January 2 - Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Milan, dies in childbirth February 7 – Followers of Girolamo Savonarola burn thousands of "immoral" objects at the Bonfire of the Vanities in Florence on Shrove Tuesday . June 14 - Juan Borgia, Duke of Gandia, murdered. 1498 May 23– Girolamo Savonarola , ruler of Florence, is