Médici

The Medici, also written Médici in French, were a powerful Florentine family whose wealth began in banking and who eventually became the ruling dynasty of Florence and later the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Their rise and longevity had a lasting impact on politics, culture, and architecture during the Renaissance and early modern Europe.

Origins and consolidation of power: Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici founded the family’s lucrative bank in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. His son Cosimo de’ Medici, known as Cosimo the Elder, used wealth and strategic alliances to dominate Florentine politics, effectively controlling the city despite its republican institutions. The bank’s resources underpinned their political influence for generations.

Patronage and cultural influence: The Medici were renowned patrons of the arts and sciences. They supported artists such as Brunelleschi, Donatello, Botticelli, and later Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, fostering the Renaissance in Florence. Their collections and commissions helped establish major cultural institutions and architectural projects, including the Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace.

Political and religious reach: Members of the Medici family became popes, notably Leo X and Clement VII, and queens of France, such as Catherine de’ Medici and Maria de’ Medici. Cosimo I elevated Florence’s status by founding the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1569, expanding its territory and centralizing power.

Enduring legacy: The main Medici line ended with Gian Gastone de’ Medici in 1737, and the Grand Duchy passed to the House of Lorraine. The Medici left a lasting imprint on European art, architecture, and elite politics, with their name remaining closely associated with Renaissance patronage.