Historian: Leonardo da Vinci’s mother was a slave

The real identity of da Vinci’s mother (1452 to 1519) has always been shrouded in mystery. Historians are unclear about the maternal family. According to Vecce, Catarina was taken to Florence via Venice, where she worked as a nanny.

According to the Italian historian, Catarina was a Circassian princess, born in the Caucasus, enslaved and sold to the Venetians. Caterina’s liberation from slavery was notarized by Leonardo’s father, the notary Piero da Vinci.

Investigation wrapped in a fictional novel
These revelations can be found in the fictional novel “Il sorriso di Caterina” (Caterina’s smile, edited by Giunti Editore) by Vecce, who teaches and researches L’Orientale at the University of Naples. In decades of research, the philologist (pictured above), Renaissance historian, and educator has devoted himself primarily to da Vinci’s figure and work.

Liberation Act Discovered in Florence Archives
He found the certificate of liberation from slavery in the State Archives of Florence. It was signed by the notary, who loved the woman when she was a slave and with whom she had a child, researcher Vecce added at the book’s launch, referring to Leonardo’s father Piero.

Piero da Vinci fathered more than 17 children during his lifetime, the last when Leonardo was over 40 years old. Despite records that Piero da Vinci was married four times, there is no evidence that Leonardo’s father married Catarina. This lack of evidence has led to much speculation about the identity of the mother.