Ludovico Antonio Muratori

Background

Ludovico Antonio Muratori was born at Vignola, Italy in the duchy of Modena, on October 21, 1672. He was the son of poor parents.

Education

He received his doctorate in law in 1694.

Career

Muratori entered the Church, and soon after receiving his doctorate in law was appointed one of the doctors of the Ambrosiana library at Milan. In 1700 he became keeper of the archives at Modena. Muratori is called "the father of Italian history" because of his great collection, Rerum italicarum scriptores, which was published in 28 volumes. He published numerous other volumes of annotated documents and inscriptions, as well as poetical, theological, and legal works, and many dissertations on medieval Italy. Muratori is also famous for the discovery of the Muratorian canon, a fragment of early Christian literature from c. 190, which lists the books of the New Testament.

Achievements

• He is notable as a leading scholar of his age, and for his discovery of the Muratorian fragment.