Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Medici of Florence
The Medici family held power in Florence
almost continuously from 1434 until
1743. Their rule began discreetly
enough with Cosimo il Vecchio, son of
a self-made man, Giovanni di Bicci. For
years, Cosimo and his descendants
directed policy with popular support, but
without ever being voted into office. Later
generations gained titles and power but
ruled by force. Two were elected pope
and, after the Republic
(see pp52-3)
, the
decadent Alessandro took the title Duke
of Florence. From him control passed to Cosimo I, who
was crowned Grand Duke of Tuscany.
Medici coat
of arms,
San Lorenzo
Giovanni di Bicci
An astute merchant banker, he
founded the Medici fortune.
Giovanni di Bicci
(1360 -1429)
Cosimo il Vecchio
(1389 -1464)
1
Piero the Gouty
(1416 -69)
2
Lorenzo the
Magnificent
(1449 -92)
Giuliano
(1453 -78)
3
Giulio, Pope Clement VII
(1478 -1534)
Piero
(1472 -1503)
Giuliano,
Duke of Nemours
(1479 -1516)
Giovanni,
Pope Leo X
(1475 -1521)
4
5
7
Lorenzo the Magnificent
A poet and statesman,
Lorenzo was the model
Renaissance man. One
of his greatest achieve-
ments was to negotiate
peace among the cities
of northern Italy.
Alessandro, Duke of Florence
(1511-37: parentage uncertain)
8
Lorenzo,
Duke of Urbino
(1492 -1519)
6
Catherine, Duchess of
Urbino
m
Henry II of
France (1519 -89)
Catherine of France
Catherine married
Henri II of France in
1533. She is shown
with two of her
sons, who both
became French
kings: Charles IX
and Henri III.
Yet another son
became Francis II
of France.
Pope Leo X
Elected pope when only 38, Leo's corrupt
plans to fund the rebuilding of St Peter's in
Rome triggered a furious reaction that led
to the birth of the Protestant movement.
