Tommaso Crudeli

Who was Tommaso Crudeli?

Tommaso Baldasarre Crudeli was a Florentine free thinker who was imprisoned by the Roman Inquisition. He was a poet, lawyer, champion of free thought and is remembered as the first martyr of Universal Freemasonry.

Born to a wealthy family in the Casentino, which is known since 12th century, has a name changed several times from historical events. The eponym is related the story of the expulsion of Count Guidi from the castle of Poppi in 1440. Eventually, turning to Jacopo Crusca, leader of the revolt, he said "Vos quoque crudeles" and got the answer "in crudelitates fides." From this episode the family was appointed as "Crudeli". The Palazzo Crudeli was the most important building after the castle and churches within the walls of Poppi, thanks to the economic strength of the family. The prosperity of the lineage is also understandable as all generations have graduated from the University of Pisa continuously since 1502. Tommaso was the seventh graduating in Utroque jure in Pisa in 1726. His mentor was Bernardo Tanucci during the preparation of studies and university years.