Introduction – How to Ruin a Career
Florence, 1525. While Michelangelo was sculpting and Machiavelli was writing, a less talented man named Davanzati was busy plotting… and failing spectacularly. This is the incredible story of how to ruin a career in just three moves — a mix of greed, fire, and very bad luck.
A Brilliant Idea Gone Wrong
At the height of the Renaissance, Florence was bursting with genius, art, and ambition. Yet, in this world of brilliance, Davanzati managed to stand out — for all the wrong reasons.
Working as a cashier for the powerful banker Carlo Ginori, he decided that 500 florins would look better in his own pocket than in the accounting books. A bold move, but not exactly a smart one.
When he realized the records might expose him, Davanzati came up with a disastrous solution: he set the ledgers on fire. Literally.
Instead of covering his theft quietly, he gifted Florence with a spectacular pyrotechnic display worthy of New Year’s Eve. The flames spread quickly, destroying furniture, walls, and property worth more than a thousand florins.
That’s one way to learn how to ruin a career — by turning fraud into arson.
From Fire to Foolishness
Trying to repair the damage, Davanzati appeared before the city’s magistrates with a look of remorse and an Oscar-worthy performance. He even invited creditors and debtors to help reconstruct the accounts, as if nothing had happened.
However, the truth, as always, has a way of surfacing — especially when you keep shaving coins.
Unable to spend the stolen florins without raising suspicion, Davanzati took up a dangerous hobby: coin clipping. By filing down the edges of gold coins, he hoped to extract precious metal and profit discreetly. Unfortunately, this clever idea was as doomed as his career.
The Final Act
Inevitably, Davanzati was caught. Interrogated under torture, he confessed to everything: the theft, the fire, and the coin clipping. A perfect Renaissance trifecta — and a textbook example of how to ruin a career in the most dramatic way possible.
On November 13, 1526, he was executed by hanging. His death wasn’t only punishment for his crimes but also a warning from Carlo Ginori, a man known as much for his wealth as for his revenge.
The citizens of Florence watched with a mix of outrage and fascination — proof that even in a city of artists and thinkers, there was always room for a good scandal.
A Lesson from Renaissance Florence
In the end, Davanzati’s story remains a timeless reminder that greed and arrogance can destroy even the smallest chance of redemption.
And if you’re ever tempted to follow in his footsteps, remember: this is exactly how to ruin a career.
Learn More about Renaissance Florence
Museo di Palazzo Vecchio-Discover Florence’s political and artistic heart.
The Medici Archive Project-Explore authentic Renaissance documents and stories.
Uffizi Galleries Official Site-Admire the masterpieces that shaped Davanzati’s Florence.
History of the Florentine Republic-Britannica’s detailed overview of the city’s golden age.
