A Trionfi Deck before the other Trionfi Decks

1341: Petrarca becomes Poetus Laureatus. 1346/47: Cola de Rienzo in Rome seems to raise the interest in triumphal processions. Petrarca admires Cola de Rienzo. Rienzos success endures only a short time. 1348-1350: The black death takes the life of very much people and leaves the countries in a deep social and oeconomical depression. Rienzo tries (with Trionfo-activities) to succeed in Rome again. The action ends in desaster (Rienzo murdered). 1355-1374: Petrarca, friend of Cola de Rienzo, writes his poem Trionfi, after the black death in memory of all the better times before. It's not a good time for triumphal processions and other great festivities. 1414: - 1418: A Restart in History. The Council of Constance - after nearly 50 years of Schisma - is visited by more than 100.000 visitors. The papal authority is decreased, modern developments are welcomed. 1418: The Council of Constance might have raised the interest for great publical events 1417 - 1425: San Bernardino preaches and his preachings get the character of great publical events Suddenly - many playing cards interests in Italy; a Trionfo and a Trionfi deck 1423: Imperatori deck in Ferrara 1423: A 40-ducatos-deck is known from Ferrara, an unusual high prize for a playing card deck 1423: Alfonso of Aragon has a sort of Trionfi activity in Naples together with queen Giovanna 1424/1425: Assumed production time for the Michelino deck, it has an unbelievable high prize (1500 ducatos). 1425: Trionfo of Filippo Maria Visconti, probably the Michelino deck is thought to accompany this event. The special role of Alfonso - Spanish spirit in Italy 1428 and 1434: Playing card notes around Alfonso of Aragon 1435: Alfonso of Aragon is prisoner of Filippo Visconti. The both play cards with each other. First Revival of Filippo's idea 1439: The Council of Florence knows various great festivities with religious events. 1441: The note from 1.1.1441 in Ferrara might refer to playing cards, which are projected to accompany a great publical event: Bianca Maria's marriage 1441, October: the marriage 1441 of Bianca Maria Visconti and Francesco Sforza becomes a great publical event; it is assumed, that the Cary-Yale Tarocchi was produced at this time 1442: Leonello is new signore in Ferrara and has a reason for a publical event, a Trionfo 1442: Two notes about Trionfi decks from Ferrara. The name "Trionfi cards" appears for the first time. 1443: Alfonso of Aragon has occupied Naples in 1442 and with this he has a reason for a Trionfo. The festivity is reported from the year 1443 (no playing card activity known) 1445: Marriage Leonello with an illegitime daughter of Alfonso, but a Trionfi production is not known from Ferrara at this time 1447: Filippo Maria Visconti dies. Milan becomes the Ambrosian Republic. 1449: Marcello's letter. The Michelino deck is send to Rene d'Anjou as present to queen Isabella. 1450, February: Sforza occupies Milan 1450, March: Sagramoro produces in Ferrara some Trionfi decks for Leonello 1450, March: Francesco Sforza has a real Trionfo in Milan; Leonello is present as a guest, probably his personal gift for the occasion are the Trionfi decks manufactured by Sagramoro 1451: Trionfi card production for Borso, new signore of Ferrrara 1452: Trionfo for Borso, new duke of Reggio and Modena 1452: Trionfi production in Milan 1453: A Trionfo for Francesco Sforza in Milan 1453. Isabella of Lorraine dies. Her husband Rene appears in militaric matters in Milan. In the follow-up the diplomatic connections between Rene d'Anjou and the Sforza court are good, from 1454 - 1462 Giovanni Cossa, Rene's messenger, is variously in Milan. Did Rene give the Michelino deck back to the Sforza family? 1454: Peace of Lodi, production of many Trionfi decks in Ferrara 1456: Trionfi is called a good card game by Trotti 1457: Galeazzo Maria Sforza (13 years old) is as guest in Ferrara. During his stay there are activities around the production of Trionfi cards (comparable to the activities at the occasion of the visit of his mother Bianca Maria in 1441. One should observe, that Trionfi decks are often produced in context with very young persons. The still honoured game of the time for serious grown-up men is still chess, playing cards seem to be suitable items for women and teenagers. 1459: First (real) sign (in Bologna), that Trionfi is a card game outside of the courts 1468: Picture with Apollo and Daphne for the marriage of Galeazzo Sforza and Bona of Savoia in Milan. The Daphne-theme is still new at this time, not very common, it's astonishing, that it appears twice in the Visconti family in 1424/1425 and 1468. It seems, that Galeazzo Maria knew about the Michelino deck, perhaps cause Rene d'Anjou gave the deck back to the Sforza family.

1341: Petrarca gets in Rome the laurel of the poetus laureatus. That leads to hundred of love poems (Canzonieri) to a somewhat undefined "real Laura". Laura in Greek means Daphne. 1347: Cola de Rienzo revives Old Roman traditions Triumph of Death Francesco Traini, ca. 1350 after the black death 1348 - 1350 The times are bad. No money for a Trionfo. 1354: Cola de Rienzo gets a second chance. He doesn't get a 3rd. 1355: Petrarca starts to write the poem "Trionfi". 1425: Much later. The times are better now. Filippo Maria has a Trionfo, probably cause he becomes father (of Bianca Maria). He (probably) accompanied the festivity with the production of a playing card deck, centered on Greek gods and centered on the Daphne myth. 1441: Bianca Maria marries. Probably at this occasion the idea of festivity playing card decks is revived. They are called Trionfi cards now, probably the idea is born during her stay at Ferrara in winter 1440/1441. 1450 - 1456: Trionfi decks become popular. 1457: Galeazzo Maria Sforza at a visit in Ferrara. He engages in card playing and tennis. During his stay an action "painting Trionfi cards" is documented. 1468: Galeazzo Maria Sforza marries Bona of Savoia. It is assumed, that he commissioned a painting, in which he is painted as Apollo and Bona of Savoia as Daphne