How did Girolamo Savonarola try to make Florence into a Christian republic?

After the 1494 overthrow of the Medici family, Girolamo Savonarola became the central figure in Florence, aiming to transform the city into a "city of God"—a well-organized Christian republic that would serve as a model for reforming Italy and the church.1

His efforts to establish this republic included:

• Political Reform: He advocated for a democratic government with broad popular participation, supporting the party that sought to expand the rights of citizens within the new republican regime.12
• Moral Purification: Savonarola preached that moral reform was essential for Florence to become "the new Rome." He led campaigns against gambling, blasphemy, and illicit sexual behavior.2
• The "Bonfire of the Vanities": From 1497, he organized groups of young men to collect "vanities"—such as dice, books, paintings, and elegant clothing—from households. These items were publicly burned to symbolize the city's dedication to the Lord and rejection of worldly attachments.2

While his influence was significant, his puritanical reforms and foreign policy stance eventually alienated various political factions, leading to his downfall and execution in 1498.2