Una partita a scacchi: Marcantonio De Dominis secondo Thomas Middleton

Marcantonio De Dominis (1560-1624) was undoubtedly one of the most controversial figures of 17th-century Europe. Born in Rab to one of the most prominent families of Venetian Dalmatia, he was educated by the Jesuits and later appointed to the bishopric of Senj, subsequently raising to the archbishopric of Spalato and to the primacy of Dalmatia and Croatia. In the meantime, he continued to refine his skills in the theological field and took a foremost place in the controversies of the time, thus becoming the target of the Inquisition. In 1616 he resigned his see and moved to London, where he was welcomed by the Anglican clergy and king James I. A few years later, however, his favour within the English court suddenly deteriorated, forcing him to seek forgiveness from pope Gregory XV and to abjure his past errors. Having returned to Rome in November 1622, in the summer of 1623 he was once again placed under investigation and imprisoned in Castel Sant’Angelo, where he died in September 1624. His body, portrait and writings were burnt by order of the Inquisition. The story of Marcantonio De Dominis caused grave scandal and has been the subject of historical novels and theatrical performances. This paper discusses his stay in England with reference to Thomas Middleton’s satirical comedy A game at chess (1624), in which De Dominis is portrayed as the Fat Bishop.