Tommaso Crudeli
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Tommaso Baldasarre Crudeli (Poppi, December 21, 1702 - Poppi, March 27, 1745) was a Florentine free thinker who was imprisoned by the Roman Inquisition.[1] He was a poet, lawyer, champion of free thought and is remembered as the first martyr of Universal Freemasonry.
Born to a wealthy family in the Casentino (upper Arno), which is known since 12th century, has a name changed several times from historical events. The eponym is related the story of the expulsion of Count Guidi from the castle of Poppi in 1440. Eventually, turning to Jacopo Crusca, leader of the revolt, he said "Vos quoque crudeles" and got the answer "in crudelitates fides." From this episode the family was appointed as "Crudeli" (meaning "cruels"). The Palazzo Crudeli (15th century) was the most important building after the castle and churches within the walls of Poppi, thanks to the economic strength of the family. The prosperity of the lineage is also understandable as all generations have graduated from the University of Pisa continuously since 1502. Tommaso was the seventh graduating in Utroque jure in Pisa in 1726. His mentor was Bernardo Tanucci (Premier of Naples and Sicily Kingdom) during the preparation of studies and university years.
Tommaso moved to Venice at the family of the Counts Contarini and then he returned to Florence as professor of Italian into English Colony. For his lively intellect and his boldness, Tommaso was co-opted in the English Lodge, first Masonic Lodge in Italy and dependant from Grand Lodge of England, in which he was initiated on May 5, 1735 . He became secretary, but also a scapegoat for a strong conflict between the Vatican and the English Freemasonry, who began in Florence at the end of the long dynasty of the Medici trying to establish the Lorraine, titled dynastically, to change the political destiny of the Grand Duchy. Tommaso suffered a long imprisonment on charges ambiguous and after a full sentence, later commuted to perpetual house arrest, died decubitus for the after-effects of imprisonment, March 27, 1745 in Poppi. He had time to dictate a long report ordered by the Grand Duke on the basis of which the Inquisition Tribunal of Florence was definitely closed, Tommaso alive, in 1744, first in the whole Christian world.
Chronology
- December 21, 1702 – Born at Poppi (Arezzo, Tuscany)
- 1726 – Law degree in Pisa
- 1733 – Fifth Italian adept of the Masonic lodge in Florence (the first in Italy, founded by English agent Philipp von Stosch)
- May 9, 1739 – Arrested in Florence by the Holy Inquisition, imprisoned for 16 months in S. Croce Church
- April 1741 – Released from prison and sentenced to house arrest in Poppi
- March 27, 1745 – Died in Poppi and was buried in a common grave in S. Fedele Abbey
- October 15, 1747 – Literary works were put on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum and burned in Piazza della Signoria in Florence