Argument and Emotion in Italian Diplomacy in the Early Fifteenth Century: the Case of Rinaldo degli Albizzi (Florence, 1399-1430)

An "emotional turn" is taking place in medieval studies on politics. However, diplomatic practice has been investigated very little to date from this point of view, even though it represents a very promising field, thanks to the liveliness and abundance of primary sources. Dealing with the extraordinary documentary ensemble represented by Rinaldo degli Albizzi’s Commissioni, this paper focuses on the political languages and the linguistic resources used in framing diplomatic strategies and political choices in early fifteenth century Florence, charting its way through very different fields – diplomacy, the social history of cultural change, and emotions.