Storia antica e storia bizantina nei manoscritti della biblioteca di Bessarione

The ideal completeness of Bessarion’s Greek library is mentioned in the Cardinal’s donation of his library to Venice in 1468. This ideal is evaluated in relation to the domain of history through a survey of the manuscripts from Bessarion’s collection now in the Marciana Library. These preserve Greek works spanning the years from Antiquity to the Late Byzantine period, including not only classicizing histories but also Church histories, world chronicles and other kinds of historiographical writings. A close look at the codicological and palaeographical data of these manuscripts and an examination of some of Bessarion’s marginal notes provide a deeper understanding of Bessarion’s relationship with Ancient and Byzantine history.