The Theory of Historiography in the De historica facultate by Francesco Robortello

Abstract

The paper seeks to answer the question how historiography, a very popular genre in the Renaissance, its goals and methods, were understood by the author of the first in the sixteenth century work on that topic. Francesco Robortello, a prominent Hellenist, is in the treatise under discussion faithful to his Greek interests. Contrary to the pattern assumed by the epoch, he gives the victor's palm in the field of history writing to Thucidydes, and in his work he most often refers to the thought of Aristotle and Lucian. He imitates the latter when defining the goal of historiography. Similarly as Lucian, in the treatise devoted to the same theme, Robortello shows errors which historians should avoid when writing their works. The Italian humanist refers to Cicero and Quintilian, nevertheless his master was Lucian whose leading principle was faithfulness to historical truth. And this principle is repeated many times as the main task of historiography in the De historica facultate. It seems that this is not only a literary topos, but the author's genuine belief. At the same time, Robortello is closer and closer to modern historiography.