Franciscus Portus

Franciscus Portus (Latin; Greek: Φραγκίσκος Πόρτος, Italian: Francesco Porto) (1511 – 1581) was a Greek-Italian Renaissance humanist and classical scholar.

Born on Crete on 22 August 1511, Portus was orphaned early. He studied in his youth with Arsenius Apostolius. He went to study in Italy thanks to the generosity of a family friend. He studied for six years in Padova, and then went to Venice, where he was admitted to the city's Greek school, where he soon became the director ("ἀρχιδιδάσκαλος καὶ πρωτοκαθηγητὴς τῶν Ἑλλήνων"). During the decade from 1526 to 1535, one should also note his important activity as a copyist of Greek manuscripts. However, he was an adherent of Reformed Christianity, and certain mocking remarks that he made about the customs of traditional Christian religion, such as fasting and veneration of images, caused him to leave Venice.

In 1536, Portus obtained a Chair in Greek at Modena, although he was unwilling to sign the declaration of faith which was required of public officials. In 1542, he was hired by Renée of France, the Duchess of Ferrara, as tutor to her sons, and she also entrusted to him the secret correspondence that she was maintaining with John Calvin. He was admitted to the Accademia dei Filareti, founded in Ferrara in 1554, and spoke before the Duchess a speech in praise of the Greek language.

After the death of the Duke of Ferrara, Ercole II d'Este, in 1559, the Duchess returned to France. In fear of the Inquisition because of his religious views, Portus left Ferrara with his family, and spent some time in the area of Friuli before settling in Geneva, becoming a citizen of Geneva in 1562. In the same year, he was appointed to the Chair of Greek at the University of Geneva, which he occupied until his death. One of his most important students was Isaac Casaubon, whom he recommended to succeed him.

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