Gene Brucker's book, Giovanni and Lusanna, illustrates who held the power in Renaissance Florence. The book follows Giovanni and Lusanna through the trial that tried to prove the validity of their marriage. This trial clearly demonstrates who the powerful were and how they abused their power. This paper will prove that in Renaissance Florence power was held exclusively by those of high status, the wealthy and the male gender.
In Florence at the time of the Renaissance higher class citizens held power over the lower class. Giovanni's procurators tried to argue that due to his high social rank he would have never married a lowly widow like Lusanna (26). The witnesses that Giovanni's procurators called all testified that due to the differences of social status between Giovanni and Lusanna a marriage of the two would be unacceptable and therefore would have never taken place (101). Due to Giovanni's high social status, he had connections to the powerful Medici to which he had connections; this helped him to win the appeal (111). The procurators tried to persuade the court that Giovanni and Lusanna's differences of social status would prevent a marriage, in the first hearing they were unsuccessful, but when they appealed they were able to convince the court (118). Lusanna had very little chance in winning the trial since she was of a lesser class than Giovanni. Status was not the only factor in who had power; wealth was another factor.
Wealth was interrelated to status; the wealth of a family increased the family's status (106). Giovanni was able to bribe witnesses so that they told the story to favor him, like he did with bribed Guiliana Magaldi (74). Giovanni's statements made it apparent that he did have an affair with Lusanna but he did not need to worry about being convicted on the charge of adultery because only the poor were convicted of adultery (80). The Medici offered Giovanni assistance during the appeal.
