Coat of Arms of House Medici

The Power Politics of House Medici

Matthew LangDr. Michael Levin, Professor

The Italian Renaissance

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Early Modern Timeline◦ A

s it applies to House Medici

Wealth and Influence

Political Extent Political Extent

con’t Cosimo de’ Medici Lorenzo de’ Medici Interregnum or Inte

rregna

Lorenzo II de’ Medici

Michelangelo Medici Patronage Leo X Clement VII Pius IV & Leo XI Catherine de’ Medi

ci Marie de’ Medici Works Cited

Election of Pius IV: 1559

1300

1750

2nd Interregnum: 1494-1512

Founding of Medici Bank

& Ciompi Revolt: 1378 Duchy of

Florence & Publication of The Prince:

1532

Grand Duchy of Tuscany

(Cosimo I de’ Medici):

1569

Cosimode’ Medici: 1389-1464

Lorenzode’ Medici: 1449-1492

Election of Leo X:

1513

Election of Clement VII:

1523

Sack of Rome: 1527

Pazzi Conspiracy

: 1478

Catherine de’ Medici:1519-1589

Marie de’ Medici:1573-1642

95 Theses: 1517

Michelangelo Buonarroti: 1475-1564

Election & Death of Leo XI: 1605

Gian Gastonede' Medici (The Last

Medici): 1671-1737

Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici:

1360-1429

Cosimo Ide’ Medici:1519-1574

Alessandro de’ Medici (1st Duke of

Florence): 1510-1537

Platonic Academy:

1462

Lorenzo II de’ Medici: 1492-1519

Exsurge Domine:

1520

Black Plague: 1348

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Banking◦ Giovanni di Bicci de’

Medici Founder of Medici Bank

◦ Florin Standard unit of currency

◦ Innovative accounting methodology

◦ Results in huge sums of Medici wealth

Textile Economy◦ Florentine business◦ Facilitation into

European market◦ Utilization of the River

Arno for dying purposes◦ Ciompi Revolt (1378)

Ultimately unsuccessful Theoretically in response

to Black Plague and working conditions of Florence

Wealth and Influence

1500-Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici4

De facto citizen leaders and patrons of the arts◦ Members of the Priori (Ruling body)◦ Signori of Florentine Republic

Control through—◦ Banking◦ Economics◦ Education

Florentine Humanism Platonic Academy (1462)

◦ Nepotism◦ Governmental domination◦ “Investment”

Marriage and Religion

Extent of Political Influence

Alessandro de’ Medici: First Duke of

Florencebetween 1511 &

15375

Use of power to beautify Florence and created the modern image of a center of the Renaissance

Culminating in creation of Duchy of Florence(Alessandrode’ Medici in 1532) and Grand Duchy of Tuscany (Cosimo I de’ Medici in 1569)◦ Among other titles (i.e. Duchy of

Urbino, Penne, Nemours, Sieva, Rover)

Political Influence con’t

Cosimo I de’ Medici circa 1538

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“il Vecchio”◦ the Elder (not to be confused

with Cosimo I de’ Medici) Father of House Medici Prominent banker and

“night time” political activist◦ Expansion of Medici bank into

European market Began framework to install

Medici dominance (oligarchy) in Florentine Republic

Cosimo de’ Medici (1389-1464)

Cosimo de’ Medici by Bronizno7

“il Magnifico”◦ -the Magnificent

Pazzi Conspiracy (1478)◦ Attempt to assassinate Lorenzo and

his brother (Giuliano de’ Medici) Failed attempt on Lorenzo,

successful on Giuliano Modern understanding of vendettas

Capable politician and patron of the arts ◦ (ex. Michelangelo, Raphael, da Vinci)

Somewhat unsuccessful in banking (i.e. the beginnings of the decline of the Medici monopoly on banking)

Often compared to weak son (i.e. Piero II de’ Medici)

Lorenzo de’ Medici (1449-1492)

"Lorenzo the Magnificent“ by Agnolo Bronzino

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Piero II de’ Medici Expulsion of House Medici

from Florence from 1494-1512

A LOOK AHEAD: Medici return in 1512 as a precursor to The Prince (Niccolo Machiavelli)◦ Dedication to Lorenzo II de’Medici, Duke ofUrbino

Two others◦ 1433-34

Affected Cosimo (the Elder) de’ Medici during his ascension

◦ 1527-1530 Florence becomes a

Republic free of House Medici subsequent to the 1527 Sack of Rome

Affected Alessandro de’ Medici, first hereditary Duke of Florence

Interregnum OR Interregna

Niccolo Machiavelli

second half of 16th c. 9

Family nepotism◦ Created Duke of Urbino by

Pope Leo X (1516) Signori of Florence

◦ 1514-1519 Return of the Medici to

Florence after 1494-1512 Interregnum

Famously tortured Niccolo Machiavelli◦ Dedication of The Prince

Lorenzo II de’ Medici (1492-1519)

Lorenzo II de’ Medici: 1516-1519

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Under Medici graces as a child

Given best humanist education by Lorenzo de’ Medici

Pre-eminent artistry-◦ Designed Medici Chapel/Tombs

Various other projects for Florence

◦ Sistine Chapel, Statue of David

Beautification of Florence

Michelangelo (1475-1564)

Michelangelo Buonarroti

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Medici Chapel, New Sacristy,Florence Italy-Michelangelo

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore-Florentine DuomoArnolfo di Cambio and Filippo Brunelleschi

Cappella dei Magi-Benozzo Gozoli

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Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici First Medici pope

◦ “…let us enjoy it…” Use of indulgences for construction

of St. Peter’s Basilica Reigned concurrent with the

beginnings of the Protestant Reformation (i.e. 1517: Martin Luther’s95 Theses)◦ Exsurge Domine (1520)

Famous for nepotistic behavior◦ Ex. Lorenzo II de’ Medici, Duke of

Urbino/Giulio di Giuliano de’ Medici, Pope Clement VII

Leo X (r. 1513-1521)

Portrait of Pope Leo X and his cousins, cardinals Giulio

de’ Medici and Luigi de Rossi13

Giulio di Giuliano de’ Medici Sack of Rome (1527)

◦ Hostage of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor/King of Spain

Political pope—◦ Creation of Duchy of Florence in

favor of House Medici (i.e. Alessandro de’ Medici)

◦ Strategic alliance making i.e. Catherine de’ Medici to

Henry II◦ Political game between graces of

Holy Roman Emperor/King of Spain (Charles V) and French King (Francis I & League of Cognac)

Patronized Raphael and Michelangelo

Clement VII (r. 1523-1534)

Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, Pope Clement VII (1523-34)

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Pius IV (r. 1559-1565) & Leo XI (r. 1605)

Giovanni Angelo Medici (1499-1565) Painting by Bartolomeo Passarotti

Pope Leo XI

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Daughter of Lorenzo II de’ Medici, Duke of Urbino

Consort Queen of France (Henry II) Regent Queen of France (sporadic:

Francis II & Charles IX) St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

(1572) French Religious Wars

◦ French crown passes from House Valois to House Bourbon after her male children die

Example of Medici “investment”◦ Married to French king in power

play by Pope Clement VII

Catherine de’ Medici (1519-1589)

Catherine de' Medici wears the black cap and veil of widow, after 1559 16

Daughter of Francesco I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

Consort Queen of France (Henry IV)

Regent Queen of France (Louis XIII)

Political ambitions◦ In competition with Secretary of

State: Cardinal-Duke Richelieu Example of Medici

“investment”

Marie de’ Medici (1573-1642)

Maria de' Medici as a young girl

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Works Cited/Q & A

Gage, John. Life in Italy at the Time of the Medici. London: Batsford, 1968. Goldthwaite, A. Richard. The Medici Bank and the World of Florentine Capitalism.

Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987; Past & Present Society. http://www.jstor.org/stable/650959 .

Hibbert, Christopher. The House of Medici: Its Rise and Fall. New York: Morrow Quill Paperbacks, 1980.

Jurdjevic, Mark. Civic Humanism and the Rise of the Medici. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1999; Renaissance Quarterly, Renaissance Society of America vol. 52. http://www.jstor.org/stable/2901833 .

Luchinat, Cristina, Suzanne Butters, Claudio Pizzorusso, Anna Testaverde, Marco Chiarini, Janet Cox-Rearick, Alan Darr, Larry Feinberg, Annamaria Giusti, Richard Goldthwaite, Lucia Meoni, and Kirsten Piacenti. The Medici, Michelangelo, & the Art of Late Renaissance Florence. New Haven: Yale University Press in Association with the Detroit Institute of Arts, 2002.

Martines, Lauro. April Blood: Florence and the Plot Against the Medici. Oxford University Press, 2003.

Strathern, Paul. The Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance. London: Jonathan Cape, 2003.

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