girolamo savonarola (21 september 1452 – 23 may 1498), was an italian dominican priest and leader of florence from 1494 until his execution in 1498. savonarola is famous for burning books, and for the destruction of what he considered immoral art. savonarola was a priest but he preached against the moral corruption of the clergy and the church of rome. his main enemy was pope alexander vi. he is sometimes seen as a forerunner of martin luther and the protestant reformation, however he remained a devout roman catholic.