PAGES OF BIOGRAPHY IN THE EPISTOLARY WRITINGS OF MARIN DRŽIĆ

Abstract

The article examines the emergence of publicistic thinking during the Renaissance through the example of the epistolary legacy of Marin Držić (1508–1567). Based on the analysis of three key texts by the writer, including a petition to the Senate of the Republic of Siena and court testimonies, the formation of a publicistic style is demonstrated within the context of the cultural-historical processes of the Dubrovnik Renaissance. Using an integrated approach that combines biographical, cultural-historical, and comparative-analytical methods, the study reveals the interconnection between the author’s personal experience, his public engagement, and the historical-cultural transformations of the era. Special attention is paid to the analysis of documents related to Držić’s period at the University of Siena and his role as the rector of the House of Wisdom. For the first time, previously unexplored epistolary sources are introduced into academic discourse, offering a fresh perspective on the process of forming publicistic thinking in the context of 16th-century Dubrovnik’s cultural life.