Salabaetto Character Analysis in The Decameron

Salabaetto is the nickname of Niccolò da Cignano, a Florentine merchant who appears in Dioneo’s eighth tale (VIII, 10). His name appears to belong to a historical person who was an active merchant in the middle of the 14th century. In The Decameron, Salabaetto is a young man who, like Andreuccio (II, 5), falls victim to a Sicilian conwoman. But Salabaetto, with the help of Pietro dello Canigiano, catches Madonna Jancofiore in her own trap, demonstrating cleverness and punishing her excessive greed.

Salabaetto Character Timeline in The Decameron

The timeline below shows where the character Salabaetto appears in The Decameron. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Niccolò da Cignano, better known as Salabaetto, goes to Palermo with five hundred florins’ worth of woolens. He is slow to sell... (full context)

At the appointed hour, Salabaetto goes to the bathhouse, where he watches slave-girls prepare a fine bed and scrub the... (full context)

Salabaetto becomes more enamored as he regularly meets with Madonna Jancofiore during his stay in Palermo.... (full context)

Proclaiming her undying gratitude to Salabaetto and protesting that she’d never have thought to ask for what he freely offered, Madonna... (full context)

In Naples, Salabaetto goes to a family friend, Pietro dello Canigiano, who is treasurer to the Empress of... (full context)

Madonna Jancofiore repays Salabaetto’s five hundred florins. To pay her back in her own coin, he goes to her... (full context)

...Madonna Jancofiore gives a friend one thousand florins of her own money to “lend” to Salabaetto. Salabaetto happily signs over his goods as collateral, then returns to Naples with his fifteen... (full context)