, or in Latin Jannonius (Peter), was born at Ischitella, a small town in Apulia, in the month of
, or in Latin Jannonius (Peter), was
born at Ischitella, a small town in Apulia, in the month of
May 1676, and practised the law, but was much more
distinguished as an historian. In 1723 he wrote a “History of Naples,
” in 4 vols. 4to. The style is pure, but
the freedom with which he discussed several topics relating
to the origin of the papal power gave so much offence to
the court of Rome, that he was obliged to exile himself
from his native country. He found an asylum with the
king of Sardinia, who did not, however, dare to avow himself his protector, but chose rather to represent his situation as that of a prisoner. Giannone died in Piedmont in
April 1748. Extracts from his history were afterwards
printed in Holland, under the title of “Anecdotes Ecclesiastiques.
” His posthumous works were given to the
world in a 4to volume, 1768, containing, among other miscellaneous matter, his profession of faith, and a justification
of his history; and a life of him, by Leonard Panzini.
There is a correct, but not very elegant French translation
by Desmonceaux, Hague, 4 vols. 4to, and an English one,
by capt. Ogilvie, in 1729 1731, in 2 vols. fol.