Humanism at the Council of Constance. Diego de Anaya, Classical Manuscripts and Education in Salamanca

Abstract

Due to their prolonged and multicultural nature, councils functioned historically as hubs for the exchange of ideas, discourse, diplomacy and rhetoric, reflecting broader cultural trends. In the Middle Ages, no international forums were comparable to ecumenical councils, where diverse and influential groups from various regions convened to address shared concerns. This article examines the diffusion of Italian humanism during the Council of Constance (1414–1418). Many prominent humanists participated in Constance, either as part of papal delegations or as representatives of political figures. Diego de Anaya (1357–1437), president of the Castilian delegation, established contact with figures such as Bartolomeo della Capra, Archbishop of Milan and Uberto Decembrio, a renowned copyist, and father of the humanist Pier Candido Decembrio. These interactions enabled him to exchange ideas and manuscripts, playing a crucial role in introducing new texts and pedagogical approaches in Salamanca, which fostered, in the following decades, a shift from medieval scholasticism toward an education aligned with Renaissance ideals.