Florence Royalty: The Medici



Figure 1.--This work by Gozzoli was painted about 1460. It shows the court of Cosimo de'Medici (1389-1464). Cosimo is the elderly man dressed in blue riding the mule. For some reason he is peeting suspiciosly at the arrist. By his side on his left riding a white horse is his son Piero (1416-69). We think the boy to Cosimo's right is Piero's son Lorenzo (1449-92). While his father proved a weak leader, Lorenzo became known in history as Lorenzo the Magnificent--the very embodiment of a Renaissance prince.

The popolo grasso party in Florence gained political power near the end of the 14th century. The city for 40 years was ruled by a small group of middle=class merchants. Gradually opposition grew. Merchants who had been excluded from power incited popular opposition. Giovanni de' Medici who was head of the richest and company of Calimala emerged as the leader of the popular forces. Giovanni died (1429). Political tensions grew and poular loyalties increasingly focused on the Medici. Giovanni's oldest son emerged as a virtual feudal lord of Florence, but retained a republican facade. He died (1464) and was replaced by the weak Piero the Gouty (1464-1469). Next came Piero's son, Lorenzo the Magnificent. Lorenzo continued the Medici practice of maintaing the republican facade of the Commune, but in effect turned the city into a feudal duchy. Except in name, Lorenzo was every bit a feudal lord. He is best known as a lover and patron of the arts and philosophy. He was a strong force in promoting humanism. Lorenzo was wounded during the Pazzi conspiracy (1478). Popular opinion swing against thev Medici. An aestetic, purtanical Dominican priest named Savanarola who was critical of humanism and the art of the Renaissance seized control of Florence briefly before being burned as a heritic. The Florentine Republic formally came to an end with Alessandro (1530). The armies of the Pope Clemente VII and the Emperor Charles V beseiged the city with a Spanish army (1529) and installed Allesandro first Duke of Florence. Cosimo expanded the borders and became Grand Duke of Tuscany. After Cosimo the influence of Florence gradually declined.

Great Medici Figures

No family is more associated with Florence than the Meduci and for 3 centuries they were the dominant force in the city's history. But the Medici meant much more to Europe. Florence under the Medici became the cultural center of Europe and the focal point of the Renaissance and the new Humanism.

Early Medicis

The Medici emerged as a wealthy Folorence family (12th century). Gradually they crossed the line from wealth to great wealth. One of the family members achieved the office of gonfalero. By this time the Medici were probably the riches family in Europe.

Savestro ( -1383)

Savestro first achieved political power for the Medici. He led a revolt against the ciompi (artisan guilds). He was extremly popular and able to function as a dictator. Gradually his popularity fell and he was banished (1383).

Giovanni (1421-29)

The popolo grasso part in Florence gained political power near the end of the 14th century. Florence was governed by an oligarchy. The city for 40 years was ruled by a small group of middle=class merchants. Gradually opposition grew. Merchants who had been excluded from powerincited popular opposition. Giovanni de' Medici who was head of the richest and company of Calimala emerged as the leader of the popular forces. He was elected gonfalero (1421). Giovanni died (1429). He began the Medici tradition of merchant princes.

Cosimo (1434-64)

Political tensions grew and poular loyalties increasingly focused on the Medici. Giovanni's oldest son, Cosimo, emerged as a virtual feudal lord of Florence, but retained a republican facade. Cosimo gained control of Florence (1434), but ruled without title. It would be Cosimo who would found the fortunes of the deMidici family. He ran Florence as a depotism--but a constitutional despotosm. He lost a struggle fir power with the Albizzi and was banished. His supporters managed to get him recalled and the Albizzi were banished. While only a city state, Cosimo's court was one of the most important in Europe (figure 1). Cosimo was emensly wealthy and spent lavishly on Florence. He built churches and financed great works of art. Cosimo died (1464). Cosimo'descendents would populate royal houses throughout Europe. They would rule as the grand dules of Tuscany until 1737.

Piero the Gouty (1464-1469)

Cosimo was suceeded by the weak Piero the Gouty (1464-1469).

Lorenzo the Magnificent ( -1492)

Next came Piero's son, Lorenzo (1449-92)--known to history as the Magnificent. The titles comes from his role as aoweing figure of the Renaissance. Lorenso suceeded his father at the age of 20 years. He would rule Florence for 23 years, often behind the scenes. Lorenzo continued the Midici practice of maintaing the republican facade of the Commune. Except in name, Lorenzo was every bit a feudal lord. Lorenzo is the most famous of all the Medici. The Medici who had made their name by championing the popular interests, changed with Lorenzo who promoted the the political interests of the nobility. He is best known as a lover and patron of the arts and philosophy. He was a strong force in promoting humanism. He is the very definition of a Renaissance man. He not only was a poet, philosopher, patrin of the arts, but also a vvery astute politican. He sought to preserve peace in Italy by acting as a balancing force among the warring Italian states. His financial support of Pope Innocent VIII helped obtain appoint as cardinal for his son Giovanni--later Pope Leo X. He tolerated the attacks of Girolamo Savonarola. Lorenzo spent lavishly to acquire Greek and Latin manuscripts and to have them copied to make them available throughout Europe. He promoted the use of Italian in literature. Lorenzo was wounded during the Pazzi conspiracy (1478).

Pietro the Unlucky (1492- )

Lorenzo sons Pietro was known as the Unlucky. He did not have his father's political skills. His unwise leadership soon resukted in the undermining the Mefici power structure in the city. Pietro's policy toward Charles VIII's invasion proved extremely unpopular in the city.

Girolamo Savonarola ( -1498)

Popular opinion swing against thev Medici. An aestetic, purtanical Dominican priest critical of humanism and the art of the Renaissance preached against the Medici. After the overthrow of the Medici, Savonarola was elected to lead the republic. He instututed political reforms. A "Gran Consiglio" was formed composed of the leading Florentine families. Savonarola's control of Florence was short lived. Savonarola's aestic views were not in keeping with the throughly humanidstic outlook of the Renaissance popes and could be viewed as criticism of them. The Church judged Savonarola a heretic and Pope Alexander VI order him burned at the stake in the Piazza della Signoria among considerable popular jubilation (1498). It was here that Micelangelo created his famous David. He set it in front of the Palazzo della Signoria to perperually guard Florentine freedom.

Return of the Medici

The Medici returned to power after the fall of Savonarola. Not only did the Medici receive the support of the pope, but the King of Aragon. The king who not only controlled Sicily and Naples, but was expabing his influence in norther Italy. Declining French influence made possible Giovanni de' Medici choice as pope (1512) and next Giulio (Clement VII). With the family in power in the Vatican, Medici power in Florence seemed invulneranle. Piero, son of Lorenzo the Magnificent, was driven out of Florence by the republicans, who were aided by the French, when his son Lorenzo was only 2 years old. The papal-led Holy League, aided by the Spanish, however, finally defeated the rebels (1512). The Medici and Lorenzo the Magnificent’s constitution and descendents were restored to power in Florence. Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici (1492-1519) ruled the Duchy (1513-19). There were great expectations. Marriage with Madeleine de La Tour d’Auvergne, a Bourbon princess related to many of the French nobility meant a French alliance. Niccolò Machiavelli addressed his treatise The Prince Lorenzo. He recomended the unification of Italy by arming the whole nation and expelling its foreign invaders. A possibly important regime was cut short by disease. The marriagecdid produce a daughter Catherine de'Medici (1519), one of the most important sciuon of the family. Catherine almost instantly became an orophan.

Republican Rule

The sack of Rome (1527) changed the political situation in Florence. A popular rebellion overthrew the Medici. This was the last effoirt at reserecting a republican regime in the city. The city was beseiged by the combined forces of the pope and Holy Roman emoeror.

Alessandro de'Medici (1530-37)

The Florentine Republic formally came to an end with Alessandro (1530). The armies of the Pope Clemente VII and the Emperor Charles V beseiged the city with a Spanish army (1529). Clemente was the son of Giuliano de' Medici and brother of Lorenzo the Magnificent. The Spanish after an 11-month siege entered the city (1530). With the fall of the republic, Michelangelo was forced to leave Florence again. He was eventually re-called to Rome to paint the Sistine Chapel frescoes. Alessandro de' Medici with the support of the emperor was declared "head of the government and of the state"--the first Duke od Florence. Alessandro assumed the title of "Duke of the Florentine Republic". The Medici were no longer the propnents of the popular party. Alessandro instituted a tyranny and established new institutions of state under his control. He persued a policy of forming alliances with important royal families in Europe. Here he achireved considerable success. He married a daughter of Emperor Charles V and married his stepsister Caterina to the second son of French king Francis I. There was considerable opposition to the Medici in Florence. Filippo Strozzi led an attempt to over throw the Medici, but failed even though Lorenzino de' Medici assassinated Alessandro (1537).

Cosimo il Giovane (1537-74)

The successor was Cosimo il Giovane, son of Giovanni delle Bande Nere. This was a junior branch of the family. Since the line of Cosimo the Elder had ended. Cosimo was very young, only 17 years old. Cosimo was from the younger generation of the Medici family. He became the second Duke of Florence and subsequently the Grand Duke of Tuscany (1569). The Grand Duchy of Tscany not only included Florence, but also Pisa and Sienna which Cosmio acquired in military expedditions. Cosimo succeeded in establiing an autocratic regime. He crushed the domestic opposition and building the power of the Florentine state. Pope Pius V crowned him as grand duke of Tuscany. At his death he left Florence a monarchial state (1574).

Francesco (1574-87)

Francesco suceeded his father Cosimo.

Ferdinando I (1587-1609)

Fernando I replaced his older brother Francesco as Grand Duke of Tuscany. He probably is as close as one can come to a perfect Renaissance prince, although the small dimensions of Tuscny compared to France and Spain limited his influence. Ferdinando maintained his father's policy and the Grand Duchy prospered although economic changes in Europe were not advantageous to the city. Ferdinando skillfully played the French and Spanish off on each other. Fernando was born (1549). He was the fifth son (third in line at birth) of Cosimo I and Eleanor of Toledo, the daughter of Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, Marquis of Villafranca, and the Spanish viceroy of the Kingdom of Naples. Pope Pius IV (one of the Medici popes) made him a Cardinal (1562) Fernando was only 14 years old. It was a sign that he was not expected to being grand duke. Pius IV was best known for preciding over the final session of the Council of Trent. Fernando was never ordained into the priesthood, but worked as a church administrator in Rome. He developed a reputation for a competent administrator. He founded the Villa Medici in Rome and acquired important works of art (including the Medici lions). The Medici were known as patrons of the arts. He brought much of his collection of art back to florence when his briyher died and he became grand duke, he as still a reltively young man (1587). He was very different than his older brother. Contemporaties describe him as approachable and generous. He was a mild ruler. He reestablished a fair justice system and historians described him as being genuinely concerned with the the welfare of his subjects. Fernando managed to reexert the independence of the Duchy that his brother had largely given up. His most important effort was to foster commerce and the Duchy gained substantial wealth through the Medici banks, which were established in the major cities of Europe. This was an important commercial development and a factoir in the invention of capitaism (17th century). He enacted an edict of tolerance for Jews and heretics. Livorno became a haven for the Sephardic Jews that had been driven froim Spain. The Roman Inquisition was not as driven as the Spamnish inquisuition.

Ferdinando II (1609-21)

Ferdinando I's reign was followed by that of his son Ferdinando II. The city's possition, however, became increasingly untenable with the expandong power of the major European centalized monarchies. Florence was a rich city, but it was only a city with limited surrounding territory, It could not compete with the centalized states of France and Spain. The political changes in Europe also affected the econmiy. Floretine trade and manufacturing was declining, as European countries promoted domestic manufacture under the mercantile system. Ferdinando II was succeeded by the sickly Ferdinando II.

Maria Magdalena of Austria (1621-28)

Upon Ferdinando's death (1621), his son was still a child. His wife Maria Magdalena of Austria and his mother Christine of Lorraine (notice the ballance in Medici diplmacy) oversaw a regeny for Ferdinando's son.

Ferdinando II (1628-70)

Ferdinando II assumed the throne (1628) and had an extended reign. Ferdinando by most accounts was a capable ruler, some judge him the most capable of the Medici. His competency, however, could not alter the fundamental shifts in the European power balance. The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a minor power. The city was no longer an important military power. It continued as a cultural center of some importance. Accademies were fonded in the city. The Accademia della Crusca is notable for its effort to compile a Dictionary (1612). The Accademia del Cimento wasof some importance in science and was founded by Leopoldo de' Medici (1657) and supported by his older brother Ferdinando II. Both had been pupils of Galileo, the last great genius prooduced by Florence.

Successors

Florence's position continued to deteriorate for his successors. Gian Gastone was the last of the Medicci. He died without a successor (1737). With the death of Gian, the important European powers meeting in Vienna, decided to tranfer the Grand Duchy of Tuscany to Francis I, Duke of Lorraine. The Medici riches became the property of the House of Lorena, which was related to the imperial family.

The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance

Justin Hardy's TV documentary film, "The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance" (2004) is an excellent historical overview. The film dramatizes the rich and often violent history of the famous Florentine family that dominated one corner of Italy culturally, politically, and religously for almost two centuries. The film was produced in the UK and shown on television in the United States as a PBS series. It begins in 1400 when the family were rising to power and influence as merchant princes and bankers and takes the story forward to the end of the reign of Cosimo I, Duke of Florence, in the 16th century. The most impressive of the Medici rulers was probably Lorenzo de Medici (patron of Michelangelo, Bottecelli, Ficino, and other great artists and humanist intellectuals). The family produced no fewer than three popes (including the famous Leo X). Of course the roles of historical figures are reconstructed and interpreted by modern actors.








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Created: May 16, 2004
Last updated: 11:12 PM 10/6/2018