Pietro della Vigna

Petrus de Vinea (false partly de Vineis, and Pier delle Vigne, * before 1200 in Capua, † April 1249 in San Miniato) was prothonotary and Chancellor of the Holy Roman Emperor and King of Sicily, Frederick II from the House of Hohenstaufen.

Life and work

Petrus de Vinea went through as a civil servant the career of imperial administration. After studying at the prestigious University of Bologna in 1220, he became notary of Frederick II, he is attested as a judge on Großhofgericht since 1224. 1230-1231 he was the head of the Imperial Commission, which drafted the Constitutions of Melfi, the first state law book in Europe since ancient times.

He obtained the following important both as a lawyer and Latin stylist as well as head of administration ( prothonotary since 1243 ) and advisor to the emperor. Peter, who was one of the closest confidants of Frederick and since 1244 in fact held the position of a senior minister, was entrusted by the Emperor with diplomatic missions. So he traveled in February 1235 as head of a Sicilian delegation to England to promote Friedrich for the hand of Princess Isabella. Certainly, by its influence, the style of the imperial letters and manifestos was crucial upgraded. The compiled around 1270 collection of letters in the Latin language, which is known by his name is preserved in numerous manuscripts.

The background of the case, Peter de Vinea, who was also a close friend of Frederick, are not clearly elucidated. In 1249 a poison attack took place on Frederick II from the court of the Emperor. Peter was suspected and blinded participation. Imprisoned in San Miniato, he died shortly afterwards, either by suicide or by the effects of glare. It is possible that Peter de Vinea had actually taken up connections to the enemies of the Emperor (like the Pope ), or that he has fallen victim to an intrigue.

The brilliant career of Peter de Vinea, who had, however, acquired its extensive assets including through corruption, also an interesting aspect of the work of the fascinating figure of Frederick II Peter is belonged to Frederick " Sicilian School of Poetry " and even wrote two odes. The Life of Peter de Vinea was greatly glorified in retrospect, including by Dante in the 13th canto of the Inferno from the Divine Comedy.