Corespondenţa lui Camillus Gilinus cu Nicolaus Olahus
The Correspondence Between Nicolaus Olahus and Camillus Gilinus

Summary/Abstract: This article discusses the content and relevance of the letters between the Humanist Nicolaus Olahus and Camilus Gillinus (or Camillo Ghilino) within the framework of a larger research project dedicated to the work and biography of the first intellectual. Nicolaus Olahus, a renowned Humanist of Romanian origin, was secretary of Queen Mary, the widow of king Louis of Hungary, who died in the battle of Mohács in 1526. Olahus accompanied the widow queen in her peregrinations through Europe after the collapse of Hungary and the civil war that followed. In his official position, he was actively involved and highly interested in the political events of the 1520s and 1530s, a fact reflected in his extensive correspondence with a large number of intellectuals, diplomats, and princes. His main aim was that of restoring the Kingdom of Hungary and return in his country together with the queen. This article analyses his correspondence with Camillus Gilinus, secretary of Duke Francesco II Maria Sforza of Milan during a period of nine months, in 1534-1535. A number of thirty letters were preserved and were published by Arnold Ipoly at the end of the nineteenth century. Camillus Gilinus was an intellectual with a reputation of Latinist, who translated a work of Baptista Fulgosus. His father, Gian Giacomo Ghilino, was also a secretary of Duke Gian Galeazzo Sforza and Francesco II Maria Sforza up to 1534. After his death, Camillus probably replaced him in this function. A number of twenty-eight letters sent by Gilinus to Olahus are published. The analysis of their content indicates that most of the letters were intended to convey news about the political and military affairs in the Mediterranean world, in a time of confrontations and rivalries between France, Charles V and the Ottomans. Italian, Swiss, and papal events were also described by Gilinus. News about the outcomes of the Persian campaign against the Ottomans in the Middle East were also mentioned by Gilinus. At his end, Olahus was sending news about the affairs from Brussels, where he was settled together with the widow queen. Gilinus repeated in many letters requests for news about English and Danish affairs. What they did was actually exchanging information about what was going on at that time. Sometimes, the style suggests a very quick writing of the news, immediately as they were received. The letters are at times written twice a day according to the arrival of news. The sources of the news are sometimes indicated. Gilinus received information from the Venetians and the Genovese, but he is also complaining, at times, about the contradictions of rumor or reports. These letters demonstrate that Olahus was interested in the contemporary politics at continental level. His hope was that of the restoration of the kingdom of Hungary and as secretary of the widow queen he was deeply involved in the political projects of that age.

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