"Simillima pestis Florentie et quasi per universum orbem": Boccaccio e la Historia Langobardorum di Paolo Diacono

This paper deals with the recently discovered Boccaccio’s autograph of Paul the Deacon’s Historia Langobardorum, the manuscript LONDON, British Library, Harley 5383. Along with its membra disiecta FIRENZE, Biblioteca Riccardiana, 627 and 2795VI, it forms a handbook of ancient, roman and mediaeval history (besides the Historia Langobardorum, Paul Orose’s Historiae adversus paganos, Paul the Deacon’s Historia Romana, books XIII-XVI, Pasquale Romano’s brief epistle De origine civitatis Aretii) almost entirely copied by Boccaccio. After recalling the circumstances of its finding, the paper points out that text of Historia Langobardorum contained in Harley 5383 and in its membrum disiectum Riccard. 2795VI is abridged, more than the 20% of its chapters missing or being epitomized; whether Boccaccio was also the author of this version of Paul the Deacon’s work or simply its scribe remains under discussion.