Flaminius Annibali de Latera

Who was Flaminius Annibali de Latera?

Flaminius Annibali de Latera was an Italian historian.

He received his first education from a priest, Paolo Ferranti, and at the age of sixteen entered the Order of Friars Minor Observants in the Roman Province, taking the habit at the convent of St. Bernardine at Orte, 23 January 1750; a year later on the same day he made his solemn profession. Being in due time ordained priest, he passed his examinations as lector generalis, and successively taught theology in various convents — Viterbo, Fano, Velletri, and Rome.

From 1790 to 1791 he was definitor general of the Roman Province . When the convents in Italy were suppressed by Napoleon I in 1810, Annibali retired to Viterbo, and died there in a private residence.

De Latera during fifty years developed immense activity as a writer. He lived at a time when Franciscan history had just passed through the great and passionate Spader-Ringhieri and Lucci- Marczic controversies. This had a notable influence on his writings: he wrote mostly with a polemical motive.