Maffei, Raffaele, 1455-1522

Raffaele (or Raffaello) Maffei OSM (17 February 1451 – 25 January 1522) was an Italian humanist, historian and theologian; and member of the Servite Order. He was a native of Volterra, Italy, and therefore is called Raphael Volaterranus or Raphael of Volterra; also Maffeus Volaterranus, or Raffaele Volterrano. Raffaele Maffei wrote the Commentaria Urbana, which was an encyclopedia divided into three parts. During his lifetime, Raffaele Maffei was in contact with many humanist philosophers including Pico della Mirandola, Angelo Poliziano, and Michele Marullo. He had an amicable relationship with the Florentine Lorenzo de' Medici, despite Antonio Maffei's involvement in the Pazzi conspiracy. Raffaele and his brother Mario were close to the first Medici pope, Pope Leo X. When Raffaele left the Papal Curia, he remained aware of Roman events due to his correspondence with family members working in Rome. He was known in the Italian Peninsula and widely in Europe for his humanist writings.