bˈɔːɹn ɪn pˈælɚmˌoʊ, hiː wʌzðɪ ˈɛldɪst sˈʌn ʌvðə mˈɜːtʃənt ɛnɹˈɪkoʊ di vænˈiːnoʊ bˌɛkɐdˈɛli, hˌuː hæd plˈeɪd ɐn ˈæktɪv ɹˈoʊl ɪn sɪsˈɪliən pˈɑːlətˌɪks, sˈɜːvɪŋ æz pɹˈiːɾɚɹ ʌv pˈælɚmˌoʊ ɪn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiːhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti θɹˈiː.
Born in Palermo, he was the eldest son of the merchant Enrico di Vannino Beccadelli, who had played an active role in Sicilian politics, serving as Praetor of Palermo in 1393.