The Medici Family. Set in the 15th century, Medici: Masters of Florence investigates a death in Florence's all-powerful Medici family: the controllers of Europe's largest bank. Despite his refusal of official approval, the pope nonetheless allowed the plot to proceed without interfering, and, after the failed assassination of Lorenzo, also gave dispensation for crimes done in the service of the church. The next few years marked the high point of Medici influence in Europe, as Leo X followed in his fathers humanistic footsteps and devoted himself to artistic patronage. Ferdinando eagerly assumed the government of Tuscany. The Medicis popped up in Assassin's Creed 2, and yes, of course there's a TV show starring a dude from Game of Thrones . Henry and Catherine became the ancestors of monarchs of several countries. One of the most notable of them is Prince Ottaviano de Medici. 3. [31] Ferdinando's pro-papal foreign policy, however, had drawbacks. Cosimo understood immediately that the only way to protect the fortune they had gathered was to acquire an even larger political influence in Florence. From Leo's election as pope in 1513 to his death in 1521, Florence was overseen, in turn, by Giuliano de' Medici, Duke of Nemours, Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino, and Giulio de' Medici, the latter of whom became Pope Clement VII. Son of Ludovico Medici and Maria Salviati. [48] Following a sprained ankle in 1731, he remained confined to his bed for the rest of his life. He is most remembered as the patron of astronomer Galileo Galilei, whose 1610 treatise, Sidereus Nuncius, was dedicated to him. [12] Until the late 14th century, the leading family of Florence was the House of Albizzi. This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 23:27. . One unproven story traces their ancestry to a knight of Charlemagne's, Averardo, who defeated a giant, Mugello. The Medici bank was founded by Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici in Florence in 1397. Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. [60] Marie de' Medici, widow of Henry IV of France and mother of Louis XIII, is the subject of a commissioned cycle of paintings known as the Marie de' Medici cycle, painted for the Luxembourg Palace by court painter Peter Paul Rubens in 162223. Giovanni was a self made man with a rags to riches story, bringing his family from abject obscurity to nationwide fame. 2. On the left side is a view of the city of Florence. [36] In 1657, Leopoldo de' Medici, the Grand Duke's youngest brother, established the Accademia del Cimento, organized to attract scientists to Florence from all over Tuscany for mutual study. Under Savonarola's fanatical leadership many great works were "voluntarily" destroyed in the Bonfire of the Vanities (February 7, 1497). The following year, on 23 May 1498, Savonarola and two young supporters were burned at the stake in the Piazza della Signoria, the same location as his bonfire. 7 Things You May Not Know About the Medicis. Unlike his father, Piero had little interest in the arts. The Medicis were an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first began to gather prominence during the first half of the 15th century; they owned the largest bank in Europe, which. The familys roots supposedly are linked to one of Charlemagnes eighth-century knights, named Averardo. By the 1520s, nonetheless, the descendants of Cosimo the Elder had become few in number. Against a backdrop of political stability and growing prosperity, the development of new read more, Toward the end of the 14th century A.D., a handful of Italian thinkers declared that they were living in a new age. He initiated the Medici's rise to power. He groomed the headstrong Piero II to follow as his successor in civil leadership; Giovanni[21] (future Pope Leo X) was placed in the church at an early age; and his daughter Maddalena was provided with a sumptuous dowry to make a politically advantageous marriage to a son of Pope Innocent VIII that cemented the alliance between the Medici and the Roman branches of the Cybo and Altoviti families. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. The exile of the Medici lasted until 1512, after which the "senior" branch of the familythose descended from Cosimo the Elderwere able to rule until the assassination of Alessandro de' Medici, first Duke of Florence, in 1537. However, several extant branches of the House of Medici survive, including the Princes of Ottajano, the Medici Tornaquinci,[55] and the Verona Medici Counts of Caprara and Gavardo. But in 1298, one of the leading banking families of Europe, the Bonsignoris, went bankrupt, and the city of Siena lost its status as the banking centre of Italy to Florence. Gian Gastone despised the electress for engineering his catastrophic marriage to Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg; while she abhorred her brother's liberal policies, he repealed all of his father's anti-Semitic statutes. Some examples of these families include the Bardi, Altoviti, Ridolfi, Cavalcanti and the Tornabuoni. The few years of this period are often considered to be the apogee of the Medici age. Ferdinando, although no longer a cardinal, exercised much influence at successive conclaves. The Medici produced four popes of the Catholic ChurchPope Leo X (15131521), Pope Clement VII (15231534), Pope Pius IV (15591565)[5] and Pope Leo XI (1605)and two queens of FranceCatherine de' Medici (15471559) and Marie de' Medici (16001610). More famous descendants of the Medici family would include the royal family of Britain. Despite all of these incentives for economic growth and prosperity, the population of Florence at the dawn of the 17th century was a mere 75,000, far smaller than the other capitals of Italy: Rome, Milan, Venice, Palermo and Naples. The table below shows the origins of the Medici: This extract shows the branch that gave rise to the celebrated branch of the Medici descending from Giovanni "di Bicci", who founded the Medici fortunes: This is the branch of Cosimo's brother, Lorenzo, called the "Popolano" Branch, which gave rise to the Grand-Dukes of Tuscany: The origin of the Medici coat of arms is not recorded. When Cosimo I moved the Florentine administrative offices into a building known as the Uffizi, he also established a small museum. There, by the following century, the Medici were counted among the wealthy notables, although in the second rank, after leading families of the city. In architecture, the Medici were responsible for some notable features of Florence, including the Uffizi Gallery, the Boboli Gardens, the Belvedere, the Medici Chapel and the Palazzo Medici.[58]. . They and other families of Italy inspired the Italian Renaissance, such as the Visconti and Sforza in Milan, the Este in Ferrara, the Borgia in Rome, and the Gonzaga in Mantua. The Medici became the city's leading family, a position they would hold for the next three centuries. The Medici headed Europe's largest bank, became Florence's richest family, and controlled Florentine politics. The Medicis' wealth and influence was initially derived from the textile trade guided by the wool guild of Florence, the Arte della Lana. The most significant of the Medici families currently are the Medici Tornaquinci and the Medici di Ottajano. . But then decay set in. In 1537 he was assassinated by a companion who was also a relative. At least half, probably more, of Florence's people were employed by the Medici and their foundational branches in business. The Medici villa of Cafaggiolo was the family's Mugello home, located near present day Barberino di Mugello. which his descendants held until 1737. Alum is essential as a mordant in the dyeing of certain cloths and was used extensively in Florence, where the main industry was textile manufacturing. Two girls from the family also grew up to be the queens of France. It would also have reflected the family's interest in Etruscan art and culture. Members of the family rose to some prominence in the early 14th century in the wool trade, especially with France and Spain. [76] This particular influence offers an explanation for the red hue of the Medici balls, the colour of the terracotta sculpture. Through banking and commerce, the Medicis rose to become one of the most important families in Florence. [30] The Grand Duke alone had the prerogative to exploit the state's mineral and salt resources, and the fortunes of the Medici were directly tied to the Tuscan economy.[30]. Giulia Romola di Alessandro de' Medici [1] (c. 1535 - c. 1588) was the illegitimate, possibly multiracial, [2] daughter of Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence and his mistress Taddea Malaspina . Filippo (1577-1582) Four members of the Medici family went on to become the Popes of the Catholic Church. Cosimo de' Medici, the older brother, established the family's political base. They were among the earliest businesses to use the general ledger system of accounting through the development of the double-entry bookkeeping system for tracking credits and debits. In a separate pan, fry the bread crumbs with the . Contents 1 Background, pedigree and family ties 1.1 Henry II of France 1.2 Catherine de' Medici 2 Children 3 Descendants of Elizabeth of Valois To ensure the continuance of his family's success, Lorenzo planned his children's future careers for them. In comparison to the 17th century, the population of Florence declined by 50%, and the population of the grand duchy as a whole declined by an estimated 40%. Lorenzo the Elder and His Heirs. He made an enormous amount of money doing this, as did many Florentine bankers." 2. Eleonora, Duchess of Mantua (1566-1611) Romola (1568) Anna (1569-1584) Isabella (1571-1572) Lucrezia (1572-1574) Maria, Queen of France (1573-1642) married Henry IV of France. [13] The city's numerous luxurious palazzi were becoming surrounded by townhouses built by the prospering merchant class.[14]. In addition to commissions for art and architecture, the Medici were prolific collectors and today their acquisitions form the core of the Uffizi museum in Florence. 1535-1605). For example: Direct descendants of early Carolingian Kings of Italy - are also either direct descendants or distant cousins of Cosimo I de' Medici, Duke of Florence & Grand . But their policy of consolidating their position by controlling the governmentthe work of the descendants of Chiarissimo II (himself the grandson of the first known Medici)resulted in 50 years of serious misfortunes for the family (134393). The Medici were responsible for a high proportion of the major Florentine works of art created during their period of rule. Introduction. In 1530, after allying himself with Charles V, Pope Clement VII succeeded in securing the engagement of Charles V's daughter Margeret of Austria to his illegitimate nephew (reputedly his son) Alessandro de' Medici. As these descendants lost their grip on the banking empire, economic troubles with debt-ridden foreign nationals and the Pazzi conspiracy - a coup by rival banking families backed by the Catholic Church to usurp Medici control in Florence - had brought the Medici Bank to an end. To ensure that a Medici of the Cosimo line would continue to rule Florence, Pope Clement VII, nephew of Lorenzo the Magnificent, installed Alessandro (151137), reputedly his own illegitimate son, as hereditary duke of Florence. Members of the Medici family were arguably the most-conspicuous social climbers of the Renaissance period. In general, the later Medici line renounced the older generations republican sympathies and established more authoritarian rule, a change that produced stability in Florence and Tuscany, but led to the regions decline as a cultural hub. [59] Eleanor of Toledo, a princess of Spain and wife of Cosimo I the Great, purchased the Pitti Palace from Buonaccorso Pitti in 1550. After Lorenzos premature death at the age of 43, his eldest son Piero succeeded him, but he soon infuriated the public by accepting an unfavorable peace treaty with France. His two sons were Piero (1416-69) and Giovanni (1424-63). Medici is the plural of medico, meaning "medical doctor". The History Collection / Alamy Stock Photo. The Ruspanti, Gian Gastone's decrepit entourage, loathed the electress, and she them. https://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/medici-family. Cosimos elder son Francis succeeded his father, but proved a less effective ruler. [6] In 1532, the family acquired the hereditary title Duke of Florence. Medici family, French Mdicis, Italian bourgeois family that ruled Florence and, later, Tuscany during most of the period from 1434 to 1737, except for two brief intervals (from 1494 to 1512 and from 1527 to 1530). His daughter Marie would become queen of France when she married Henry IV in 1600; her son would rule as Louis XIII from 1610-43. The Florentines grieved her,[54] and she was interred in the crypt that she helped to complete, San Lorenzo. [51], The "Lorrainers", as the occupying forces were called, were popularly loathed, but the regent, the Prince de Craon, allowed the electress to live unperturbed in the Palazzo Pitti. Because of this act, considered a betrayal, the Medici had to flee Florence (1494). After Ferdinands son Cosimo II (who supported the work of the mathematician, philosopher and astronomer Galileo Galilei) died in 1720, Florence and Tuscany suffered under ineffectual Medici rule. His work demonstrated a blend of psychological insight, physical realism and intensity never before seen. So. The dynasty collapsed with a debauched duke. Catherine de' Medici became the Queen of France, and as History tells us, the family produced no less than four popes. The Medici family had up to ten bank branches: in Avignon, Venice, Rome, Naples, Milan, Pisa, Geneva, Lyon, Bruges, and London. [32] Cosimo died of consumption (tuberculosis) in 1621. Legend says the dynasty descended from a giant-slaying knight. Just supporting arts and culture can attract trade and commerce, tourism and . While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Together, they have tens of thousands of living descendants today, including all of the Roman Catholic royal families of Europebut they are not patrilineal Medici. They were and still are a pretty big name, is what we're saying. Anna Maria Luisa was offered a nominal regency by the Prince de Craon until the new grand duke could peregrinate to Tuscany, but declined. In reward, Charlemagne is said to have rewarded Averardo with the shield mauled by the giant, with the dents in the shape of balls, and the giant's lands in Mugello. The Medici family started with the traditional bench, lending money to merchants with interest, which led to establishing the Medici Bank, founded in 1397. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [40] At the time of his death, the population of the grand duchy was 730,594; the streets were lined with grass and the buildings on the verge of collapse in Pisa.[41]. With this intention I now go. By 1722, the electress was not even acknowledged as heiress, and Cosimo was reduced to spectator at the conferences for Tuscany's future. After only two years in power, he was forced out of the city in 1494, and died in exile. Like other families ruling in Italian signorie, the Medici dominated their city's government, were able to bring Florence under their family's power, and created an environment in which art and humanism flourished. The extinction of the main Medici dynasty and the accession in 1737 of Francis Stephen, Duke of Lorraine and husband of Maria Theresa of Austria, led to Tuscany's temporary inclusion in the territories of the Austrian crown. [75], Alternatively, it has been suggested that the Medici coat of arms was initially inspired by symbols drawn from Etruscan votive sculpture, examples of which feature an oval dome with balls (echoing the forms of the Medici shield), as well as six balls within a triangle (as found in the alternative, triangular version of the Medici emblem). Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici (c. 13601429), son of Averardo de' Medici (13201363), increased the wealth of the family through his creation of the Medici Bank, and became one of the richest men in the city of Florence. The barbarous, unenlightened Middle Ages were over, they said; the new age would be a rinascit (rebirth) of learning and literature, art and culture. Updates? In this article we will talk about the Medici, one of the largest, most powerful and richest Italian families ever, who remained in power for about 300 years.They have been popes, sovereigns and patrons, they have promoted art and culture and they have given to their territory such glory and prestige that they can never be replicated again! In 1433, the Albizzi managed to have Cosimo exiled. The Medici story began around the 12th century, when family members from the Tuscan village of Cafaggiolo emigrated to Florence. Eldest son of Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Cosimo the Elder and his father started the Medici foundations in banking and manufacturingincluding a form of franchises. Cosimo de Medici, the older brother, established the familys political base. Giovanni de Medici: First Power Broker Giovanni de Bicci de' Medici was the first Medici of import. [33], Cosimo's elder son, Ferdinando, was not yet of legal maturity to succeed him, thus Maria Maddalena and his grandmother, Christina of Lorraine, acted as regents. He was called "Piero the Gouty" because of the gout that pained his foot and led to his death. Smithsonian Magazine.The Medici Family. The Medici, rulers of Renaissance Florence, are not the most obvious example of a multiracial family. The Medici remained in exile until 1512 when the descendants of Cosimo de Medici returned and ruled until 1537. Azure, three fleurs-de-lis or) was granted by Louis XI in 1465. The Habsburgs were deposed in favor of the House of Bourbon-Parma in 1801 (themselves deposed in 1807), but were later restored at the Congress of Vienna. His contemporaries read more, Known as the Renaissance, the period immediately following the Middle Ages in Europe saw a great revival of interest in the classical learning and values of ancient Greece and Rome. Giovanni's elder son, Cosimo de. It is said that Alessandro had his cousin Ippolito killed shortly before he himself was done away with by another vengeful member of the clan. Genealogy of the Medici family of Florence, 1569. View Site Catherine d'Medici - King's College Catherine de' Medici was born to the Medici family of Florence in 1519. After 1340 an economic depression throughout Europe forced these more powerful houses into bankruptcy. The Medici family were patrons of Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. The Medici briefly became leaders of Christendom through their two famous 16th century popes, Leo X and Clement VII. The mob hastened to seek out Salvestros first cousin, Vieri, who was, however, able to fade away without losing face. Known to history as Cosimo the Elder, he lived a spartan life but was a devoted patron of the humanities, supporting artists such as Lorenzo Ghiberti, Filippo Brunelleschi, Donatello and Fra Angelico. 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Luxurious palazzi were becoming surrounded by townhouses built by the Medici, rulers of Renaissance Florence, 1569 sons... 1731, he remained confined to his bed for the red hue of most! Broker Giovanni de Bicci de & # x27 ; re saying Nuncius was! The 12th century, the older brother, established the family & x27! The mob hastened to seek out Salvestros first cousin, Vieri, who defeated a giant Mugello! 76 ] this particular influence offers an explanation for the next three centuries articles Britannica..., a position they would hold for the next three centuries succeeded his,... Florentine works of art created during their period of rule attract trade and commerce, the Medicis acquired. `` medical doctor '' few in number, tourism and least half, probably more of!
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The Medici Family. Set in the 15th century, Medici: Masters of Florence investigates a death in Florence's all-powerful Medici family: the controllers of Europe's largest bank. Despite his refusal of official approval, the pope nonetheless allowed the plot to proceed without interfering, and, after the failed assassination of Lorenzo, also gave dispensation for crimes done in the service of the church. The next few years marked the high point of Medici influence in Europe, as Leo X followed in his fathers humanistic footsteps and devoted himself to artistic patronage. Ferdinando eagerly assumed the government of Tuscany. The Medicis popped up in Assassin's Creed 2, and yes, of course there's a TV show starring a dude from Game of Thrones . Henry and Catherine became the ancestors of monarchs of several countries. One of the most notable of them is Prince Ottaviano de Medici. 3. [31] Ferdinando's pro-papal foreign policy, however, had drawbacks. Cosimo understood immediately that the only way to protect the fortune they had gathered was to acquire an even larger political influence in Florence. From Leo's election as pope in 1513 to his death in 1521, Florence was overseen, in turn, by Giuliano de' Medici, Duke of Nemours, Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino, and Giulio de' Medici, the latter of whom became Pope Clement VII. Son of Ludovico Medici and Maria Salviati. [48] Following a sprained ankle in 1731, he remained confined to his bed for the rest of his life. He is most remembered as the patron of astronomer Galileo Galilei, whose 1610 treatise, Sidereus Nuncius, was dedicated to him. [12] Until the late 14th century, the leading family of Florence was the House of Albizzi. This page was last edited on 17 January 2023, at 23:27. . One unproven story traces their ancestry to a knight of Charlemagne's, Averardo, who defeated a giant, Mugello. The Medici bank was founded by Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici in Florence in 1397. Subscribe for fascinating stories connecting the past to the present. [60] Marie de' Medici, widow of Henry IV of France and mother of Louis XIII, is the subject of a commissioned cycle of paintings known as the Marie de' Medici cycle, painted for the Luxembourg Palace by court painter Peter Paul Rubens in 162223. Giovanni was a self made man with a rags to riches story, bringing his family from abject obscurity to nationwide fame. 2. On the left side is a view of the city of Florence. [36] In 1657, Leopoldo de' Medici, the Grand Duke's youngest brother, established the Accademia del Cimento, organized to attract scientists to Florence from all over Tuscany for mutual study. Under Savonarola's fanatical leadership many great works were "voluntarily" destroyed in the Bonfire of the Vanities (February 7, 1497). The following year, on 23 May 1498, Savonarola and two young supporters were burned at the stake in the Piazza della Signoria, the same location as his bonfire. 7 Things You May Not Know About the Medicis. Unlike his father, Piero had little interest in the arts. The Medicis were an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first began to gather prominence during the first half of the 15th century; they owned the largest bank in Europe, which. The familys roots supposedly are linked to one of Charlemagnes eighth-century knights, named Averardo. By the 1520s, nonetheless, the descendants of Cosimo the Elder had become few in number. Against a backdrop of political stability and growing prosperity, the development of new read more, Toward the end of the 14th century A.D., a handful of Italian thinkers declared that they were living in a new age. He initiated the Medici's rise to power. He groomed the headstrong Piero II to follow as his successor in civil leadership; Giovanni[21] (future Pope Leo X) was placed in the church at an early age; and his daughter Maddalena was provided with a sumptuous dowry to make a politically advantageous marriage to a son of Pope Innocent VIII that cemented the alliance between the Medici and the Roman branches of the Cybo and Altoviti families. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. The exile of the Medici lasted until 1512, after which the "senior" branch of the familythose descended from Cosimo the Elderwere able to rule until the assassination of Alessandro de' Medici, first Duke of Florence, in 1537. However, several extant branches of the House of Medici survive, including the Princes of Ottajano, the Medici Tornaquinci,[55] and the Verona Medici Counts of Caprara and Gavardo. But in 1298, one of the leading banking families of Europe, the Bonsignoris, went bankrupt, and the city of Siena lost its status as the banking centre of Italy to Florence. Gian Gastone despised the electress for engineering his catastrophic marriage to Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg; while she abhorred her brother's liberal policies, he repealed all of his father's anti-Semitic statutes. Some examples of these families include the Bardi, Altoviti, Ridolfi, Cavalcanti and the Tornabuoni. The few years of this period are often considered to be the apogee of the Medici age. Ferdinando, although no longer a cardinal, exercised much influence at successive conclaves. The Medici produced four popes of the Catholic ChurchPope Leo X (15131521), Pope Clement VII (15231534), Pope Pius IV (15591565)[5] and Pope Leo XI (1605)and two queens of FranceCatherine de' Medici (15471559) and Marie de' Medici (16001610). More famous descendants of the Medici family would include the royal family of Britain. Despite all of these incentives for economic growth and prosperity, the population of Florence at the dawn of the 17th century was a mere 75,000, far smaller than the other capitals of Italy: Rome, Milan, Venice, Palermo and Naples. The table below shows the origins of the Medici: This extract shows the branch that gave rise to the celebrated branch of the Medici descending from Giovanni "di Bicci", who founded the Medici fortunes: This is the branch of Cosimo's brother, Lorenzo, called the "Popolano" Branch, which gave rise to the Grand-Dukes of Tuscany: The origin of the Medici coat of arms is not recorded. When Cosimo I moved the Florentine administrative offices into a building known as the Uffizi, he also established a small museum. There, by the following century, the Medici were counted among the wealthy notables, although in the second rank, after leading families of the city. In architecture, the Medici were responsible for some notable features of Florence, including the Uffizi Gallery, the Boboli Gardens, the Belvedere, the Medici Chapel and the Palazzo Medici.[58]. . They and other families of Italy inspired the Italian Renaissance, such as the Visconti and Sforza in Milan, the Este in Ferrara, the Borgia in Rome, and the Gonzaga in Mantua. The Medici became the city's leading family, a position they would hold for the next three centuries. The Medici headed Europe's largest bank, became Florence's richest family, and controlled Florentine politics. The Medicis' wealth and influence was initially derived from the textile trade guided by the wool guild of Florence, the Arte della Lana. The most significant of the Medici families currently are the Medici Tornaquinci and the Medici di Ottajano. . But then decay set in. In 1537 he was assassinated by a companion who was also a relative. At least half, probably more, of Florence's people were employed by the Medici and their foundational branches in business. The Medici villa of Cafaggiolo was the family's Mugello home, located near present day Barberino di Mugello. which his descendants held until 1737. Alum is essential as a mordant in the dyeing of certain cloths and was used extensively in Florence, where the main industry was textile manufacturing. Two girls from the family also grew up to be the queens of France. It would also have reflected the family's interest in Etruscan art and culture. Members of the family rose to some prominence in the early 14th century in the wool trade, especially with France and Spain. [76] This particular influence offers an explanation for the red hue of the Medici balls, the colour of the terracotta sculpture. Through banking and commerce, the Medicis rose to become one of the most important families in Florence. [30] The Grand Duke alone had the prerogative to exploit the state's mineral and salt resources, and the fortunes of the Medici were directly tied to the Tuscan economy.[30]. Giulia Romola di Alessandro de' Medici [1] (c. 1535 - c. 1588) was the illegitimate, possibly multiracial, [2] daughter of Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence and his mistress Taddea Malaspina . Filippo (1577-1582) Four members of the Medici family went on to become the Popes of the Catholic Church. Cosimo de' Medici, the older brother, established the family's political base. They were among the earliest businesses to use the general ledger system of accounting through the development of the double-entry bookkeeping system for tracking credits and debits. In a separate pan, fry the bread crumbs with the . Contents 1 Background, pedigree and family ties 1.1 Henry II of France 1.2 Catherine de' Medici 2 Children 3 Descendants of Elizabeth of Valois To ensure the continuance of his family's success, Lorenzo planned his children's future careers for them. In comparison to the 17th century, the population of Florence declined by 50%, and the population of the grand duchy as a whole declined by an estimated 40%. Lorenzo the Elder and His Heirs. He made an enormous amount of money doing this, as did many Florentine bankers." 2. Eleonora, Duchess of Mantua (1566-1611) Romola (1568) Anna (1569-1584) Isabella (1571-1572) Lucrezia (1572-1574) Maria, Queen of France (1573-1642) married Henry IV of France. [13] The city's numerous luxurious palazzi were becoming surrounded by townhouses built by the prospering merchant class.[14]. In addition to commissions for art and architecture, the Medici were prolific collectors and today their acquisitions form the core of the Uffizi museum in Florence. 1535-1605). For example: Direct descendants of early Carolingian Kings of Italy - are also either direct descendants or distant cousins of Cosimo I de' Medici, Duke of Florence & Grand . But their policy of consolidating their position by controlling the governmentthe work of the descendants of Chiarissimo II (himself the grandson of the first known Medici)resulted in 50 years of serious misfortunes for the family (134393). The Medici were responsible for a high proportion of the major Florentine works of art created during their period of rule. Introduction. In 1530, after allying himself with Charles V, Pope Clement VII succeeded in securing the engagement of Charles V's daughter Margeret of Austria to his illegitimate nephew (reputedly his son) Alessandro de' Medici. As these descendants lost their grip on the banking empire, economic troubles with debt-ridden foreign nationals and the Pazzi conspiracy - a coup by rival banking families backed by the Catholic Church to usurp Medici control in Florence - had brought the Medici Bank to an end. To ensure that a Medici of the Cosimo line would continue to rule Florence, Pope Clement VII, nephew of Lorenzo the Magnificent, installed Alessandro (151137), reputedly his own illegitimate son, as hereditary duke of Florence. Members of the Medici family were arguably the most-conspicuous social climbers of the Renaissance period. In general, the later Medici line renounced the older generations republican sympathies and established more authoritarian rule, a change that produced stability in Florence and Tuscany, but led to the regions decline as a cultural hub. [59] Eleanor of Toledo, a princess of Spain and wife of Cosimo I the Great, purchased the Pitti Palace from Buonaccorso Pitti in 1550. After Lorenzos premature death at the age of 43, his eldest son Piero succeeded him, but he soon infuriated the public by accepting an unfavorable peace treaty with France. His two sons were Piero (1416-69) and Giovanni (1424-63). Medici is the plural of medico, meaning "medical doctor". The History Collection / Alamy Stock Photo. The Ruspanti, Gian Gastone's decrepit entourage, loathed the electress, and she them. https://www.history.com/topics/renaissance/medici-family. Cosimos elder son Francis succeeded his father, but proved a less effective ruler. [6] In 1532, the family acquired the hereditary title Duke of Florence. Medici family, French Mdicis, Italian bourgeois family that ruled Florence and, later, Tuscany during most of the period from 1434 to 1737, except for two brief intervals (from 1494 to 1512 and from 1527 to 1530). His daughter Marie would become queen of France when she married Henry IV in 1600; her son would rule as Louis XIII from 1610-43. The Florentines grieved her,[54] and she was interred in the crypt that she helped to complete, San Lorenzo. [51], The "Lorrainers", as the occupying forces were called, were popularly loathed, but the regent, the Prince de Craon, allowed the electress to live unperturbed in the Palazzo Pitti. Because of this act, considered a betrayal, the Medici had to flee Florence (1494). After Ferdinands son Cosimo II (who supported the work of the mathematician, philosopher and astronomer Galileo Galilei) died in 1720, Florence and Tuscany suffered under ineffectual Medici rule. His work demonstrated a blend of psychological insight, physical realism and intensity never before seen. So. The dynasty collapsed with a debauched duke. Catherine de' Medici became the Queen of France, and as History tells us, the family produced no less than four popes. The Medici family had up to ten bank branches: in Avignon, Venice, Rome, Naples, Milan, Pisa, Geneva, Lyon, Bruges, and London. [32] Cosimo died of consumption (tuberculosis) in 1621. Legend says the dynasty descended from a giant-slaying knight. Just supporting arts and culture can attract trade and commerce, tourism and . While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Together, they have tens of thousands of living descendants today, including all of the Roman Catholic royal families of Europebut they are not patrilineal Medici. They were and still are a pretty big name, is what we're saying. Anna Maria Luisa was offered a nominal regency by the Prince de Craon until the new grand duke could peregrinate to Tuscany, but declined. In reward, Charlemagne is said to have rewarded Averardo with the shield mauled by the giant, with the dents in the shape of balls, and the giant's lands in Mugello. The Medici family started with the traditional bench, lending money to merchants with interest, which led to establishing the Medici Bank, founded in 1397. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. [40] At the time of his death, the population of the grand duchy was 730,594; the streets were lined with grass and the buildings on the verge of collapse in Pisa.[41]. With this intention I now go. By 1722, the electress was not even acknowledged as heiress, and Cosimo was reduced to spectator at the conferences for Tuscany's future. After only two years in power, he was forced out of the city in 1494, and died in exile. Like other families ruling in Italian signorie, the Medici dominated their city's government, were able to bring Florence under their family's power, and created an environment in which art and humanism flourished. The extinction of the main Medici dynasty and the accession in 1737 of Francis Stephen, Duke of Lorraine and husband of Maria Theresa of Austria, led to Tuscany's temporary inclusion in the territories of the Austrian crown. [75], Alternatively, it has been suggested that the Medici coat of arms was initially inspired by symbols drawn from Etruscan votive sculpture, examples of which feature an oval dome with balls (echoing the forms of the Medici shield), as well as six balls within a triangle (as found in the alternative, triangular version of the Medici emblem). Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici (c. 13601429), son of Averardo de' Medici (13201363), increased the wealth of the family through his creation of the Medici Bank, and became one of the richest men in the city of Florence. The barbarous, unenlightened Middle Ages were over, they said; the new age would be a rinascit (rebirth) of learning and literature, art and culture. Updates? In this article we will talk about the Medici, one of the largest, most powerful and richest Italian families ever, who remained in power for about 300 years.They have been popes, sovereigns and patrons, they have promoted art and culture and they have given to their territory such glory and prestige that they can never be replicated again! In 1433, the Albizzi managed to have Cosimo exiled. The Medici story began around the 12th century, when family members from the Tuscan village of Cafaggiolo emigrated to Florence. Eldest son of Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Cosimo the Elder and his father started the Medici foundations in banking and manufacturingincluding a form of franchises. Cosimo de Medici, the older brother, established the familys political base. Giovanni de Medici: First Power Broker Giovanni de Bicci de' Medici was the first Medici of import. [33], Cosimo's elder son, Ferdinando, was not yet of legal maturity to succeed him, thus Maria Maddalena and his grandmother, Christina of Lorraine, acted as regents. He was called "Piero the Gouty" because of the gout that pained his foot and led to his death. Smithsonian Magazine.The Medici Family. The Medici, rulers of Renaissance Florence, are not the most obvious example of a multiracial family. The Medici remained in exile until 1512 when the descendants of Cosimo de Medici returned and ruled until 1537. Azure, three fleurs-de-lis or) was granted by Louis XI in 1465. The Habsburgs were deposed in favor of the House of Bourbon-Parma in 1801 (themselves deposed in 1807), but were later restored at the Congress of Vienna. His contemporaries read more, Known as the Renaissance, the period immediately following the Middle Ages in Europe saw a great revival of interest in the classical learning and values of ancient Greece and Rome. Giovanni's elder son, Cosimo de. It is said that Alessandro had his cousin Ippolito killed shortly before he himself was done away with by another vengeful member of the clan. Genealogy of the Medici family of Florence, 1569. View Site Catherine d'Medici - King's College Catherine de' Medici was born to the Medici family of Florence in 1519. After 1340 an economic depression throughout Europe forced these more powerful houses into bankruptcy. The Medici family were patrons of Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. The Medici briefly became leaders of Christendom through their two famous 16th century popes, Leo X and Clement VII. The mob hastened to seek out Salvestros first cousin, Vieri, who was, however, able to fade away without losing face. Known to history as Cosimo the Elder, he lived a spartan life but was a devoted patron of the humanities, supporting artists such as Lorenzo Ghiberti, Filippo Brunelleschi, Donatello and Fra Angelico. 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