savanorola
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Soon after he came to a position of political authority, and opposition party known as Arrabbiati was formed to oppose Savonarola. This group made powerful political allies from other countries, the most formidible of which were the Duke of Milan and Pope Alexander VI. These men, along with others, were also in opposition to the King of France in a group known as the Holy League and Savonarola was seen as the sole opposition to Florence joining the league. After rejecting the first invitation extended to Florence by the Holy League, Pope Alexander sent to Savonarola a letter that praised his recent religious works and asked him to come to Rome to preach there. Believing the Pope to be corrupt, Savonarola refused the invitation, claiming to be ill. Under pressure from the enemies of Savonarola, the Pope sent a second letter two months later where he condemed the actions of Savonarola and ordered him to go to Bologna under pain of excommunication. Again, Savonarola refused to obey the orders of the Pope, instead mocking the letter for the mistakes it contained. The following letter came the next month, in which Savonarola was forbidden from preaching. The Pope himself would later confess that the letter was sent under politcal pressure from the Holy League, and follow up with a verbal concession that allowed Savonarola to preach. Thus Savonarola was able to give some of his most powerful sermons, including the ones given from Amos where he openly and directly attacked the Roman Court...