Medici

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For the board game see, Medici (board game)

The Medici coat of arms

The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. The family produced three popes (Leo X, Clement VII, and Leo XI), numerous rulers of Florence (notably Lorenzo il Magnifico, patron of some of the most famous works of renaissance art), and later members of the French and English royalty. Like other Signore families they dominated their city's government. They were able to bring Florence under their family's power allowing for an environment where art and humanism could flourish. They led the birth of the Italian Renaissance along with the other great signore families of Italy like the Visconti and Sforza family of Milan, the Nuccio Family of Genoa, the Scaliger family of Verona, and others.

From humble beginnings (the origin of the name is uncertain; it allegedly reflects a medical trade—medico) originating from the agriculture based Mugello region, the family first achieved power through banking. The Medici Bank was one of the most prosperous and most respected in Europe. There are some estimates that the Medici family was for a period of time the wealthiest family in Europe. From this base, the family acquired political power initially in Florence, and later in the wider Italy and Europe. A notable contribution to the profession of accounting was the improvement of the general ledger system through the development of the double-entry bookkeeping system for tracking credits and debits. This system was first used by accountants working for the Medici family in Florence.

Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici was the first Medici to enter banking, and while he became influential in Florentine government, it was not until his son Cosimo the Elder took over in 1434 as gran maestro that the Medici became unofficial heads of state of the Florentine republic. The "senior" branch of the family — those descended from Cosimo the Elder — ruled until the assassination of Alessandro de' Medici, first Duke of Florence, in 1537. This century-long rule was only interrupted on two occasions (between 1494–1512 and 1527–1530), when popular revolts sent the Medici into exile. Power then passed to the "junior" branch — those descended from Lorenzo the Elder, younger son of Giovanni di Bicci, starting with his great-great-grandson Cosimo I the Great. The Medici's rise to power was chronicled in detail by Benedetto Dei.

[edit] Art, architecture, and science

Members of the Medici family parading in the guise of the youngest king from Three Wise Men through the Tuscan countryside in a Benozzo Gozzoli fresco from c. 1459.

The most significant accomplishments of the Medici were in the sponsorship of art and architecture, mainly early and High Renaissance art and architecture. Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici, the first patron of the arts in the family, aided Masaccio and ordered the reconstruction of the Church of San Lorenzo. Cosimo the Elder's notable artistic associates were Donatello and Fra Angelico. The most significant addition to the list over the years was Michelangelo, who produced work for a number of Medici, beginning with Lorenzo the Magnificent. In addition to commissions for art and architecture, the Medici were prolific collectors and today their acquisitions form the core of the Uffizi museum in Florence.

In architecture, the Medici are responsible for some notable features of Florence; including the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace, the Boboli Gardens, the Belvedere, and the Palazzo Medici.

Although none of the Medici themselves were scientists, the family is well known to have been the patrons of the famous Galileo, who tutored multiple generations of Medici children, and was an important figurehead for his patron's quest for power. Galileo's patronage was eventually abandoned by Ferdinando II, when the Inquisition accused Galileo of heresy. However, the Medici family did afford the scientist a safe haven for many years. Galileo named the four largest moons of Jupiter after four Medici children he tutored.

• Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici personally commissioned Brunelleschi to reconstruct the Church of San Lorenzo in 1419.
• Eleonora of Toledo, princess of Spain and wife of Cosimo I the Great, purchased Pitti Palace from Buonaccorso Pitti in 1550.
• Cosimo I the Great patronized Vasari who erected the Uffizi Gallery in 1560 and founded the Academy of Design in 1562.
• Marie de Medici, widow of Henri IV and mother of Louis XIII, is used by Peter Paul Rubens in 1622-23 as the subject in his oil painting Marie de' Medici, Queen of France, Landing in Marseilles.

The Medici family was largely responsible for financing the Renaissance or “rebirth” in Florence, Italy through their traditional patronage and helping the not-so-privileged citizens. Florence was for all practical purposes an independent country, a city-state, ruled as a “republic.” The Medici had their eye on the Papacy from the primordial moment of their money. Cosimo dé Medici (1389-1464) “the elder” was the first of the Medicis who “ruled” as monarchs in Florence for nearly all of three centuries. Their family was an example of several generations being involved in deep plans. He overtook (1434) the Albizzi family with a slow careful plan. Cosimo, unlike the later rash grandson Leo X., followed his father’s, Giovanni, advice. Cosimo’s father enhanced their banking power. Their profits began to soar with the election of their pirate friend, Antipope John XXIII. He placed a mandatory tax on all citizens that was collected through the Medici bank, thus the Medici added their fee, enhancing their profits, total money, and power.

Cosimo and his father started the Medici foundations in banking, manufacturing,--including a form of franchises--wealth, art, cultural patronage, and in the Papacy that ensured their success, for generations. At least half, probably more, of Florence’s people were employed by them and their foundational branches in business. Their money was also significant because during this period of annals, artists generally only made their works when they received commissions and advance payments. The Medici were responsible for the majority of Florentine art during their reign. Lorenzo commissioned Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) often, even as a child, and was superbly fond of him. Lorenzo commissioned Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) for seven years. Lorenzo also was an artist of poetry and song, adding “sparks” to the Renaissance. Later, Leo X. would chiefly commission Raphael (1483-1520)--“the Prince of Painters.” Michelangelo was “liked” by Leo although he seldom gave him commissions. Clement VII. did enhance art by commissioning Michelangelo to paint the alter wall of the Sistine Chapel. Unfortunately, under Savonarola’s leadership, fanatical semi-dictatorship, and “popularity,” many great works were “voluntarily” destroyed in the Bonfire of the Vanities (1496). “…Savonarola and his two young supporters were hanged in the public square….” (1498)--the same location as his bonfire.

Piero dé Medici (1416-1469), Cosimo’s son, only stayed in power a few years (r. 1464-1469), until his son Lorenzo took over. Lorenzo dé Medici “the Magnificent” (1449-1492), was more capable of leading and ruling a city. Although, one should note that “Magnificent” was a common title and essentially does not mean anything special in itself. Lorenzo was the “uncrowned king of Florence, genial tyrant of an adoring populace, statesman, diplomatist, baker, scholar, poet--it will be superfluous to speak; his mother, Clarice Orsini, a member of the haughty feudal Roman house, was the first ‘foreign’ bride to enter the portals of the Medicean palace.” He showed his children great love and affection, too. To ensure the continuance of his success, Lorenzo perceived his children’s abilities and planned their futures and careers for them. He predicted, rather forced, Piero II. to be headstrong, Giovanni a scholar, and Giuliano--not to be confused with Lorenzo’s brother who had the same first name--good. Giuliano, Lorenzo’s brother, was assassinated in church on Easter Sunday (1478). Lorenzo adopted Giuliano’s illegitimate son, Giulio dé Medici (1478-1535), the future Clement VII. The incompetent Piero II. took over as the head of Florence after his father’s, Lorenzo, death. Piero was responsible for the brief expulsion of the Medici.

Giovanni dé Medici (1475-1521) was born on December 11 in the Medicean mansion that was a “goodly building, well-proportioned, and imposing, and withal suitably contrived for defence,” but not as magnificent as other mansions. Although one may learn of the vast cruelties that Giovanni executed throughout his life, I cannot say that he was entirely responsible. When one observes the sociological--and psychological--influences that surrounded him and that were forced upon him, one cannot completely blame him. He was only the person he was raised and told to be, for the most part. Giovanni’s career in the Church began with his tonsure. At an early age, he held and had been bestowed, at least, twenty-seven separate offices. Lorenzo recounts these events:

On the nineteenth day of May, 1483, we received intelligence that the King of France had of his own motions presented to my son Giovanni the abbey of Fonte Dolce. On the thirty-first we heard from Rome that the Pope had confirmed the grant, and had rendered him capable of holding benefices, he being now seven years of age. On the first day of June, Giovanni, accompanied me from Poggio a Cajano to Florence, where he was confirmed by the bishop of Arezzo, and received the tonsure, and from henceforth was called Messire Giovanni. The ceremony took place in the chapel of our family.

This was only the beginning of the plans made for Giovanni. Early on, due to the Pazzi conspiracy (1478), Lorenzo sought for a chance to gain a “voice” in the College of Cardinals, to rebuild and ensure his power and money. This became possible after Pope Sixtus IV. expired and Pope Innocent VIII., a Medici friend, became the Church’s head. After Lorenzo repeatedly begged the new Pontiff, he finally gave in and made--breaking his promise, that he was not expected to keep--the still young Giovanni, 13, a “Cardinal Deacon by the title of Santa Maria in Domenica” on March 8, 1489. One should know that this was not the only time a child was made cardinal. By securing a papal position for his young son, Lorenzo ensured that their family reign would be long and strong because now it would be easier and natural for them to marry into the royal families of Europe. Much to Lorenzo’s dissatisfaction, because both, Lorenzo and Innocent, were ailing and destined to die soon, Giovanni was not allowed to have any real power or wear the scarlet for a three-year probationary period. Lorenzo continued to pester the Pontiff, who never gave in, to shorten Giovanni’s probation. During this time, he matured and was required to study in Pizza to learn about canon law. As promised and to Lorenzo’s satisfaction, in 1492, Giovanni, now 16, was honored as a full cardinal. He quickly became popular and well liked.

After receiving a letter from his son, Lorenzo composed his famous letter, “Lorenzo the Magnificent in Florence to the Cardinal dé Medici in Rome.” It is of great historical significance for several reasons. First, it showed Lorenzo as a more caring, friendly person. In reality, it was almost unnatural for his usual self. Perhaps that he was dying added tenderness to his words or perhaps he was not sane at the time. Second, he offered good, sound advice that would still benefit one today. He showed himself as a judicious guide. Although, we find out that Giovanni did not faithfully follow any of this advice, especially once he became the Pope. He may not have taken the advice seriously, since it was deviant to their usual discourse. He did follow the unwritten “secret” Medici advice.

The Cardinal’s first attempt (1492) to acquire the tiara was upon Innocent VIII.’s illness and death. He “…hastened to Rome where a conclave of twenty-three members ... met.” Two options were proposed at the brief meeting, neither of which pleased Giovanni and a few others. Nevertheless, Roderigo Borgia was elected Pope Alexander VI. He served eleven years (r. 1492-1503). “The evil reputation of the new Pope and the open bribery he had used to accomplish his aims sent a thrill of horror throughout the courts of Italy.” The next pope, Pious III., served twenty-six days (r. 1503). He was quickly dying at the time of his election. Pope Julius II. came to power next for ten years (r. 1503-1513). Julius continued corruption that began reaching for what seemed to an endless climax, continuing even to the next pontiffs. He said:

I raised the revenue. I invented new offices and sold them. I invented a way to sell bishoprics without simony …. Then I annexed Bologna to the Holy See. I beat the Venetians. I jockeyed the Duke of Ferrara. I defeated the schismatical Council by a sham Council of my own. I drove the French out of Italy, and I would have driven out the Spaniards too, if the Fates had not brought me to death. I have set all the princes of Europe by the ears. I have torn up treaties, and kept large armies in the field. I have covered Rome with Palaces, and I have left five million ducats in the treasury behind me …. I have done it all myself too. I owe nothing … I was hated all round.

Even though Julius is not the focus of this paper, his legacy and actions were indirectly, especially essential. His accomplishments--in his own words--provided momentous importance that foreshadowed the next popes, especially, Leo X. (r. 1513-1521).

On March 11, 1513 the Sacred College announced, “Gaudium magnum nutio vobis! Papam habemus, Reverendissimum Dominum Johannem de Medicis, Diaconum Cardinalem Sanctae Mariae in Domenica, qui vocatur Leo Decimus!” It is notable that the idea for “Leo” as a name, sprung from his mother’s, Clarice, unusual dream the night before giving birth to him. “She had a dream wherein she imagined herself seized with pangs of childbirth in the Florentine Duomo, and delivered a huge but most docile lion instead of the expected infant,” thus he requested to be called “Leo.”

Due to the circumstances of the past year, it was a perfect time for Leo, now 37. He was handed person-to-person, finally delivered to the French, as a prisoner of war. He had escaped (1512) from being a prisoner of war where he was kept in a chicken house. Leo was not able to handle being treated like a “regular person” and as a prisoner. He was use to being treated as a royal. His family had also regained their power in Florence (1512) and he was liked and without many enemies--save perhaps one--in the College.

Leo’s welcoming Papal pageantry was quite magnificent, a “brilliant welcoming to the Leonine Age,” “the bells were rung madly; fireworks were exploded; artillery were fired; and in all the streets bonfires were raised ….” His welcoming was viewed as so important, at least to some, that Vaughan spent an entire chapter discussing and describing it.

Leo had great “Medicean Ambitions.” He played various powers against each other, attempting to do everything so that no one liked or disliked him, per say. He wanted to unite the various city-states--duchies--around what became Italy. Also, he even hoped to expand power and have influence over all of Europe.

Leo’s court and it’s people, positions, power, etc. as well as his hunting, showed his disgusting, unusual, and unfair--by today’s standards--use of Papal time and money in unending parties and sport. He was not the only one to overindulge in “humor.” When he went to a banquet (1515) with his court at Agostino Chigi’s “palace,” who was the richest Sienese banker, Leo commented at how extravagant and enormous the banquet hall was compared to the Church’s parallel. Upon his saying this, Chigi announced, “Your Holiness, this is not my banqueting hall; it is merely my stable!,” to “the splendor-loving Medici.” They promptly removed the curtains, revealing it was a stable. Leo’s hunting used vast amounts of his time--weeks at a time. As his health was always so poor, he had to sit in a chair with a spyglass. At times, his staff would bring the animals right up to him. There were countless other examples, but two words extravagance and wealth, sum up his popular court. In Leo’s extravagance, he spent all of Julius’ wealth that he alone--as Julius made sure everyone knew--built up during his reign. This can, without doubt, be labeled one of the major reasons for the increasing necessity of indulgences, ultimately leading to and adding to the Reformation.

“The Conspiracy of the Cardinals” was caused by several events (1517-1518) which included Leo showing open favor to Florence, hostility to Urbino, and starting “unnecessary” wars based upon personal politics. Some of the cardinals of the college were going to kill him by having a physician go in with a medicine that would “cure” Leo’s illness. Word of the killing plot slipped out, angering Leo, and thus he appointed thirty more cardinals, breaking an election promise, who were Medici supporters. This only added to the already Secular Papacy’s nature. The old Cardinals became more angered, therefore Leo had people in opposition “killed” in various, graphic ways. This, too, added to the difficulties of the Church.

The Reformation would ultimately leave vast and extremely important cultural legacies that are still being worked out. Under Leo, the sale of indulgences and church offices became widespread to replenish their bank and fund “art” for the Papacy. A German monk, Martin Luther, protested and wrote numerous and widely published documents (1517). Leo excommunicated him and others, but these problems still continued under the next several popes. Leo truly did not think the Church was in trouble, but I wonder, could it be possible that Leo did not even think about the church being in real, true trouble or not. He just saw and was told the Church was the way of life--the only way. During his whole life everything was given to him, he was told what to do, he had no real reason to suspect that there truly was trouble in the Church. Nonetheless, corruption was nothing new. The Papacy experienced even graver troubles in the 700s-800s. During the Renaissance and Reformation, for the first time other widespread, recognized branches of various Christian churches blossomed. Many were persecuted by the Church, but they kept going and stood for their beliefs and against the corrupt Church. The idea of religious freedom and separation of church and state developed. A new kind of human expression and reflection had developed, too.

Leo, 45, died Sunday, December 1, 1521. He can be “summed up” in the following: “The first Medici pope, Leo X., seemed preoccupied with his pleasures (chiefly hunting and art) and hurling condemnation at the rebellious monk, Luther” and others. It is worth mentioning Pope Adrian VI., Adrian Dedel. He had the ambition and mind, possibly because he was not Italian, to reform the Church. He “appointed a Reform Commission and was prepared to act of its recommendations.” He died of plague (1523) after only serving a twelvemonth (r. 1522-1523).

Due to this historical calamity, another historical disaster occurred, the second Medici pope, Clement VII., Giulio dé Medici, came to the throne (r. 1523-1534) with his vicious nature. Clement was technically illegitimate by birth--although always questioned. Thus, he was only able to become pope, if he was declared legitimate. His faithful cousin, with the “plan” of his becoming pope, took care of the problem. He did not want any change to occur within the Church. “Although Adrian’s successor, Clement VII., was a Medici, he lacked his family’s characteristic boldness and thus had no stomach to take on the vested interests that were determined to block change.”

Many are confused by the pope's not granting Henry VIII of England an annulment (1527). The pope had often granted annulments to royals for various reasons, but not this time. The true reason had to do with the mess Clement created, including the sack of Rome. Had he granted the divorce, he knew the Church would be in trouble. The Church and the Medici had to remain on the right sides, at all times, and play their cards carefully. Clement, and others, switched sides and positions, almost daily. The “winning” or “correct” position, as we think of it, did not exist. Also, it is worth noting that Henry VIII. had attacked Martin Luther (1521) thus earning the label “Defender of the Faith” from Leo X. In Florentine History, H.E. Napier describes the following:

Pope Clement VII. died unregretted even by those nearest to his person; deceitful, avaricious, cruel and heartless, he had all the bad without any of the redeeming qualities of his race; he was acute, able and clear-sighted as a statesman, but weak and unsteady in his resolutions, and never by any chance sincere. He was detested by the Romans as the author of all their calamities and by everybody else as one of the basest men and worst Pontiffs that ever wore the sacred seal of the Fisherman.

After Leo and Clement there were two other, historically insignificant, Medici who came to the purple. They were distant relatives. First, Gian-Angelo dé Medici, served under the name Pius IV., for six years (r. 1559-1565). Finally, Alessandro Ottaviano dé Medici, Leo XI., “was at least a Florentine by birth and a true descendant of a collateral branch of that great House.” His reign--as one of the shortest--lasted twenty-six days (r. 1605). Leo XI. received a magnificent monument upon his death, unlike Pious who only received an effortless tablet.

It is ultimately beyond the scope of this scholarship’s ambition to decipher all of the various wars, positions, deals, and leaders of the Papacy, as well as Europe’s kings, queens, princes, princesses, and other “leaders.” Leo X. and others switched sides back and forth daily to gain power and to “remain” in some ways neutral. Their actions and patterns are difficult to follow and the subject of European politics in the Renaissance and Reformation was deeply complex, beyond that, they were constantly “playing” each other. Leo X. and Clement VII. spent their last few “good deeds” planning marriages into royal families, ensuring their family’s success, by their standards. History is an ever-interesting, changing, and developing, science and art. The human need and corruption under wealth and power is a great, inevitable problem in this world. In my opinion, probably one on the best things about Leo X. and Clement VII. was that with and despite their cruelties, Martin Luther and countless others, aroused, protested, and drastically limited the unquestionable “Monarch” of Europe, physically and symbolically.

Bibliography

Vaughan, Herbert M. The Medici Popes. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1908. Zophy, Jonathan W. A Short History of Renaissance and Reformation Europe Dances over Fire and Water. 1996. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003.

[edit] Notable members

• Salvestro de' Medici (1331 – 1388), led the assault against the revolt of the ciompi, became dictator of Florence, and banished in 1382
• Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici (1360 – 1429), restored the family fortune and made the Medici family the wealthiest in Europe
• Cosimo the Elder (1389 – 1464), founder of the Medici political dynasty
• Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449 – 1492), leader of Florence during the Golden Age of the Renaissance
• Giovanni de' Medici (1475 – 1523), also known as Pope Leo X
• Giulio de' Medici (1478 – 1534), also known as Pope Clement VII
• Cosimo I the Great (1519 – 1574), First Grand Duke of Tuscany who restored the Medici lustre
• Catherine de' Medici (1519 – 1589), Queen of France
• Alessandro Ottaviano de' Medici (1535 – 1605), also known as Pope Leo XI
• Marie de' Medici (1573 – 1642), Queen and Regent of France
• Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici (1667 – 1743) the last of the Medici line

[edit] Medici family tree (1360 – 1675)

[edit] See also

• Alberti
• Albizzi

[edit] Further reading

• Christopher Hibbert, The House of Medici: Its Rise and Fall (Morrow, 1975) is a highly readable, non-scholarly general history of the family
• Ferdinand Schevill, History of Florence: From the Founding of the City Through the Renaissance (Frederick Ungar, 1936) is the standard overall history of Florence
• Paul Strathern, The Medici - Godfathers of the Renaissance (Pimlico, 2005) is an informative and lively account of the Medici family, their finesse and foibles - extremely readable, though very homophobic and full of typographical errors.
• Lauro Martines, "April Blood - Florence and the Plot Against the Medici" (Oxford University Press 2003) a detailed account of the Pazzi Conspiracy, the players, the politics of the day, and the fallout of the assassination plot . Though accurate in historic details, Martines writes with a definite 'anti-Medici' tone.
• Accounting in Italy
• Vaughan, Herbert M. The Medici Popes. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1908.
• Zophy, Jonathan W. A Short History of Renaissance and Reformation Europe Dances over Fire and Water. 1996. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2003.

[edit] Documentaries

• PBS/Justin Hardy, Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance Four-hour documentary, covering the rise and fall of the family from Giovanni through the abandonment of Galileo by Ferdinand II. Very watchable and informative, available on DVD & Video.
• TLC/Peter Spry-Leverton.PSL, The Mummy Detectives: The Crypt Of The Medici One-hour documentary. Italian specialists, joined by mummy expert and TLC presenter Dr. Bob Brier exhume the bodies of Italy's ancient first family and use the latest forensic tools to investigate how they lived and died. Airs on Discovery Channel.
• BBC Radio 4 3 part series Among the Medici, first episode 22 February 2006, presented by Bettany Hughes [1].

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

House of Medici

• Outline of the history of the Medici family
• Genealogical manuscript on the house of the Medici
• (German) Genealogical tree of the house of the Medici
• Galileo and the Medici Family at PBS
• Adrian Fletcher’s Paradoxplace – 3 pages of Medici portraits and history
• Medici Archive Project