medici

Medici refers to the Medici family, a powerful Italian dynasty that rose to prominence in Florence during the 15th century as bankers and politicians. Originating in the Mugello region of Tuscany, the family built a vast banking enterprise, Medici Bank, founded by Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici around 1397. Through prudent management and political alliance, his son Cosimo de' Medici, called Cosimo the Elder, established the family as de facto rulers of Florence, using wealth to influence governing councils, commissions, and urban projects.

The Medici cultivated a culture of patronage that helped spark the Italian Renaissance. Under Lorenzo de' Medici, known as Lorenzo the Magnificent, Florence became a center for artists and scholars; patrons supported artists such as Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci, and scholars such as Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola. The family's influence extended beyond Florence through strategic marriages, papal connections, and control of the Papal States to some degree.

Members of the Medici also rose to the highest offices of the Catholic Church and European royalty. Giovanni de' Medici became Pope Leo X, Giulio de' Medici pursued office as Pope Clement VII, and Gian Pietro Medici became Pope Pius IV. Catherine de' Medici became Queen of France through marriage, playing a central role in French politics during the 16th century.

In 1537 Cosimo I was made Duke of Florence and later became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1569, establishing a hereditary rule that continued the dynasty until its extinction in 1737 with Gian Gastone de' Medici; Tuscany then passed to the House of Lorraine. The Medici legacy includes major architectural works, expansive art collections, and enduring institutions such as the Uffizi Gallery and Pitti Palace, reflecting their long-standing patronage of culture and science.