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Rational Clergy and Irrational Laity: an Eighteenth Century Biography of St Blasius in the Service of the State Promotion

Confronted with the long lasting crisis after the great earthquake of 1667, the Senate of the Republic of Dubrovnik in the middle of the 18th century decided to attract more attention among the Italian magnates (especially at the Papal Court in Rome) in order to receive more help. Therefore they made a bold move by engaging Bernard Zuzzeri, a Jesuit born in Dubrovnik who was well known in Italy, to find an author to write and edit the first biography of St Blasius, Ragusan patron saint. Zuzzeri's choice fell on Alfonso Niccolai, who successfully fulfilled his task in short period, in spite of the lack of material about St Blasius' life and deeds. Niccolai received generous support from Dubrovnik, as Senate covered all the necessary costs for his work and subsequent publishing in Rome. Although there were several prominent historians among Ragusan clergy, who would have been delighted to write a book on St Blasius, the State authorities mistrusted them. The Government was suspicious because they could have used this occasion to warn about the weak position of the local Church in confrontation with the State. Therefore the final outcome served its purpose as designed by the Senate: this biography of St Blasius, by Alfonso Niccolai, offers a praise to the State under the wise guidance of the Senate and the benevolent shield of its patron saint.

Dubrovnik, St Blasius, biography, 18th century, propaganda, Senate, Bernard Zuzzeri, Alfonso Niccolai, Jesuits

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