Girolamo Savonarola was a Dominican friar who, in 1481, went to Florence to preach against the immorality at the court of Lorenzo de Medici and the corruption of the clergy. As prior of the monastery of San Marco, he convinced the public to cast objects of luxury into huge bonfires. Savonarola became increasingly fanatical and obstinate, finally coming into conflict with Pope Alexander VI. The friar was excommunicated and hanged in 1498.