Richardi Dinothi Normannis Constantinatis De rebus et factis memorabilibus loci communes historici

Published in Basel in 1580 by Pietro Perna, this work by the French jurist Richard Dinoth serves as a thematic collection of historical anecdotes and notable events. During the late Renaissance, such loci communes—or commonplaces—were essential scholarly tools, designed to help students and writers categorize classical and medieval history into accessible themes for rhetorical study. The book reflects the era's humanist preoccupation with distilling wisdom from the past to provide moral and political guidance for contemporary society.

The publication house of Pietro Perna was a significant hub for European intellectual exchange, known for printing controversial and scholarly texts that pushed the boundaries of the Reformation era. Dinoth’s work, which focuses on the history of the Normans and the Byzantine Empire, was composed during a period of intense religious and political upheaval in France. As a Huguenot historian, Dinoth used his writing to explore the instability of power and the cyclical nature of historical conflict, aiming to ground his political observations in the rigorous examination of long-standing historical records.