Giovanni da Serravalle

Giovanni da Serravalle, also known as Giovanni de Bertoldi, was a Sammarinese Franciscan and humanist, who became bishop of Fermo and bishop of Fano. He is now best known for his commentary on Dante.

Life

Giovanni de Bertoldi was ordained a priest in the Order of Friars Minor.
In 1385 he was lector at the studium of St. Croce. From 1387 to 1390 he taught moral philosophy at the University of Pavia. He taught arts at the University of Perugia for a year from 1400. He was appointed bishop of Fermo by Pope Gregory XII, around 1410. On 15 Dec 1417, he was appointed during the papacy of Pope Martin V as Bishop of Fano. He served as Bishop of Fano until he died there on 15 Feb 1445.
While bishop, he was the Principal Co-Consecrator Jean Heysterbach, Auxiliary Bishop of Augsburg.

Works

During the Council of Constance he translated the Divine Comedy into Latin. He did this largely for the benefit of Nicholas Bubwith and Robert Hallam, English bishops attending the council; he was encouraged by Amedeo Saluzzo attending the council, who was a cardinal of the Avignon obedience. Serraville was also a source for stories concerning the young Dante's visits to Paris and Oxford. He lectured at Constance on Dante too, producing later a written commentary. It was strongly influenced by Benvenuto da Imola and Stefano Talice da Ricaldone; and Serravalle revised Benvenuto's glosses, to support the council's reforming programme.