Tullia d'Aragona

Tullia d'Aragona (c. 1510 – 1556) was a 16th-century Italian poet, author and philosopher. Born in Rome in 1510, Tullia traveled thorughout Venice, Ferrara, Siena, and Florence before returning to Rome. Throughout her life Tullia was esteemed one of the best female writers, poets, philosophers, and charmers of her time. Influencing many of the most famous male philosophers, Tullia’s work raised the status (in literature) of women to be on an equal footing as men. Her fame and success made her into the most celebrated of Renaissance poet-courtesans. With her intellect, literary abilities and social graces entertained powerful men and famous poets.

Tullia was born in Rome around 1510, to Giulia Campana, a courtesan of the time. Also known as Giulia Ferrarese, her mother was lauded as "the most famous beauty of her day". Her father was thought to be Cardinal Luigi d'Aragona, who was himself the illegitimate grandson of Ferdinand I of Naples. Allegedly in order to cover up the scandal, Campana married Constanzo Palmieri d’Aragona. While it is not confirmed, many reasearches predict that this was a way for the family to save face, while also allowing Ferdinand to continue to see Campana. The Cardinal provided for Tullia her classical education in the humanities; young Tullia proved to be a child prodigy who amazed even her mother's 'guests.' Because Tullia's mother was not married to her father, Tullia's life was marked by the stigma of her illegitimate birth to a courtesan mother.

Entering into the world as courtesan at age 18, Tullia became successful as a writer and an intellectual. She was often seen in the company of poets, such as Sperone Speroni. After the Cardinal's death in 1519, Tullia spent seven years in Siena, before she returned to Rome in 1526. Available evidence suggests that she was highly mobile and stayed in Bologna in 1529, where Pope Clement VIIand Holy Roman Emperor Charles V were engaged in negotiations after the Sack of Rome in 1527.

In 1531, she became involved with Filippo Strozzi, a Florentine banking magnate who had been famous for a short-lived affair with Italy's most beautiful courtesan, Camilla Pisana. Strozzi became so enamored with d'Aragona that he shared state secrets with her and had to be recalled to Florence. Other lovers included Emilio Orsini, who founded a Tullia Society of six cavaliers who protected her honor.

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