The Bayerische Staatsbibliothek’s Codices Græci 490 and 495: The Manuscript Compendium of the Mystras Plethonic Cycle in Humanistic Italy

The Bavarian State Library's manuscripts 490 and 495 are among the most emblematic texts reflecting the intellectual debates that captivated the circle of disciples surrounding the eminent late Byzantine scholar George Gemistos, also known as Plethon during his final years in the Byzantine city of Mystras. Rather than being the work of a single author, these codices represent a compilation of texts that, despite their varied origins, form a coherent whole. Their production began prior to Plethon’s death, around the year 1450, and continued over the next two to three decades, always remaining within the bounds of the second half of the fifteenth century. These two codices contain classical, rhetorical and philosophical works with a strong Neoplatonic orientation, alongside contemporary texts from the period of their compilation. Notably, they include Plethon’s own writings, key epistolary texts central to the Platonic-Aristotelian dispute, and materials connected to Plethon—such as the epitaphs composed by his students, Charitonymos Hermonymos and Gregorios Hieromonachos, in honor of their late teacher. This study seeks to illuminate the role of these manuscripts in shaping the intellectual climate that flourished in Mystras around Plethon. Within their pages, one finds the hand of well-known students of Plethon, including Charitonymos Hermonymos, Georgios Hermonymos, Demetrios Triboles, Alexios Keladenos, and Demetrius Castrenus, as well as various unidentified figures referred to as Harlfinger’s anonymous copyists. These manuscripts functioned as a kind of manifesto-manual, capturing the vibrant scholarly atmosphere surrounding Plethon. By combining an analysis of the manuscripts' material aspects with a textual examination, this presentation will explore the intricate connections between the individual sections of the two codices. Furthermore, it will shed light on the paths and roles of those involved in their production, as well as their contribution to the dissemination of Plethon’s ideas within the intellectual circles of humanistic Italy.