Though his parents were in humble circumstances, and of lowly calling, his father was the natural son of the Emperor, Henry VII.; (De Sade supposes that the mother of Rienzi was the daughter of an illegitimate son of Henry VII., supporting his opinion from a MS.

in the Vatican.

But, according to the contemporaneous biographer, Rienzi, in addressing Charles, king of Bohemia claims the relationship from his father "Di vostro legnaggio sono--figlio di bastardo d'Enrico imperatore," &c.

A more recent writer, il Padre Gabrini, cites an inscription in support of this descent: "Nicolaus Tribunus...Laurentii Teutonici Filius," &c.) and it was the pride of the parents that probably gave to Rienzi the unwonted advantages of education.

This pride transmitted to himself,--his descent from royalty dinned into his ear, infused into his thoughts, from his cradle,--made him, even in his earliest youth, deem himself the equal of the Roman signors, and half unconsciously aspire to be their superior.