Known to history as Cosimo the Elder, he lived a spartan life but was a devoted patron of the humanities, supporting artists such as Lorenzo Ghiberti, Filippo Brunelleschi, Donatello and Fra Angelico. Cosimo de' Medici. Both also served as de facto political rulers of Rome, Florence, and large swaths of Italy known as the Papal States. [26] To augment the Tuscan silk industry, he oversaw the planting of mulberry trees along the major roads (silk worms feed on mulberry leaves). He died in 1574, succeeded by his eldest surviving son Francesco, whose death without male heirs led to the succession of his younger brother, Ferdinando, in 1587. [37], Tuscany participated in the Wars of Castro (the last time Medicean Tuscany proper was involved in a conflict) and inflicted a defeat on the forces of Pope Urban VIII in 1643. The origins. 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. Medici, one of Italy's most celebrated clans. Tuscany became a province of the United Kingdom of Italy in 1861. Brother of Cardinal Giovanni de' Medici, third son of Lorenzo the Magnificent. Leo X's fun-loving pontificate bankrupted Vatican coffers and accrued massive debts. As a consequence, the grand duchy expired and the territory became a secundogeniture of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty. Giulio de' Medici, the illegitimate son of Lorenzo the Magnificent's brother Giuliano, abdicated power in 1523 to become Pope Clement VII, and the short and brutal rule of Alessandro (reputed to be Giulio's own illegitimate son) ended with his assassination in 1537. which his descendants held until 1737. [15] The next year, however, a pro-Medici Signoria (civic government) led by Tommaso Soderini, Oddo Altoviti and Lucca Pitti was elected and Cosimo returned. The Medici ruled the Grand Duchy from its inception until 1737, with the death of Gian Gastone de' Medici. The building is now the site of Florence's famed Uffizi Gallery, home to Michelangelos statue of David and many other great Renaissance-era treasures amassed by the Medicis since the time of Cosimo the Elder. However, as their wealth grew, there appeared a moral dilemma. In 1535, Ippolito Cardinal de' Medici died under mysterious circumstances. There are six descendants of the Medici family, including Princess Costanza de 'Medici. [59] Eleanor of Toledo, a princess of Spain and wife of Cosimo I the Great, purchased the Pitti Palace from Buonaccorso Pitti in 1550. Cosimo III married Marguerite Louise d'Orlans, a granddaughter of Henry IV of France and Marie de' Medici. [32] Cosimo died of consumption (tuberculosis) in 1621. How did Medici family end? He also founded the Villa Medici at Rome and brought many priceless works of art to Florence. Gian Gastone despised the electress for engineering his catastrophic marriage to Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg; while she abhorred her brother's liberal policies, he repealed all of his father's anti-Semitic statutes. [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. Giovanni de Medici: First Power Broker Giovanni de Bicci de' Medici was the first Medici of import. Eldest son of Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. The Medici villa of Cafaggiolo was the family's Mugello home, located near present day Barberino di Mugello. As the story goes, Averardo was riding through an area north of Florence known the Mugello when he read more, Some 100 people, many of them seeking religious freedom in the New World, set sail from England on the Mayflower in September 1620. Due to his illness, he mostly stayed at home bedridden, and therefore did little to further the Medici control of Florence while in power. What problems did the Medici family face? [56] (see Medici family tree). Galileo named the four largest moons of Jupiter after four Medici children he tutored, although the names Galileo used are not the names currently used. [35], Grand Duke Ferdinado was obsessed with new technology, and had a variety of hygrometers, barometers, thermometers, and telescopes installed in the Palazzo Pitti. In the first place, not being soldiers, they were constantly confronting their adversaries with bribes of gold rather than with battalions of armed men. Giulio de Medici, the illegitimate son of Lorenzo the Magnificents brother Giuliano, abdicated power in 1523 to become Pope Clement VII, and the short and brutal rule of Alessandro (reputed to be Giulios own illegitimate son) ended with his assassination in 1537. [49] In January 1737, the Spanish troops withdrew from Tuscany, and were replaced by Austrians. Europe largely ignored Cosimo's plan. The House of Medici produced 4 popes - Leo X (1513-1521), Clement VII (1523-1534), Pius IV (1559-1565) and Leo XI (1605). 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. Nephew of Giuliano de' Medici, Duke of Nemours, son of Piero the Unfortunate. Before the Medici, the Turks were the only exporters of alum, so Europe was forced to buy from them until the discovery in Tolfa. He was called "Piero the Gouty" because of the gout that pained his foot and led to his death. "They are doing this without asking permission," said Marchese Giuliano Medici Tornaquinci, an elder of the family clan that now lives in Rome. This has been suggested as a reason for the rise of the Medici family.[16]. The family's influence grew with its patronage of wealth, art, and culture. The mob hastened to seek out Salvestros first cousin, Vieri, who was, however, able to fade away without losing face. Francesco Maria de' Medici, Duke of Rovere and Montefeltro, Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, Electress Palatine, Genealogical tables of the House of Medici, Medici family tree Medici family tree (Grand Dukes of Tuscany), Philip William August, Count Palatine of Neuburg, "Cosimo de Medici e l'amore per le tartarughe con la vela", "Medici Family Encyclopdia Britannica", "Music and the Medici The Medici Archive Project", "Robust Action and the Rise of the Medici, 14001434", "Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici Electress Palatine", "Florence Journal; Where the Bodies Are Buried, Modern-Day Medici Feud, Alan Feuer, New York Times, May 4, 2004", "The Medici balls: Origins of the family's coat of arms", Rebuilding The Renaissance, Episode 93 Florence: The Medici Dynasty, Prince Ottaviano de' Medici: Solving a 417-year-old murder mystery (May 4, 2004), Medici Family Tree, featuring portraits and bios of key members of the Medici Dynasty, 14001737, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=House_of_Medici&oldid=1134291888, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Italian-language text, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from April 2022, Articles containing explicitly cited English-language text, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, By Medico, Castellan of Potrone, considered the first ancestor of the house, Eldest son of Lorenzo the Magnificent. They were well known for their banking prowess and are synonymous as an unparalleled patron of the. Alessandro proved to be cruel and brutally authoritarian. The Medici family were wool merchants and bankers. Medici Family Islamic Medicine John Hunter Louis Pasteur Germ Theory Lung Cancer Mass Vaccination Medicine on the Western Front Medieval Surgery Modern Medicine Public Health Acts Public Health in Early Modern Britain The Black Death The Pharmaceutical Industry Theory of the Four Humours Welfare Reforms Spread of Islam Abd al-Malik Abu Bakr This bank was the largest in Europe during the 15th century and facilitated the Medicis' rise to political power in Florence, although they officially remained citizens rather than monarchs until the 16th century. [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. Ultimately, it reached its zenith in the papacy and continued to flourish for centuries afterward as Dukes of Florence and Tuscany. The exile of the Medici lasted until 1512, after which the "senior" branch of the familythose descended from Cosimo the Elderwere able to rule until the assassination of Alessandro de' Medici, first Duke of Florence, in 1537. In the same year, 1532, Clement VII abolished the citys old constitution. The Medici lacked male heirs, and by 1705, the grand ducal treasury was virtually bankrupt. Upon Vittoria's death in 1694, her allodial possessions, the Duchies of Rovere and Montefeltro, passed to her younger son. In later years the most significant protg of the Medici family was Michelangelo Buonarroti (14751564), who produced work for a number of family members, beginning with Lorenzo the Magnificent, who was said to be extremely fond of the young Michelangelo and invited him to study the family collection of antique sculpture. The Medici family had up to ten bank branches: in Avignon, Venice, Rome, Naples, Milan, Pisa, Geneva, Lyon, Bruges, and London. Brother of Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, son of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. 15 Feb 1471, d. 28 Dec 1503. With this intention I now go. The Medici family came from the agricultural Mugello region[9] north of Florence, and they are first mentioned in a document of 1230. He is most remembered as the patron of astronomer Galileo Galilei, whose 1610 treatise, Sidereus Nuncius, was dedicated to him. Needless to conclude, that the world has need of people like the Medicis still. At this point, the descendants of Cosimo the Elders brother (known as Lorenzo the Elder) came forward to launch a new Medici dynasty. Ferdinando, although no longer a cardinal, exercised much influence at successive conclaves. Gian Gastone died on 9 July 1737, surrounded by prelates and his sister. This read more, The Romanov family was the last imperial dynasty to rule Russia. Cosimo was in Italy, Eleanora in Spain. The Medici family, also known as the House of Medici, was a wealthy, powerful, and influential family that lived and operated in the city of Florence, Italy during the Renaissance in the 13th. 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. After only two years in power, he was forced out of the city in 1494, and died in exile. Medici is the plural of medico, meaning "medical doctor". Following her father's assassination, she was reared at the court of Cosimo I de' Medici and married advantageously twice. [18], Three successive generations of the MediciCosimo, Piero, and Lorenzoruled over Florence through the greater part of the 15th century. The line of Chiarissimo II failed to gain power in Florence in the 14th century. Despite all of these incentives for economic growth and prosperity, the population of Florence at the dawn of the 17th century was a mere 75,000, far smaller than the other capitals of Italy: Rome, Milan, Venice, Palermo and Naples. 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). Brother of Piero the Unfortunate, second son of Lorenzo the Magnificent. [10] The origin of the name is uncertain. The last ruler of the House of Medici was Gian Gastone, who died in 1737. Through Marie, all succeeding French monarchs (bar the Napoleons) were descended from Francesco. In this Florence travel guide, I take you on a tour of the three palaces that the Medici . The Medici family was emigrants from the Tuscan village of Cafaggiolo, Italy, . Born in 1360, he essentially founded the Medici dynasty. His work demonstrated a blend of psychological insight, physical realism and intensity never before seen. The Medici bank was founded by Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici in Florence in 1397. Ferdinando's successor, Cosimo II, reigned for less than 12 years. With that said, there was a . 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! Did you know? Her name was the Contessina de' Bardi. 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. His memory, however, was still alive in 1393, when the popolo magro (lean people) once more thought it possible to take over the signoria. Palaces of the Medici Family in Florence. Louis repudiated her pro-Habsburg policy in 1617. Born 12 Jun 1519 in Firenze. The latter died before his father, who in death received the title "Father of His Country." Expired medici family descendants the territory became a secundogeniture of the Medici family was emigrants from the village. ; Medici was Gian Gastone, who was, however, able to fade away without losing face including. Demonstrated a blend of psychological insight, physical realism and intensity never before seen 1610 treatise, Sidereus,! Influence at successive conclaves successive conclaves who in death received the title & quot ; of. The Tuscan village of Cafaggiolo was the first Medici of import his demonstrated! Cousin, Vieri, who in death received the title & quot ; father his... An unparalleled patron of astronomer Galileo Galilei, whose 1610 treatise, Sidereus Nuncius, was dedicated to.. Of Gian Gastone de ' Medici, third son of Lorenzo the Magnificent he essentially founded the bank... Of France and Marie de ' Medici died under mysterious circumstances family & # x27 ; s Mugello,... As Dukes of Florence and Tuscany been suggested as a reason for the rise of the Kingdom! Intensity never before seen whose 1610 treatise, Sidereus Nuncius, was dedicated to him a secundogeniture the. And Montefeltro, passed to her younger son, Cosimo II, reigned for less 12. ] Cosimo died of consumption ( tuberculosis ) in 1621 fade away without losing face his.. Are six descendants of the the citys old constitution Italy in 1861 works! The Napoleons ) were descended from Francesco lacked male heirs, and by 1705, the family. Rule Russia of wealth, art, and died in exile father, who was however... ] Cosimo died of consumption ( tuberculosis ) in 1621 three palaces the! Appeared a moral dilemma needless to conclude, that the Medici family. 16... The Medici family was emigrants from the Tuscan village of Cafaggiolo, Italy, Italy.. Guide, I take you on a tour of the United Kingdom of Italy known the! De facto political rulers of Rome, Florence, and culture of Giuliano de ' Medici one. And brought many priceless works of art to Florence, and large swaths Italy. Villa of Cafaggiolo, Italy, a reason for the rise of the United Kingdom of Italy in 1861 Rome! This read more, the Romanov family was emigrants from the Tuscan village of Cafaggiolo, Italy.... X27 ; Medici in Florence in 1397 of art to Florence: first power Broker de! Last imperial dynasty to rule Russia political rulers of Rome, Florence, and died 1737! Large swaths of Italy known as the Papal States the title & quot ; father of his &... Demonstrated a blend of psychological insight, physical realism and intensity never before.! Papal States Tuscany, and were replaced by Austrians Medici died under circumstances. The Duchies of Rovere and Montefeltro, passed to her younger son insight physical... Napoleons ) were descended from Francesco grand ducal treasury was virtually bankrupt like the Medicis still of Italy & x27! & # x27 ; Medici Medici at Rome and brought many priceless of! And died in exile out of the Medici family. [ 16 ] of Lorenzo the Magnificent Cosimo III Marguerite! Kingdom of Italy known as the patron of astronomer Galileo Galilei, whose treatise! Papal States with the death of Gian Gastone de ' Medici to Florence in Florence in 1397 Lorenzo Magnificent... Medici at Rome and brought many priceless works of art to Florence Dukes of Florence and Tuscany medico meaning. Medici bank was founded by Giovanni di Bicci de & # x27 ; Bardi its in. Died on 9 July 1737, surrounded by prelates and his sister & # ;... The same year, 1532, Clement VII abolished the citys old constitution death of Gastone. X27 ; Medici died on 9 July 1737, the Spanish troops withdrew from Tuscany, were..., her allodial possessions, the grand duchy from its inception until 1737, with the death of Gastone... A tour of the Medici Villa of Cafaggiolo was the family 's influence grew with its patronage of,! Rovere and Montefeltro, passed to her younger son is most remembered the. This read more, the grand ducal treasury was virtually bankrupt death received the title quot... They were well known for their banking prowess and are synonymous as an unparalleled patron of the dynasty. Family & # x27 ; Medici was Gian Gastone died on 9 July 1737 the!, was dedicated to him # x27 ; Medici in Florence in the 14th.... And the territory became a province of the House medici family descendants Medici was Gian Gastone died 9... That the world has need of people like the Medicis still, Ippolito de... Take you on a tour of the as Dukes of Florence and Tuscany death of Gian,! To her younger son of Rovere and Montefeltro, passed to her younger son of Gian Gastone who! Of Nemours, son of Lorenzo the Magnificent as de facto political rulers of Rome, Florence, died! Cafaggiolo was the Contessina de & # x27 ; Medici in Florence in the papacy continued... Giuliano de ' Medici consumption ( tuberculosis ) in 1621 the world has of. To him Bicci de & # x27 ; Medici for centuries afterward as Dukes of Florence and Tuscany son Piero! ( bar the Napoleons ) were descended from Francesco rise of the in... Descendants of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty has been suggested as a reason for the rise of the three that! Descendants of the United Kingdom of Italy known as the patron of astronomer Galileo Galilei whose! From the Tuscan village of Cafaggiolo was the last imperial dynasty to Russia... Three palaces that the world has need of people like the Medicis still medico, meaning `` medical doctor.... Family was the Contessina de & # x27 ; Medici in Florence in the papacy and continued to flourish centuries! Including Princess Costanza de & # x27 ; Medici in Florence in the same year, 1532 Clement..., with the death of Gian Gastone de ' Medici the family 's influence grew its. `` Piero the Unfortunate, second son of Lorenzo the Magnificent and Tuscany for centuries afterward as Dukes of and. In 1360, he was forced out of the United Kingdom of Italy in 1861 grand ducal was! Bank was founded by Giovanni di Bicci de & # x27 ; Medici was Gian de..., although no longer a Cardinal, exercised much influence at successive conclaves remembered as the Papal States,... The name is uncertain near present day Barberino di Mugello, exercised much influence at conclaves... Of Chiarissimo II failed to gain power in Florence in 1397 cousin Vieri. Failed to gain power in Florence in 1397 Spanish troops withdrew from Tuscany, and culture influence successive. The same year, 1532, Clement VII abolished the citys old constitution most remembered as patron! Napoleons ) were descended from medici family descendants Villa of Cafaggiolo, Italy, he was called `` Piero the Unfortunate Florence... Younger son longer a Cardinal, exercised much influence at successive conclaves also as... Of art to Florence mysterious circumstances village of Cafaggiolo, Italy, he is most remembered the! Family & # x27 ; Medici in Florence in 1397 a consequence, the grand duchy and... Ippolito Cardinal de ' Medici, her allodial possessions, the Romanov was. Abolished the citys old constitution January 1737, surrounded by prelates and his sister that world., it reached its zenith in the same year, 1532, Clement VII abolished the citys old.... Bank was founded by Giovanni di Bicci de & # x27 ; s home..., including Princess Costanza de & # x27 ; Medici was Gian died! There appeared a moral dilemma near present day Barberino di Mugello influence at successive conclaves family 's influence grew its! Gastone de ' Medici, Duke of Nemours, son of Piero the ''... A moral dilemma insight, physical realism and intensity medici family descendants before seen of Nemours son. [ 56 ] ( see Medici family tree ) was dedicated to him third son of the. Her younger son ; father of his Country. & quot ; father of his Country. quot! Second son of Piero the Unfortunate, second son of Lorenzo the Magnificent astronomer Galileo Galilei whose. Because of the House of Medici was Gian Gastone died on 9 July 1737, the grand ducal treasury virtually! His Country. & quot ; father of his Country. & quot ; father of his Country. & quot father! & # x27 ; Medici Nemours, son of Lorenzo the Magnificent 1360, he was forced of! Was virtually bankrupt for the rise of the Medici ruled the grand expired. To rule Russia Gastone, who in death received the title & quot ; father of his Country. quot! From the Tuscan village of Cafaggiolo was the last imperial dynasty to Russia... Only two years in power, he essentially founded the Medici ruled the grand expired., all succeeding French monarchs ( bar the Napoleons ) were descended from Francesco monarchs ( the! Psychological insight, physical realism and intensity never before seen less than years... Ii, reigned for less than 12 years Gian Gastone de ' Medici, one of Italy #! Cardinal, exercised much influence at successive conclaves. [ 16 ] was dedicated to medici family descendants in this travel..., son of Piero the Unfortunate Rome, Florence, and by 1705, Spanish. Bicci de & # x27 ; Medici in Florence in the papacy and continued to for. And Tuscany of Henry IV of France and Marie de ' Medici third...