What happened during Giordano Bruno’s trial in Venice?

In May 1592, Giordano Bruno was denounced to the Venetian Inquisition by Giovanni Mocenigo, a Venetian patrician who had hosted him. Mocenigo, resentful of Bruno’s desire to leave Venice and disappointed by his private lessons, accused the philosopher of holding heretical theories.1

During the trial, Bruno defended himself by admitting to minor theological errors while insisting that his core tenets were philosophical rather than theological in nature. Initially, the proceedings in Venice appeared to be moving toward a favorable outcome for him. However, the process was interrupted when the Roman Inquisition demanded his extradition. On January 27, 1593, Bruno was transferred to the custody of the Roman authorities, marking the end of the Venetian stage of his trial and the beginning of a seven-year legal process in Rome that ultimately led to his execution.1