Figure 1.--
|
Figure 1.-- |
The popolo grasso part 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.
No family is more associated with Florence than the Meduci and for 3 cebnturies they were the dominant force in the city's history.
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. 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 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 champing 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. Lorenzo was wounded during the Pazzi conspiracy (1478).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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 suceeded his father Cosimo.
Fernando I replaced his brother Francesco. 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.
Ferdinando's reign was followed by that of his son Ferdinando II. The city's possition, however, became increasingly untenablw 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site royal pages:
[Main Florentine page]
[Main Italian states page]
[Main royal pages]
[Austria]
[Belgium]
[Denmark]
[France]
[Germany]
[German states]
[Italy]
[Luxemburg]
[Monaco]
[Netherlands]
[Norway]
[Romania]
[Russia]
[Spain]
[United Kingdom]