What if Michelangelo wasn’t able to become an artist? He dabbled in his free time but followed in his father’s footsteps and became a government administrator. Well, we’d be missing out on a lot of beautiful art. Luckily, Michelangelo had the support of the Medici Family, the wealthiest and most powerful family in all of Florence.
The Medici Family were patrons of many notable artists and scholars during the Renaissance but that was certainly not all they did. They controlled Florence for the better part of three centuries, produced four popes, and married into some of the most powerful families in Europe. Let’s take a look at the rise and fall of the House of Medici.
The Medici Family Definition
The Medici Family, also known as the House of Medici, was a wealthy family that came to hold great power in Florence during the Renaissance. They played an important role in governing the city for centuries and had a large hand in making Florence the beautiful city that it is today.
The Renaissance
a time period in Europe following the Middle Ages characterized by a renewed interest in the classical world, especially in arts, architecture, and philosophy
The Medici Family Tree
The Medici family was large and expanded over many centuries. This Family Tree focuses on the key players that helped establish their power.
Fig. 1 - Medici Family Tree
The Medici Family History
The Medici Family originated in the small village of Cafaggilo in Tuscany. They relocated to Florence in the 13th century where they lived as merchants. They did well for themselves and became involved in civic affairs through the Florentine Merchant Guild. With time, members of the family began to take positions in the Signora.
The Signora
the governing body of the Florentine Republic, consisting of aristocrats, intellectuals, and burghers (privileged members of society, such as wealthy merchants)
Although the Medici family had already been doing very well for themselves, Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici solidified their position as one of the wealthiest and most prominent families in Florence with the Medici Bank in 1397.
The Medici Bank had branches as far away as London and, for a time, the papacy even used them as their primary financial institution. The Medici Bank also gave the family the wealth necessary to pursue other ventures.
Social Status in Italian City-States
In the rest of Europe, the possession of land determined social status. However, in the Italian city-states, material wealth held more power. This meant that wealthy merchants and bankers, like the Medici Family, could reach the top of the social hierarchy. These wealthy members of society were also able to get involved in politics and serve in the Signora. Noble blood was not necessary.
Key Members of the Medici Family
Before we continue, here are some of the most significant members of the Medici Family and the ones that we’ll be discussing:
| Name | Significance |
Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici (1360-1429) | Founded the Medici Bank and solidified the family’s wealth and prominence |
Cosimo de’ Medici (1389-1464) | Beat out the rival Abissi family setting up a period of rule as the de facto leader of Florence |
Lorenzo de’ Medici/Lorenzo the Magnificent (1449-1492) | Continued rule after Cosimo de’ Medici and became known as a great patron of the arts |
Catherine de’ Medici (1519-1589) | Married King Henry II and became queen of France |
Alessandro de’ Medici (1510-1537) | Became the first Duke of Florence after the end of the Florentine Republic |
Cosimo II de’ Medici (1590-1621) | Became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany |
Gian Gastone de’ Medici (1671-1737) | The last Grand Duke of Tuscany |
Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici (1667-1743) | Signed the Patto di Famiglia and ended the reign of the House of Medici |
It’s also important to know that four members of the Medici Family became popes:
| Family Name | Papal Title | Dates of Papal Rule |
| Giovanni de' Medici | Pope Leo X | 1513-1521 |
| Giulio de' Medici | Pope Clement VII | 1523-1534 |
| Giovanni Angelo de' Medici | Pope Pius IV | 1559-1565 |
| Alessandro Ottaviano de' Medici | Pope Leo XI | 1605 |
The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici
Beginning in 1434, the Medici Family ruled over Florence for the better part of three centuries. Let's take a look at the rise and fall of the House of Medici.
The Rise of the House of Medici
As we discussed earlier, Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici and his founding of the Medici Bank secured the wealth and prosperity of the Medici Family. It was his son Cosimo de’ Medici who finally succeeded in beating out the Allbizzi family for power over Florence. Cosimo de’ Medici became the Gran maestro of Florence and ruled for 30 years.
Gran maestro
an unofficial leader of an Italian city-state
Lorenzo de’ Medici, Cosimo de’ Medici’s grandson, was the next Gran maestro to rule Florence.
Also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent, he was a patron to many famous names you’d recognize such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. He helped transform Florence into a showcase of beautiful art and architecture and the Medici family continued to be important patrons throughout the Renaissance, bringing the family even more fame and prestige.
Patron
a wealthy individual who financially supported a cause or individual
Fig. 2 - The Last Judgement by Michelangelo
For the next few decades, the Medicis held power off and on as different factions battled each other. In 1532, Guilio de’ Medici, acting as Pope Clement VII granted Alessandro de’ Medici the hereditary title of Duke of Florence, establishing the rule of the Medicis once again.
Mixing Bloodlines
As the Medici family gained more prestige, members of the family began to marry into other prominent and powerful families. Perhaps the most significant example of this is Catherine de’ Medici. She became queen of France in after marrying King Henry II and several of her sons would also go on to become kings of France. These types of marriages were important in securing Medici influence across Europe.
Fig 3. - Catherine de' Medici
The Fall of the House of Medici
Although the House of Medici would remain in power until 1737, the Grand Duchy was already suffering at the beginning of the 1700s. The treasury was completely depleted and the population had reduced by almost 50%. When Grand Duke Gian Gastone de’ Medici died in 1737, it signaled the end of Medici family rule.
His sister, Ana Maria Luisa de' Medici was the last of the royal House of Medici. Although offered a nominal regency, she declined but she left a lasting legacy with the Patto di Famiglia.
The Patto di Famiglia/Family Pact
Ana Maria Luisa de' Medici's agreement to relinquish all of the Medici Family’s art to the Tuscan state so long as it would remain in Tuscany
The Medici Family - Key takeaways
- The Medici Family was a wealthy and powerful family that came to control Florence during the Renaissance. They began as merchants and later entered the banking industry.
- Beginning with Lorenzo the Magnificent, they were great patrons of artists and scholars, such as Michelangelo.
- The Medici Family rule lasted for the better part of three centuries (whether officially or unofficially) until the last Grand Duke of Tuscany died in 1737.
- Four members of the Medici Family became popes and many members of the Medici family married into powerful families, such as Queen Catherine de' Medici of France.
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