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! [13] The city's numerous luxurious palazzi were becoming surrounded by townhouses built by the prospering merchant class.[14]. 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 For most of the 13th century, the leading banking centre in Italy was Siena. As I have had more honour and responsibility among you than any private citizen has had in our day, I am more bound than any other person to serve our country, even at the risk of my life. 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. Did you know? 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 Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Giulia de' Medici. She lived the rest of her life deprived of any political influence. . Cousin of Cardinal Ippolito de' Medici, illegitimate son of Lorenzo II de' Medici, Duke of Urbino or Pope Clement VII. Please join us. Her name was the Contessina de' Bardi. The few years of this period are often considered to be the apogee of the Medici age. Lorenzos great-great-grandson Cosimo (1519-1574) became duke of Florence in 1537, then grand duke of Tuscany in 1569. . And at the heart of Florence sat the Medici - perhaps the ugliest family in all of Italian history. The familys roots supposedly are linked to one of Charlemagnes eighth-century knights, named Averardo. Pius II granted the Medici family a monopoly on the mining there, making them the primary producers of alum in Europe.[24]. The House of Medici (English: /mdti/ MED-i-chee,[4] 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. The main challengers to the Albizzi family were the Medici, first under Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici, later under his son Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici and great-grandson, Lorenzo de' Medici. Part 2 and 3 follow the line of Giovanni di . 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). 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. How the Medici Used Portraits as Propaganda. A distant cousin of Salvestro was Averardo de Medici (or Bicci), whose progeny became the famous Medici of history. The background shows the family's influence in the region. In 1537 he was assassinated by a companion who was also a relative. 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. Upon Vittoria's death in 1694, her allodial possessions, the Duchies of Rovere and Montefeltro, passed to her younger son. He initiated the Medici's rise to power. It provided the Roman Catholic Church with four popes (Leo X, Clement VII, Pius IV, and Leon XI) and married into the royal families of Europe (most notably in France, in the persons of Queens Catherine de Mdici and Marie de Mdicis). [35] Harold Acton, an Anglo-Italian historian, ascribed the decline of Tuscany to the Turtici regency. By the 1520s, few descendants of Cosimo the Elder remained. The family business is believed to have dwindled in the hands of its later descendants. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The first grand duke of the new dynasty, Francis I, was a great-great-great-grandson of Francesco I de' Medici, thus he continued the Medicean Dynasty on the throne of Tuscany through the female line. which his descendants held until 1737. [1], Coat of Arms of the Grand-Duke of Tuscany, Coat of Arms of Catherine of Medici, as Queen of France, Coat of Arms of Maria of Medici, as Queen of France, Coat of Arms of the Grand-Duchy of Tuscany, Italian banking family and political dynasty, "Medicis" redirects here. What problems did the Medici family face? Giuliano, who received the French title of duc de Nemours, was in poor health and died relatively young. [38] The war effort was costly and the treasury so empty because of it that when the Castro mercenaries were paid for, the state could no longer afford to pay interest on government bonds, with the result that the interest rate was lowered by 0.75%. Ultimately, it reached its zenith in the papacy and continued to flourish for centuries afterward as Dukes of Florence and Tuscany. Patrilineal descendants today: 0; Total descendants today: about 40,000. Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine, Anna Maria Luisa's spouse, successfully requisitioned the dignity Royal Highness for the Grand Duke and his family in 1691, despite the fact that they had no claim to any kingdom. The line of Chiarissimo II failed to gain power in Florence in the 14th century. In 1378, Salvestro de' Medici proposed a reform widening the suffrage within the Republic, attracting the sympathy of the population for his family. Overthrown when. 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). During the Russian Revolution read more, The Renaissance was a fervent period of European cultural, artistic, political and economic rebirth following the Middle Ages. The conspirators approached Sixtus IV in the hopes of gaining his approval, as he and the Medici had a long rivalry themselves, but the pope gave no official sanction to the plan. The last ruler of the House of Medici was Gian Gastone, who died in 1737. 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. The Medicis produced four popes (Leo X, Clement VII, Pius IV and Leo XI), and their genes have been mixed into many of Europes royal families. Henry and Catherine became the ancestors of monarchs of several countries. These descendants included Cosimo I, who became Duke of Florence in 1537 and grand duke of Tuscany in 1569. Introduction. [46] On 25 October 1723, six days before his death, Grand Duke Cosimo disseminated a final proclamation commanding that Tuscany stay independent: Anna Maria Luisa would succeed uninhibited to Tuscany after Gian Gastone, and the grand duke reserved the right to choose his successor. Born in 1360, he essentially founded the Medici dynasty. This generation of grand dukes ruled by force, and reduced Florence's reputation as a cultural capitol. The Medici family were patrons of Galileo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo. . Clement also convinced Charles V to name Alessandro as Duke of Florence. 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 Florentines grieved her,[54] and she was interred in the crypt that she helped to complete, San Lorenzo. Both businesses were very profitable and the family became extremely wealthy. In the same year, 1532, Clement VII abolished the citys old constitution. For example, the Medici family gained political control over Florence in the 1430s, which ultimately led to the end of the Florence Republic and led to their reign as monarchs over the city-state. Ferdinando's marriage to Vittoria della Rovere produced two children: Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Francesco Maria de' Medici, Duke of Rovere and Montefeltro. 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. The Medici were expelled from Florence from 1494 to 1512 after Piero acceded to all of the demands of invader Charles VIII of France. 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. Filippo (1577-1582) [10] The origin of the name is uncertain. To ensure the continuance of his family's success, Lorenzo planned his children's future careers for them. I have decided, with your approval, to sail for Naples immediately, believing that as I am the person against whom the activities of our enemies are chiefly directed, I may, perhaps, by delivering myself into their hands, be the means of restoring peace to our fellow-citizens. Giovanni, at that time a cardinal, used his influence with Pope Julius II to bring the family back to positions of power. [26] To strengthen the new Franco-Tuscan alliance, he married his niece, Marie, to Henry IV of France. Acting, Distant cousin of Alessandro de' Medici, Son of. Maria's daughters became queens of Spain and England. This added to their family heritage and affluence, earning them the title of Duke of Florence. 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). Descendants Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany Maria (1540-1557) Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (1541-1587) married Johanna of Austria. He ruled for five years. The Medici family were wool merchants and bankers. Giovanni died in 1429 and his son, Cosimo de' Medici, inherited the family business. In France, Marie de' Medici was acting as regent for her son, Louis XIII. All Rights Reserved. Print Family Tree. 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. ADVERTISEMENT [12] Until the late 14th century, the leading family of Florence was the House of Albizzi. By 1722, the electress was not even acknowledged as heiress, and Cosimo was reduced to spectator at the conferences for Tuscany's future. 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 House of Medici produced 4 popes - Leo X (1513-1521), Clement VII (1523-1534), Pius IV (1559-1565) and Leo XI (1605). They were and still are a pretty big name, is what we're saying. 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 Europe largely ignored Cosimo's plan. He also was the leader of the Florence merchants. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Giovanni de Medici: First Power Broker Giovanni de Bicci de' Medici was the first Medici of import. Another branch of the family, descended from Salvestros distant cousin Giovanni di Bicci de Medici, would begin the great Medici dynasty. After only two years in power, he was forced out of the city in 1494, and died in exile. However, these portions of his proclamation were completely ignored, and he died a few days later. History of the Medici Rulers 1. Omissions? 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. Leo X's fun-loving pontificate bankrupted Vatican coffers and accrued massive debts. [34] Upon the death of the last Duke of Urbino (Francesco Maria II), instead of claiming the duchy for Ferdinando, who was married to the Duke of Urbino's granddaughter and heiress, Vittoria della Rovere, they permitted it to be annexed by Pope Urban VIII. The Medici villa of Cafaggiolo was the family's Mugello home, located near present day Barberino di Mugello. The curtains closed on almost 300 years of Medici rule in Florence with the death of Gian Gastone de' Medici, the seventh family member to serve as grand duke of Tuscany. This century-long rule was interrupted only on two occasions (between 14941512 and 15271530), when anti-Medici factions took control of Florence. Image Credit How the Medici Family Continues to Influence the World The Medici family were businesspeople. More famous descendants of the Medici family would include the royal family of Britain. Art historian Rocky Ruggiero suggests plausibly however, that the images may represent whole ripe blood oranges that typically are grown in Italy. 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. Upon the death of his first son, Cosimo contemplated restoring the Florentine republic, either upon Anna Maria Luisa's death, or on his own, if he predeceased her. Cosimo purchased a portion of the island of Elba from the Republic of Genoa and based the Tuscan navy there. Following her father's assassination, she was reared at the court of Cosimo I de' Medici and married advantageously twice. Florence remained a republic until 1537, traditionally marking the end of the High Renaissance in Florence, but the instruments of republican government were firmly under the control of the Medici and their allies, save during intervals after 1494 and 1527. The Medici lacked male heirs, and by 1705, the grand ducal treasury was virtually bankrupt. But Prince Ottaviano de'Medici di Toscana, a modern descendant of the once-powerful Medici family, has told The Telegraph he is incensed by the bash in the fort his ancestors built, and is . Smithsonian Magazine.The Medici Family. In 1536, Alessandro de' Medici married Charles V's daughter, Margaret of Austria; however, the following year he was assassinated by a resentful cousin, Lorenzino de' Medici. [39] At that time, the economy was so decrepit that barter trade became prevalent in rural market places. Queen. 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 Gian Gastone's only sibling, Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, the last of the family line, passed away in 1743 without any children, she willed the Medicis' enormous art collection and other. Click to learn more! After this, Lorenzo adopted his brother's illegitimate son Giulio de' Medici (14781535), the future Pope Clement VII. When the last Medici grand duke, Gian Gastone, died without a male heir in 1737, the family dynasty died with him. 3. His natural genius crossed so many disciplines that he epitomized the term Renaissance man. Today he remains best known for two of his paintings, "Mona Lisa" and "The Last read more, Michelangelo was a sculptor, painter and architect widely considered to be one of the greatest artists of theRenaissanceand arguably of all time. They were generous patrons of the arts who commissioned masterpieces such as Raphael's Transfiguration and Michelangelo's The Last Judgment; however, their reigns coincided with troubles for the Vatican, including Martin Luther's Protestant Reformation and the infamous sack of Rome in 1527. 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. Pills did not exist until much later and bloodletting was not a common practice at the time of the first Medici coat of arms. The couple first lived in Palazzo Bardi before Cosimo, being ambitious, decided to have a mansion of his own. [48] Following a sprained ankle in 1731, he remained confined to his bed for the rest of his life. 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. 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. Corrections? [49] In January 1737, the Spanish troops withdrew from Tuscany, and were replaced by Austrians. From this base, they acquired political power initially in Florence and later in wider Italy and Europe. On the right is a meeting of the liberal arts near a fountain. Giovanni's elder son, Cosimo de. 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medici family descendants