THE COLLURAFI CONNECTION

I need to add some photos and edit the spacing but I am having a difficult time doing so... I will polish this essay as soon as my computer or Blogger will let me!

  In honor of my,  4th on the Luca ancestral line and 5th on the Calabrese line, great grandmother Francesca Colloraffi

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                                                               The Collurafi Connection

 Antonio Collurafi, "Celebre letterato e filosofo"

My mother Fortunata De Luca died in 2002.  Soon after her death I decided to honor her memory by researching her genealogical roots.  I started to look at genealogies posted on the web in order to get ideas for my research.  I found a site where a Janice Colloraffi had posted her genealogy and to my surprise I discovered that Jan’s ancestors came from a town in Sicily called Librizzi.  Librizzi the town where I and my ancestors were born! I stayed up all night to read the whole genealogy and quickly I discovered that I was familiar with most of the surnames mentioned in Jan’s genealogy. 

For a whole month I thought about this stranger who had a connection to the town of Librizzi and finally I decided to email her  To my surprise Jan answered me right away and was most gracious about sharing her family information with me and in addition she guided me on how to gather information for my genealogy.  I know that historically Librizzi has had many “illustrious sons” such as my ancestor Don Andrea Muscarà and an Antonio Collurafi.  Jan never mentioned this famous Antonio and so one day I asked her if she was aware of her illustrious ancestor and gave her a little information about him. With the information that I gave her Jan proceeded to research the story of AC (the initials became our loving name for Antonio Collurafi) at the same time I continued to research my genealogy. Slowly a wonderful story unfolded for me and Jan.     

Antonio Collurafi, historical background                                  

Antonio Collura, son of Sebastiano, was born in 1585 in Librizzi and died in Palermo on May 27, 1655. The surname Collura was later changed to Collurafi.  Antonio was born in a poor but honest family who did not have sufficient economic resources to educate him.  The young lad went to work as a domestic for a priest in Librizzi, a priest who was very charitable and of great character. One day Antonio told the priest that he wanted to learn to read and write and eventually to become a sacristan.  The priest encouraged him and personally taught Antonio to read and write.  Impressed with Antonio’s intelligence and a love for learning the priest decided to sacrifice his own comfort and used his resources to send the intelligent young man to a public school. Once again impressed by Antonio’s educational progress the priest decided to send the young man to Theology School and to this end he left Antonio a sizable inheritance. After the Priest’s death Antonio pursued his studies at a Seminary in the nearby town of Patti where he was ordained and also he obtained his degrees in Theology and Philosophy. Antonio’s real interest was the study of literature and philosophy and in order to better study and understand these subjects he studied Latin, Greek, French, and Spanish   Soon after obtaining his degrees Antonio went to Messina and from there he made his way to Venice where he cultivated the friendships of scholars. These friends introduced Antonio to Venetian patricians who hired him as a tutor for their children. His erudition and eloquence became so legendary that he was received by the Doge families and became the instructor for the Doge children and for the Senators’ children as well.  By public decree the Senate assigned Antonio a professorship at the school of the Senato Veneto.

Antonio wrote a textbook in order to better teach his students.  He wrote the textbook in Latin and called it “Perspicuam totius dicendi artis in tres compendiarios libros distinctam explicationem, in qua quidquid ad perfectum spectat Oratorem, ex summis probisque Rhetoribus decerptum, singulari ordine, mira brevitate, et facili methodo continetur”.  The book was printed in Venice in 1619, the publisher was il Sarzino.  This first book written by Antonio, which included excerpts from Greek and Latin literary sources, was praised in the newspapers of those times. Many of his students became famous on their own merits as well as on the great instruction that they received from Antonio.  Several became writers and scholars and even dedicated their work to him including the illustrious writers Giovan Francesco Lauritano (who dedicated his book Scherzi Geniali to Antonio), Pietro Michele, Ferdinando Pallavicino, the brothers Donato,  Vittore Contarini, Alvise da Mosto. Recognizing Antonio’s talents the Senato Veneto made him a noble and inscribed his name in the White Book of San Marco, thus he became a Knight of San Marco. The reputation of this worthy Librizzese , spread all over Europe.  The Emperor Ferdinando III from Vienna invited Antonio to his Court but Antonio refused the honor because he did not want to appear ungrateful to the Venetians who esteemed him so much.

In order to thank the Emperor Ferdinando for his gracious offer Antonio wrote a panegerico to praise him.  It was published in Venice in 1637, the title was “L’Aquila coronata, ovvero la felicità sospirata dall’Universo; alla Maestà sempre augusta di Cesare il grande Ferdinando III. Imperatore”.  In turn Emperor Ferdinando III made Antonio a Conte Palatino, he also sent Antonio his portrait adorned with diamonds.  Not to be upstaged by the Venetian Senate and Emperor Ferdinando III, the King of Spain Antonio Filippo IV (III of Sicily) decided to bring back to Sicily Antonio Collurafi and made him Canonico della Palatina Cappella of Palermo, a huge honor in those times.  King Filippo IV also made Antonio the Royal Chronographer of Spain, and Cantor of the Chapel of S.Pietro located in the Palazzo Regio of Palermo (Royal Palace).  Antonio Collurafi died in Palermo and as a last honor accorded him he was buried in the Tempio Regio (Royal Temple).

In his last work “Il racquisto di Porto Longone e di Piombino.......”,  Palermo, 1641, Antonio Collurafi identified himself as D.D. Antonino Collurafi, Cavalier di San Marco, Conte del Sagro Imperio, Historiografo di Sua Maestà, e Ciantro della Cappella Reale di San Pietro del Palazzo di Palermo.

The books mentioned which were published in 1619 and in 1637 were followed by other books.  The following are some of the titles:

“L’effigie divina, ovvero S. Domenico di Suriano”, Venezia presso Giacomo Balione 1630 et 1638, e presso Giacomo Sarzina 1638

“Lettere parte prima, e seconda.”, 1627, 1628,  1629

“L’amicitia incomparabile de gli illustrissimi Nicolo’ Barbarigo, e Marco Trivisano, Panegirigo.”

“La Piacenza dell’Illustrissimo Signor Aluise Donato, Panegirigo.”

“I trionfi della virtù nella Coronazione del Ser. Francesco Prizzo Principe di Venezia.”

“I disinganni politici.  Risposta ai felici progressi delle armi del re Cristianissimo nelle provincie di Spagna, Fiandra, Borgogna, el Alsatia”. Palermo, 1641.  Also translated into Spanish.

“L’occhio sopra lo scettro, ovvero la provvidenza regia delineata nella idea della Maestà del Re nostro signore Filippo IV , il Grande”.  Madrid, 1643.  In Italian and also in Spanish. 

Two of the most important works by Antonio Collurafi are: 

a.   “L’Idea Del Gentilhuomo Di Republica Nel Governo Politico, Ethico ed Economico: overo Il Nobile Veneto”,  del Cavalier Collurafi, published in 1823 and 1833. 

b.   “La Tumultazione della Plebe in Palermo”, del Conte Collurafi, published in 1651.

    “Il Nobile Veneto” is divided into two parts and gives advice on how to properly educate the children of the Venetian aristocracy who will become the future leaders of Venice.  Antonio was his students’ mentor as well as the ideologist for the future and as such he delineated every aspect of their life.  I found interesting Antonio’s vision for a proper wife for these future leaders who in turn would become the mothers of other future leaders.  According to Antonio the good wife for an aristocrat is one who possesses the qualities of chastity, faithfulness, modesty, obedience, ….. 

To be posted

                                                                          

 Book cover of  “Il Nobile Veneto 

“La Tumultazione della Plebe in Palermo” details the events of a major revolt that occurred in Palermo in May of 1647.  At this time Sicily, which was controlled by Spain, suffered great famines due to the lack of the normally abundant harvests.  The bread prices soared and food riots broke out in Palermo.  The Spanish Viceroy suppressed the rebellion using extreme force resulting in a vile bloodbath.  In “La Tumultazione…” Antonio gives an account of the events leading up to the revolt and details all that happened during the revolt of Palermo.  The book became famous and even today it is used as a textbook to study that historical period. In order to commemorate the 4th centennial anniversary of the Antonio’s birth the town of Librizzi in 1985 promoted the reprinting of   “La Tumultazione…”.  The work was prefaced with an essay written by another illustrious son of Librizzi, the Commendadore Tindaro Gatani. 

But back to the story of Maria and Jan whose roots go back to the early history of the town of Librizzi.  Soon after our “internet meeting” we became friends and made plans to meet at the airport in Detroit while I and my husband were waiting for a flight home to Virginia.  Before we met Jan was able to find and purchase an original copy of “Il Nobile Veneto”!  When the book arrived she reverently opened the book to a certain page and miracles of miracles the page contained a poem by one of my ancestors il Dott. Francesco Muscarà!  The poem lauds Antonio Collurafi as well as the town of Librizzi!  The poem begins with the verse “Questa, ch’è un picciol Mondo eccelsa , e prima Città…..”  Yes indeed, we do live in a small world, not only geographically but also in the memory of centuries.  Jan brought the book to the airport and as I touched the tangent gift from our ancestors, in a cosmic unforgettable moment, the memory of our ancestors merged with their present descendants. A new eternal moment was created just as Francesco said in his poem "perchè in eterno, per i secoli futuri vivrà" The date of our meeting was September 11, 2002.

                                                                   

                                                      

                  Maria Muscarà and Jan Colloraffi September 11, 2002

 Poem by il dottor Francesco Muscarà found in the book “Il Nobile Veneto”

 Photo of the copy of the original page to be posted

Del Signor
Francesco Muscarà


Questa, ch'è un picciol Mondo eccelsa, e prima
Città, d'Illustri Heroi famosa altrice,
Sposa del gran Nettuno, e vera autrice,
Di Sante leggi, e d'ogni vitio lima;


Qual'erta pianta, inalza la sua cima
Da la risorta Libera radice
Frà l'onde d'Adria; e come genitrice
Di gloria, splende in ogni stranio clima.


Non sia giamai, che fosca nube oscuri
Il chiaro lume, o tempo, che prescriva
La gloria dè suoi prischi Semidei;


Perche in eterno à i secoli futuri
Viurà per la tua penna illustre, e viva,
Dando à te fama, e nobil grido à Lei.


  The above poem written to honor Antonio Collurafi and the town of Librizzi was translated into modern Italian by my cousin Salvatore Taranto, a Muscarà descendant. 

  Del Signor Francesco Muscarà

 Questa cittadina, che è un piccolo mondo,

 è splendida e primeggia

 è nutrice famosa di illustri eroi,

 sposa del grande Nettuno

 e vera autrice di sante leggi,

 è castigatrice di ogni vizio.

 Come la pianta alta, innalza la sua cima 
dalle libere radici che risorgono

fra le onde d'Adria,

e come madre della gloria
risplende in ogni clima straniero.

Oh tempo, non avvenga giammai

che una nera nube

oscuri il chiaro lume

e cancelli la gloria dei suoi antichi semidei;

perchè in eterno, per i secoli futuri

 vivrà grazie alla tua illustre penna 
perche, viva, darà te fama 
e a lei una novile voce.

                                                   Librizzi

                                                   Photo by Carmelo Rifici 
                                                   A Collurafi descendant

 

  But our story does not end with our meeting.  Soon after that September day I made another discovery, I too am descended from a Librizzi Collurafi!  My 4th great grandparents were Mastro Filippo Luca (born in 1775 in Montagnareale) and Francesca Collorafi (born in 1779).  Their son Mastro Rosario Luca continued my mother’s paternal ancestral line; and the other son, Mastro Carmelo Luca, was the father of Francesca Luca who married Mastro Angelo Calabrese.  Angelo and Francesca were direct ancestors of my mother’s maternal Calabrese line. "Questa, ch’è un picciol Mondo eccelsa, e prima Città"  Librizzi, prima Città, the font of my ancestral roots and the font of my dear friend Janice Collorafi’s roots.  Just as the two Librizzesi of four centuries ago were friends their descendants are new friends in a new century and in a new country. 

 

                               The name Collura or Collurà:     

                                                 Coat of Arms

Today there are many variations of the original surname Collura such as Collorafi, Colloraffi, Collurafi, Colluraffi, etc. The suffix fi comes from the Latin meaning “son of”.

According to books which list the Famiglie Nobile di Sicilia, Collura is a surname of a very noble and ancient family from Messina.  Some of the illustrious Collura men listed are:  Bonafede Collura senatore of Massina 1552; Federico Collura, his son, stratigoto `295 and later he was a senatore; Salvo Collura who distinguished himself under the reign of King Alfonso in the acquisition of the Kingdom of Napoli; and the count Antonio Collurafi from Librizzi.

The Collura Coat of Arms is blue, with two coluri (colure in English) of the armillary sphere loaded by two gold stars one placed at the top and the other at the bottom; at the top there is a gold band which includes a two headed crowned eagle with black wings. 

The English word colure is a word that deals with Astronomy.  Armillary sphere is an old astronomical device.  The word colure is derived from the Greek ‘kolos’ (docked) and ‘oura’ (tail), in ordinary latitudes a part of the tail is always beneath the horizon.  The definition in the dictionary is  “Either of two circles of the celestial spheres intersecting at the poles, one passing through the equinoctial points, and the other at right angles to it.”  The Collura Coat of Arms depicts the meaning of the word “colure”.

Bibliography:

 1.”Biografia Degli Uomini Illustri Della Sicilia: ornate di loro rispettivi ritratti”.  Compilata di Giuseppe Emmanuele Ortolani e da altri letterati.  1817, 1819

2. L’Idea Del Gentiluomo Di Republica Nel Governo Politico, Ethico, Ed Economico: Overo Il Nobile Veneto.  Del Cavalier Collurafi alla Serenissima Republica di Venetia.

3. “Le Tumultuazioni Della Plebe Di Palermo”, Antonino Collurafi.  Saggio introduttivo di: Tindaro Gatani.

4. “Librizzi” Documenti , uomini e fatti prima e dopo il mille”  Antonino D’Amico, 1996

5.  "Dizionario topografico della Sicilia, tr. ed annotato da G. Marzo"  Vito Maria Amico e Statella.

BUON NATALE, MERRY CHRISTMAS

SNOW STORM IN AND NEAR WASHINGTON, D.C.

These photos are from our current snow storm in the Washington D.C. area. Librizzi doesn't get much snow, just a dusting every few years. I want to share and dedicate these snow photos with my Librizzi family and friends and my American family and friends as well.

Cari amici e familiari librizzesi, queste foto sono per voi. So quanto vi piace una buona nevicata e dedico a voi la bella nevicata in Virginia di ieri. Le foto mostrano la neve vicino la mia casa. 

BUON NATALE A TUTTI E UN FELICISSIMO ANNO NUOVO

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ME AND MY FAMILY TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

Remembrances of Christmases in Librizzi

I remember with great nostalgia the Christmas celebrations in Librizzi. They are of course, the memories of a child who grew up during the Second World War. 

I remember that mom used to prepare traditional cookies and other specialties enjoyed at Christmas time.  The traditional Librizzi sweets were the torrone, ‘panuzzi’, biscotti, pignolata, and ‘crispeddi’(crispelle).  The torrone was a mixture of sugar, honey, orange zest, hazelnuts and almonds.  The panuzzi were made with sweetened dough, shaped into ovals, and studded with toasted hazelnuts.  The panuzzi were prepared for us children and for all of the young cousins.  Traditionally, on Christmas day children visited all of their relatives who gave to them gifts of panuzzi, dried figs and other dried and fresh fruit, nuts, and small gifts.

Panuzzi

Torrone

The biscotti (soft cookies not the biscotti that Americans are familiar with) were made with a sweet dough similar to the one used to make the panuzzi.  The dough was fashioned into intricate shapes such as circles, the letter S, pretzels, crescents, spirals, etc.  Before baking the cookies they were decorated with jimmies, colored candies, nonpareils, ….

The preparation for the ‘crispeddi’ was a little complicated.  The procedure began with a mixture of flour, yeast, salt and hot water, mixed for a long time with one’s hands until it became   soft, almost a liquid dough.  The mixture would then be allowed to rise for a long time, at least three hours.  When the crispeddi maker (mother) determined that the dough was ready, the next phase began.  Oil was placed in a deep fryer and allowed to boil to the proper temperatures, then spoonfuls of dough was dropped in the oil and cooked until it obtained a golden color.  Some of the crispeddi were prepared plain and after they cooled down, they were topped with honey and or sugar. Other crispeddi were filled with small pieces of anchovies before they were dropped in the hot oil. My favorite crispeddi were the ones covered with honey and sugar.

Food photos by Carmelo Rifici

The special foods were only a small part of the Christmas celebrations because for the Librizzesi Christmas was primarily a religious holiday.  Many days before Christmas Zampognari, shepherds, arrived in town and until Christmas day, in the wee hours of the morning, they would walk the streets of Librizzi to wake up people with the sounds of their cornamusa, bagpipes.  Once arisen people went to church even before sunrise, to recite the Novena as part of the religious preparations for the arrival the Baby Jesus.

The Christmas Eve Mass was a special event.  The church was decorated with oranges, mandarins, lemons, and the leaves and branches of the trees that bore these fruit (remember this is Sicily where citrus fruit grows in abundandce).  I still remember the delicious fragrances of those delightful Christmas vigils in church.  The Presepe, or Nativity Scene, was the most important decoration in the church, children were allowed to go up to the  Presepe to admire the statue of the Baby Jesus.  Many Librizzesi erected Presepi in their own homes, they would recreate imaginary towns with waterfalls, snow, stars, shepherds,  ….  I remember them as true artistic creations.

A few people put up Christmas trees and these were of interest and curiosity to most people, because Christmas trees were unusual and strange in those times.  The people who put up the trees had visited or lived in the United States and then returned to Librizzi.

I keep up some of the Christmas customs of my childhood.  Each year I put up a large Presepe, I prepare the cookies, panuzzi, and torrone.  And of course, I also put up a Christmas tree, prepare American style cookies and other popular goodies, I have a large collection of Santa Clauses, and another large collection of Angels.  I try to remember the true reason for the celebration of Christmas, even though we live in a materialistic and secular world where Christmas seems to be an excuse to get as many gifts as possible.  It seems to me that the values of our ancestors should not be forgotten or belittled.  May there always be:

“PEACE ON EARTH AND GOOD WILL TO MEN”.

Small section of my Presepe

Della Robbia

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

RECIPES:

1.    Pignolata (another name for this dessert is Strufoli).

·         3 large eggs

·         1 tablespoon butter, softened

·         1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar

·         2 cups all-purpose flour

·         1/2 teaspoon baking powder

·         1 cup honey

·         Vegetable oil for deep-frying

·         Colored sprinkles  

   Whisk together eggs, butter, and the 1 teaspoon of sugar, whisk until frothy.  Stir in the baking powder and the flour. When well combined, with your hands work the mixture into a soft dough.

When the dough is ready, divide it into 4 pieces. Lightly flour a work surface, and roll each of the four pieces into a rope about the width of an index finger. Cut the ropes into 1" pieces.    
In a deep fryer, heat oil to 375° Place a few pieces of dough at a time in the hot oil, fry the strufoli until they are golden brown. They will puff up as they fry. 
Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper towel to drain. Let excess oil drip back into fryer before putting strufoli on paper towels.  
Combine honey and 1/2 cup sugar in a large saucepan over low heat.  Stir constantly until sugar dissolves into the honey.  Turn heat to very low, just enough to keep warm.  Add the drained strufoli, a few at a time, and turn them with a wooden spoon to coat on all sides.
Transfer strufoli to a large platter and mound them into a pyramid. Sprinkle with the colored sprinkles, (pine nuts may also be added) and let stand for 1 to 2 hours. They will adhere to each other. Break off pieces to eat.  

2.    Aunt Grazia hazelnut ‘cookies’:

Roast and then finely chop about two pounds of filbert nuts. Add a cup of sugar and mix. Add about 90 grams of Perugina Cacao (if using regular cacao, add some vanilla). Add about half a cup, or less, of strong coffee and mix. Take about a spoonful of the mixture and roll into small ball, then coat with sugar. Eat and enjoy. The ‘cookies’ can be kept for about a week in a tightly sealed container.

3.    Torrone:

Two and a half cups granulated sugar

Two and a half cups almonds, toasted and slightly chopped

Two and a half cups hazelnuts toasted and slightly chopped

One quarter cup honey

Dissolve the sugar with the honey in saucepan and add the almonds and hazelnuts.  Cook for 5-10 minutes over slow heat to allow the flavors to blend.  Pour on a slab of oiled marble (I use a well oiled cookie pan), spread it out with a spatula and cut into short lengths. When the nougat (torrone) is cold, place it in an air tight container. Place wax paper between single layers of torrone pieces.  The torrone will keep for a few weeks, provided you do not eat it within hours of making it!

 My favorite childhood Christmas Carol:

Tu scendi dalle stelle

Tu scendi dalle stelle
O Re del Cielo

E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo
E vieni in una grotta
Al freddo al gelo.

O Bambino mio Divino
Io ti vedo qui a tremar,
O Dio Beato!
Ah, quanto ti costò
L'avermi amato.
Ah, quanto ti costò
L'avermi amato.

A te che sei del mondo,
Il creatore,
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.
Mancano panni e fuoco,
O mio Signore.

Caro eletto pargoletto,
Quanto questa povertà
Più mi innamora,
Giacchè ti fece amor
Povero ancora.
Giacchè ti fece amor
Povero ancora


My favorite Christmas song in English:

O COME O COME EMMANUEL

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.  

 

Message for Carol Muscarà Lanning

CAROL MUSCARA LANNING

Hello. You have added your name to my blog. Could you please tell me if you are connected to the Librizzi Muscara and how?
There are two lines of Muscarà in Librizzi, they are NOT related.
Happy Holidays to you and yours.

TROTULA FROM SALERNO

TROTULA FROM SALERNO

Recently I read a historical fiction titled “Mistress of the Art of Death” by Ariana Franklin. It is a medieval mystery featuring Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar or as one of the characters in the book says “Dr. Trotula, if you prefer, which is a title conferred on women professors in the school”. The school that conferred Adelia the title of Dr. Trotula is the Scuola Medica Salernitana.

Intrigued by the idea of a woman doctor practicing medicine in the 11th century, I decided to do a little research. I am going to share the information gleaned from my research, hopefully you will find it interesting.

Salerno, a city in the region of Campania in Southern Italy has its origins in the IV century B.C., when it was an Etruscan center. Later it became a Samnite territory, where in 197 B.C. the Romans founded the Colony of Salemum (later called Salerno). After the Roman period Salerno passed from one ruling entity to another acquiring a multicultural identity.

Sometime in the IX Century the Scuola Medica Salernitana was founded in Salerno. According to traditional lore the Scuola was founded by four teachers, an Arab, a Jew, a Latino, and a Greek. They taught in their respective languages. The School was the first University of Medicine in the Western World, and throughout the Middle Ages the University and the many local hospitals enjoyed an enormously prestigious reputation. It was at this center of learning where future doctors studied and where renowned doctors treated their patients. The city of Salerno earned the title of Hippocratica Civitas, a title still used today as part of the city’s Coat of Arms.

In 1076 Salerno became the Norman Capital (think Crusades) but in 1127 the Norman Capital was moved to Palermo. Salerno however remained one of the more important cities in the Kingdom of Sicily. The Kingdom of Sicily was founded by Roger II in 1130 and lasted until 1861. The Kingdom consisted of the Island of Sicily and all of the southern part of the mainland up to the Vatican States, south of Rome. Salerno began to lose its importance under the French and Spanish rulers.

In 1231 Frederick II (“stupor mundi”) as king of Sicily, officially recognized the University of Salerno and forbade the practice of medicine and the teaching of medicine within his dominion without a Royal License. The License was conferred after exams administered by the King’s Court and by the Masters of the University of Salerno. Later The Edict of Salerno, instituted by Frederick II, legally mandated separation of the profession of physician and that of apothecary.

Granted that the Scuola Medica Salernitana holds the distinction of being the first Medical School in the Western world, and that it certainly was the most prestigious center of education during the 10th through the 13th century, but for me the most interesting fact about the Scuola is that in the Middle Ages WOMEN were trained as PHYSICIANS and were also PROFESSORS of medicine at this renown university.These women doctors are historically known as “mulieres Salernitanae”. Of these ‘mulieres’ Trotula was the first woman doctor, considered the world’s first gynecologist, and the most famous.

It is believed that Trotula De Ruggiero was born in the 11th Century in Salerno where she lived, became a doctor, practiced medicine, and trained other doctors. Her husband was the doctor Giovanni Plateario, they had two sons whose names were Giovanni and Matteo, also doctors. Trotula, known in her own day as ‘magistra mulier sapiens’, was not only a smart and strong woman but, reportedly, she was also a beautiful and fascinating woman of her times! Supposedly when she died in 1097, there was a funeral procession three kilometers long. Trotula was such a legendary and idealized figure of the Middle Ages that in later centuries men refused to believe that she actually existed.

Trotula was the author of many medical works, one of which was “Passionibus Mulierum Curandorum (The Diseases of Women), also known as Trotula Major. The book, consisting of 63 chapters, deals with women health issues and diseases, and their treatments. Another of her works was “De Aegritudinum Curatione” or “De Ornatu Mulierum”, also known as Trotula Minor. Trotula’s literary work was used to train physicians for many centuries.

One of Trotula’s opinions was that both men and women could be responsible for infertility, a courageous stance for her times! She also believed that women should not suffer unrelenting pain during childbirth and advocated the use of opiates to dull the labor pains. Of course this also contradicted the opinion of those times that women should suffer pain of childbirth to atone for the sins of Eve. Trotula was an early advocate of balanced diet, regular exercise, cleanliness, and a low stress lifestyle.

Trotula’s fame went beyond Salerno and Italy, as seen in the accounts of well known personages including Geoffrey Chaucer. In the famous “Canterbury Tales” Chaucer refers to Trotula as “DAME TROT”! (According to the sources read by me, Dame Trot is found in the “Wife of Bath Tale”. It has been many years since I read the Tales, as soon as possible I will be re-reading the Bath Tale and hopefully I will find Trot).

The following quote is from tan article written by Jackie Rosenhek on the website
http://www.doctorsreview.com/node/57

“But nearly a millennia before these fine society ladies were trading med-school war stories over tea and crumpets, one amazing woman was blazing a trail toward equality. A woman who -- if not for the sharp mind and winsome ways which earned her the respect of her patients and male colleagues alike -- would almost certainly have been condemned as a witch. Trotula was her name and illuminating the Dark Ages was her game.”


Around 1840 in honor of Trotula a bronze medal was coined in Naples. It can be found in the Museo Provinciale di Salerno.