History of the Medici Rulers 1. The mob hastened to seek out Salvestros first cousin, Vieri, who was, however, able to fade away without losing face. Cosimo the Elder and his father started the Medici foundations in banking and manufacturingincluding a form of franchises. He bought what became the Palazzo Medici . This led to the transfer of Medici blood, through Catherine's daughters, to the royal family of Spain through Elisabeth of Valois, and the House of Lorraine through Claude of Valois. For most of the 13th century, the leading banking centre in Italy was Siena. [79], Old coat of arms of the Medici used by Giovanni di Bicci and Cosimo the Elder, The intermediate coat of arms of the Medici, Or, six balls in orle gules, The "augmented coat of arms of the Medici, Or, five balls in orle gules, in chief a larger one of the arms of France (viz. The Medici family had a long and powerful influence in European history for hundreds of years. Cosimo understood immediately that the only way to protect the fortune they had gathered was to acquire an even larger political influence in Florence. [17] Involvement in another plot in 1400 caused all branches of the family to be banned from Florentine politics for twenty years, with the exception of two. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The House of Medici (English: / m d t i / MED-i-chee, Italian: [mditi]) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici, in the Republic of Florence during the first half of the 15th century. [57] Lorenzo also served as patron to Leonardo da Vinci (14521519) for seven years. Unlike his father, Piero had little interest in the arts. Omissions? Did you know? Because of this act, considered a betrayal, the Medici had to flee Florence (1494). Pope Leo X would chiefly commission works from Raphael, whereas Pope Clement VII commissioned Michelangelo to paint the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel just before the pontiff's death in 1534. Updates? In 1569, the duchy was elevated to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany after territorial expansion. [sibling (s) unknown] Husband of Leonor lvarez (Toledo) de Medici married 29 Mar 1539 (to 17 Dec 1562) in By Proxy. A distant cousin of Salvestro was Averardo de Medici (or Bicci), whose progeny became the famous Medici of history. Giovannis elder son, Cosimo de Medici (1389-1464), rose to political power in 1434 and ruled Florence as an uncrowned monarch for the rest of his life. But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! Cosimo and Lorenzo rarely held official posts but were the unquestioned leaders. 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. 15 Feb 1471, d. 28 Dec 1503. His work demonstrated a blend of psychological insight, physical realism and intensity never before seen. [74], As an Italian vocabulary word, "medici" means "medical doctors" and identifications with the family members as physicians may be found among their names as early as the eleventh century. The latter died before his father, who in death received the title Father of His Country. Piero di Cosimo de Medici maintained and strengthened the political fortunes of the family. 3. Answer (1 of 3): The authentic Medici bloodline is long dead: they went extinct in the 1700s, the last man being Giangastone de Medici. Main article: House of Medici Contents 1Root Medici Tree 2Medici family tree (Grand Dukes of Tuscany) 3Structure of the family tree lines 4The descendants line 4.1Origins 4.2Branch of Salvestro di Averardo 4.3Branch of Cafaggiolo 4.4Branch of Popolano (Trebbio)/Grand Ducal Branch 5Cornerstone figures of the line of succession 6Places 7See also Francesco married Johanna of Austria, and with his consort produced Eleonora de' Medici, Duchess of Mantua, and Marie de' Medici, Queen of France and Navarre. At the b ottom left, the representation of the river divinity of the Arno can be seen. He died the same month, but his successor, Pope Paul V, was also pro-Medici. The Medici remained in exile until 1512 when the descendants of Cosimo de Medici returned and ruled until 1537. [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. 2. 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. Acting, Distant cousin of Alessandro de' Medici, Son of. The Medici Bank, from when it was created in 1397 to its fall in 1494, was one of the most prosperous and respected institutions in Europe, and the Medici family was considered the wealthiest in Europe for a time. The background shows the family's influence in the region. [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). 2. Giovanni's elder son, Cosimo de. 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. [78] Such favours would have included the wish for a strong and healthy family, both for the supplicant and their descendants. 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 . Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici were married on October 28, 1533, and their marriage produced ten children. [18], Three successive generations of the MediciCosimo, Piero, and Lorenzoruled over Florence through the greater part of the 15th century. The Galileo Project. 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. Ferdinando, although no longer a cardinal, exercised much influence at successive conclaves. The latter died before his father, who in death received the title "Father of His Country." Descendants Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany Maria (1540-1557) Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1541-1587) married Johanna of Austria. By the early 1520s, few descendants of Cosimo the Elder remained. The Medici family . "They are doing this without asking permission," said Marchese Giuliano Medici Tornaquinci, an elder of the family clan that now lives in Rome. When Cosimo I moved the Florentine administrative offices into a building known as the Uffizi, he also established a small museum. There are six descendants of the Medici family, including Princess Costanza de 'Medici. Cosimo purchased a portion of the island of Elba from the Republic of Genoa and based the Tuscan navy there. That shield was red strewn with Byzantine coins (bezants). After 1340 an economic depression throughout Europe forced these more powerful houses into bankruptcy. They first attained wealth and political power in Florence through their success in commerce and banking. Giovanni, at that time a cardinal, used his influence with Pope Julius II to bring the family back to positions of power. Please join us. His conduct at the banquets was less than regal; he often vomited repeatedly into his napkin, belched, and regaled those present with socially inappropriate jokes. Cousin of Cardinal Ippolito de' Medici, illegitimate son of Lorenzo II de' Medici, Duke of Urbino or Pope Clement VII. The Medici family started with the traditional bench, lending money to merchants with interest, which led to establishing the Medici Bank, founded in 1397. The deaths of Alessandro and Ippolito enabled the Medici's "junior" branch to lead Florence. 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. During Cosimos time, as well as that of his sons and particularly his grandson Lorenzo de Medici, the Italian Renaissance flourished, and Florence became the cultural center of Europe. 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. which his descendants held until 1737. The family originally came from a village in Tuscany but eventually migrated to Florence, its capital. All Rights Reserved. Piero II de Medici+ b. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Medici Giovanni (de') 1360 - 1429 Bueri Piccarda 1368 - 1433 Bardi Alessandro (de') 1360 - Pannocchieschi Camilla - Medici Cosimo (de') 1389 - 1464 Bardi Lotta (de') 1391 - 1473 Medici Piero (de') 1416 - 1472 Tornabuoni Lucrezia - Medici Lorenzo (de') 1449 - 1492 View full family tree Source : 19riccardo60 More information The House of Medici produced 4 popes - Leo X (1513-1521), Clement VII (1523-1534), Pius IV (1559-1565) and Leo XI (1605). [19] These three members of the Medici family had great skills in the management of so "restive and independent a city" as Florence. With Vieri this branch of the Medici was to disappear definitively from history. The Medici villa of Cafaggiolo was the family's Mugello home, located near present day Barberino di Mugello. Click to learn more! The most significant of the Medici families currently are the Medici Tornaquinci and the Medici di Ottajano. By the 1520s, nonetheless, the descendants of Cosimo the Elder had become few in number. He made an enormous amount of money doing this, as did many Florentine bankers." 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. In collaboration with the Holy Roman Emperor and Grand Duke Francis of Lorraine, she willed all the personal property of the Medici to the Tuscan state, provided that nothing was ever removed from Florence. One unproven story traces their ancestry to a knight of Charlemagne's, Averardo, who defeated a giant, Mugello. Both businesses were very profitable and the family became extremely wealthy. Anna Maria Luisa was offered a nominal regency by the Prince de Craon until the new grand duke could peregrinate to Tuscany, but declined. The line of Chiarissimo II failed to gain power in Florence in the 14th century. 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]. Needless to conclude, that the world has need of people like the Medicis still. In 1433, the Albizzi managed to have Cosimo exiled. [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. He commanded the draining of the Tuscan marshlands, built a road network in southern Tuscany and cultivated trade in Livorno. Descendants of members of the silk guild and descendants of attorneys both at the 93rd percentile in 1427 are among the wealthiest families today. This read more, The Romanov family was the last imperial dynasty to rule Russia. Cosimo de' Medici. Smithsonian Magazine.The Medici Family. Main article: House of Medici Contents 1Root Medici Tree 2Medici family tree (Grand Dukes of Tuscany) 3Structure of the family tree lines 4The descendants line 4.1Origins 4.2Branch of Salvestro di Averardo 4.3Branch of Cafaggiolo 4.4Branch of Popolano (Trebbio)/Grand Ducal Branch 5Cornerstone figures of the line of succession 6Places 7See also 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. Only Great Britain and the Dutch Republic gave any credence to it, and the plan ultimately died with Cosimo III in 1723.[45]. 7 Things You May Not Know About the Medicis. 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. Palaces of the Medici Family in Florence. The restoration of the republic would entail resigning Siena to the Holy Roman Empire, but, regardless, it was vehemently endorsed by his government. Lorenzo's son Piero II took over as the head of Florence after Lorenzo's death. Elected to the Papacy, becoming Pope Leo X. Pieros son, also named Lorenzo, regained power in Florence, and his daughter Catherine de Medici (1519-1589) would become queen of France after marrying King Henry II; three of her four sons would rule France as well. The Medici family has also been the subject of medico-historical interest, as many of its most prominent figures were known to have suffered from debilitating illnesses throughout their lives. More famous descendants of the Medici family would include the royal family of Britain. The grand duchy witnessed degrees of economic growth under the early grand dukes, but was bankrupt by the time of Cosimo III de' Medici (r. 16701723). View Site Catherine d'Medici - King's College Catherine de' Medici was born to the Medici family of Florence in 1519. The second son, Lorenzo (144992), became in his own time Il Magnifico (The Magnificent). Salvestro more or less willingly stirred up an insurrection of the ciompi, the artisans of the lowest class, against his rivals and, after the rebellions victory, was not above reaping substantial monetary and titular advantages. One Salvestro de' Medici was speaker of the woolmakers' guild during the Ciompi revolt of 137882, and one Antonio de' Medici was exiled from Florence in 1396. Pius II granted the Medici family a monopoly on the mining there, making them the primary producers of alum in Europe.[24]. His son Giovanni di Bicci de Medici (13601429), considered the first of the great Medici, inherited the family business based on cloth and silk manufacturing and on banking operations and made the family powerfully prosperous. Eldest son of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. Two girls from the family also grew up to be the queens of France. Thus began the reign of Medici monarchs in Florence, which lasted two centuries. He served on the Florentine board of war, called the Dieci (The Ten), and held other posts. Her name was the Contessina de' Bardi. Some of these villagers, in the 12th century perhaps, became aware of the new opportunities afforded by commerce and emigrated to Florence. Despite the presence of some Medici in the city's government institutions, they were still far less notable than other outstanding families such as the Albizzi or the Strozzi. The pact states that the artworks belong to the state to educate people about the Medici family and attract tourism. 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! [44] Cosimo desperately tried to reach a settlement with the European powers, but Tuscany's legal status was very complicated: the area of the grand duchy formerly comprising the Republic of Siena was technically a Spanish fief, while the territory of the old Republic of Florence was thought to be under imperial suzerainty. Assuming the mantle of family power from Lorenzo, Piero alienated the people of Florence by siding with the French. The Medici were originally of Tuscan peasant origin, from the village of Cafaggiolo in the Mugello, the valley of the Sieve, north of Florence. . With that said, there was a . Although he never held any political office, he gained strong popular support for the family through his support for the introduction of a proportional system of taxation. The family also got its genes mixed with those of most royal families in Europe. Perhaps God wills that this war, which began in the blood of my brother and of myself, should be ended by any means. What problems did the Medici family face? Ancestors. 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%. An exceedingly discontented pairing, this union produced three children, notably Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, Electress Palatine, and the last Medicean Grand Duke of Tuscany, Gian Gastone de' Medici. Ferdinando eagerly assumed the government of Tuscany. The Medici family were at the time the de facto rulers of Florence: originally bankers, they came to great wealth and power by bankrolling the monarchies of Europe. He married Maria Maddalena of Austria, with whom he had his eight children, including Margherita de' Medici, Ferdinando II de' Medici, and an Anna de' Medici. In the 15th century the line of Cosimo the Elder set up a hereditary principate in Florence but without legal right or title, hence subject to sudden overthrow; crowns burgeoned, however, on the last branches of their genealogical tree, for two of them were dukes outside Florence, their last heir in a direct line became queen of France (Catherine de Mdicis), and their final offspring, Alessandro, was duke of Florence. 1535-1605). [76] This particular influence offers an explanation for the red hue of the Medici balls, the colour of the terracotta sculpture. Giovanni . Through banking and commerce, the Medicis rose to become one of the most important families in Florence. The period has even been called the century of Leo X. From 1513 to 1521, surrounded by five nephews and cousins whom he had named cardinals, Leo X reigned less over Christianity than over arts and letters in the style of his father, the Magnificent, too occupied with patronage to pay sufficient attention to an unimportant monk by the name of Martin Luther. [13] The city's numerous luxurious palazzi were becoming surrounded by townhouses built by the prospering merchant class.[14]. THE MEDICI FAMILY THE MEDICI FAMILY: the most rich and powerful family of Italy! Tuscany was overrun with religious orders, not all of whom were obliged to pay taxes. As such, Medici rule stagnated until the next generation, when Piero's son Lorenzo took over. In 1534, following a lengthy illness, Pope Clement VII diedand with him the stability of the Medici's "senior" branch. These descendants included Cosimo I, who became Duke of Florence in 1537 and grand duke of Tuscany in 1569. In France, Marie de' Medici was acting as regent for her son, Louis XIII. 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