How did Girolamo Savonarola criticize Medici government in Florence?

Girolamo Savonarola criticized the Medici government primarily through bold, prophetic sermons that denounced the "tyrannical abuses" of the ruling power. After returning to Florence in 1490, he used his platform as a preacher to warn against the sins of those in government, framing their actions as evil and predicting divine punishment.12

Despite attempts by Lorenzo de’ Medici to silence him through threats and flattery, Savonarola’s influence grew as his popularity among the public increased. His criticism was rooted in a broader call for moral purification and the reform of both the church and the state. By predicting the collapse of the Medici regime—which eventually occurred following the invasion of Charles VIII in 1494—Savonarola solidified his authority, positioning himself as a moral leader who sought to transform Florence into a well-organized Christian republic.12