medici, was real ruler of the state; but, having been prohibited preaching and excommunicated by Alexander VI, Savonarola was attacked in his priory of San Marco, with his friends, and burnt after being tortured in 1498.

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