The famous Medici dynasty is most often associated with the Italian Renaissance. People from this we althy family ruled Florence for a long time and made it the cultural and scientific center of Europe.
The origin of the dynasty
There are several versions of the origin of this genus. A common urban legend attributed the kinship of the Medici to the physician Charlemagne, the founder of the Frankish Empire. The family itself was of the opinion that their roots go back to one of the knights who served at the court of this emperor.
In the 12th century, the Medici dynasty moved to Florence. Family members took up usury and began to get rich quickly. We althy bankers soon penetrated the administrative apparatus of the city and began to hold elective offices in Florence. The family has had its ups and downs. In the XII century, bankers tried to take part in the political life of the city, supporting one of the local parties. The main conflict of interest in Florence then lay between the rich nobility and the poor. Salvestro Medici supported the tramps, who organized a revolt against the aristocrats. When they failed, the financierexpelled from the city.
The Medici dynasty did not stay long in exile, but even during this time it achieved notable success in usury. The first bank branches were opened in Venice and Rome.
Rise
The first head of the Florentine Republic in the Medici family was Cosimo the Old. He held this position from 1434 to 1464. He managed to come to power using his money, influence and popular dissatisfaction with the previous government, which imposed excessive taxes and arranged useless wars. It was Cosimo who became the founder of the tradition of patronizing art and other areas of the Renaissance.
The Medici dynasty invested well. The fact is that in the 15th century Italy became the center of culture and art in Europe. Many Greeks fled here, who were left without a homeland after the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453. Many of them brought unique books to Italy (including Florence) and arranged lectures unknown to Europeans. This spurred interest in the history of antiquity. A whole school of humanism arose from it. All these phenomena were financed and stimulated by the Medici dynasty. History has remained grateful to her, even despite the many political intrigues that were the norm at that time.
Lorenzo the Magnificent
Even after the death of Cosimo, the Medici dynasty continued to rule in Florence. Lorenzo the Magnificent (his grandson) became the most famous member of the family. He was born in 1448, and became the head of the republic in1469-m.
At this time, a conspiracy developed in Florence, as a result of which the Medici dynasty was to fall. The family tree nearly ended, but Lorenzo revealed the enemy's plan. He was even supported by Pope Sixtus IV. But even this did not save the brother of Lorenzo Giuliano, who died at the hands of the conspirators.
Then several neighboring principalities declared war on Florence, which were supported by the Roman throne. Lorenzo managed to successfully resist this coalition. In addition, he found an ally in the person of the French king. This frightened Rome, which did not want to fight with Paris, and the conflict subsided.
Florence - the center of the Renaissance
The Medici dynasty and their influence on the development of Italian culture at this time reach their peak. Lorenzo funded numerous educational institutions. One of them was the famous Academy of Careggi, which became the pan-European center of the new school of Neoplatonism. The Florentine court employed such geniuses of art as Sandro Botticelli and Michelangelo. Lorenzo was also a connoisseur and connoisseur of books. He collected and enriched his own library, which became a city landmark. The head of the republic died in 1492. His flamboyant life exacerbated the rumors around the Medici family. The secrets of the dynasty excited gossips and conspiracy theorists.
Lorenzo's attitude towards the Renaissance soon spread to neighboring cities. Venice, Rome, Naples and Milan began to settle down at exactly the same pace. The Renaissance resembled the heyday of the era of Antiquity,which is how it got its name.
Popes and Dukes of Tuscany
The most famous representatives of the Medici dynasty became not only the rulers of Florence, but also popes. In 1513, it turned out to be Piero de' Medici, who took the name of Leo X and remained on the throne until 1521. Although the high priests were not supposed to be involved in worldly affairs, he supported the interests of his family in Florence.
The reign of Clement VII (1523-1534) passed similarly. In the world his name was Giulio Medici. Under him, the family was once again expelled from Florence. This led the Pope to form an alliance with Holy Roman Emperor Charles V of Habsburg, "in whose dominions the sun never set." The coalition defeated the enemies, and the Medici returned to Florence. In addition, they received the title of Dukes of Tuscany.
The rulers of Florence of this period continued to patronize the arts. Under Cosimo I (1537-1574), the famous Uffizi Gallery was built. Today it attracts millions of tourists to Florence. It contains numerous masterpieces of painting, for example, the works of the legendary Leonardo da Vinci ("Annunciation" and "Adoration of the Magi").
Queens of France
Influential rulers of Florence paid attention to dynastic marriages. So, two women from this family became the spouses of the French kings. It was the wife of Henry II Catherine (1547-1559) and the wife of Henry IV Mary (1600-1610). The first of them was even a regent and generally had a great politicalinfluence. Catherine is known to millions of fans of the talent of Alexandre Dumas, in whose novels she was the main character. She also went down in history after the bloody St. Bartholomew's night and the massacre of many Huguenots.
French dynasty from Catherine de Medici stopped on her two children - Charles IX and Henry III. On their father's side, they belonged to the Valois. After them, the Bourbons came to power in 1589. Nevertheless, it is difficult to underestimate the influence that the Medici family had on the whole of Europe. The dynasty became the personification of the Renaissance with all its bright and controversial events.
The Decline of Florence
Despite their influence on other countries, the main area of interest of the Medici has always been Florence - their main domain and true homeland. The decline of the Duchy of Tuscany began under Cosimo II (1609-1621). He spent a lot of money on wars and conflicts with neighbors. The duke was distinguished by insane plans to subjugate his enemies, including the Spanish crown. At the same time, he was known for his support of Galileo, which continued the glorious tradition of Lorenzo the Magnificent.
Under his son Ferdinand II (1621-1670) there was a pan-European Thirty Years' War between Catholics and Protestants. At this time, the decline of Florence continued, which was no longer dependent on the Medici. The discovery of America and other promising markets made Italy a provincial country, and not the economic center of Europe. Financial flows went to the markets of Spain, England and other colonial powers.
End of a dynasty
At the same time, the Medici dynasty itself came to an end. Its last representative, Giovanni Gasteau (reigned 1723-1737), was sickly and childless. After his death, the Duchy of Tuscany passed to the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Francis I Stephen, who in Florence began to be titled Francesco II. So the city of the Medici for a long time passed to the Habsburgs.
