Vitalini (DE VITALINIS), BONIFAZIO, jurist, b. at Mantua, Italy, about 1320; d. at Avignon after 1388. After completing his law studies at Padua he returned to his native city and took up the practice of criminal law. While thus engaged he wrote: “Super maleficiis” (Milan, 1505; Venice, 1559, 1584; Lyons, 1558; Frankfort, 1600 and 1604). He suddenly gave up the law, entered the priesthood, and left Padua with the intention of never returning. In 1350, however, he came back as rector of the Church of San Martinio de’ Tribesii and vicar of the bishop. Two years later he went to Avignon, where he received a professorship. He was given the privilege of granting the doctorate, was made prothonotary Apostolic, advocate of the Consistory, fiscal of the Roman Curia, and finally auditor of the sacred palace. He is known to have been in various Italian cities, and at Avignon in 1388. He wrote a commentary on the “Clementines” entitled “Commentarii in Constitutiones Clementis Papse V in alma Avenionensi universitate editi” (Lyons, 1522), and two treatises, “Solemnis ac perutilis tractatus de modo procedendi contra apostatas” (Venice, 1556), and “Tractatus, qui casus respirat speciale mandatum” (Zurich, 1584).
PATRICIUS SCHLAGER