Lorenzo would succeed to this unofficial but immensely powerful position on Piero's death in late 1469. [12][13], Piero sent Lorenzo on many important diplomatic missions when he was still a youth, including trips to Rome to meet the pope and other important religious and political figures. In 1559, the bodies of Lorenzo de' Medici ("the Magnificent") and his brother Giuliano were interred in the New Sacristy in an unmarked tomb beneath Michelangelo's statue of the Madonna. Lorenzo hurried to Volterra to make amends, but the incident would remain a dark stain on his record.[27][28]. Page 250. Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, "Medici, Lorenzo de', detto il Magnifico", "Medici Money: Banking, Metaphysics, and Art in Fifteenth-Century Florence", "CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: Pope Clement VII", "Alessandro de' Medici (1510–1537) • BlackPast", "Revisiting the renaissance with Assassin's Creed 2", "Who's who in 'Da Vinci's Demons' Season 2", "Daniel Sharman and Bradley James Join Netflix's 'Medici, "The Mouse that Michelangelo Did Carve in the Medici Chapel: An Oriental Comment to the Famous Article of Erwin Panofsky", Genealogical tables of the House of Medici, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lorenzo_de%27_Medici&oldid=1015865048, 15th-century people of the Republic of Florence, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from October 2020, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2018, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CANTIC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CINII identifiers, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz identifiers, Wikipedia articles with PLWABN identifiers, Wikipedia articles with RKDartists identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SELIBR identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SNAC-ID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with Trove identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Wikipedia articles with multiple identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Contessina Beatrice de' Medici, died shortly after her birth on 23 September 1474. Lorenzo's agents retrieved from the East large numbers of classical works, and he employed a large workshop to copy his books and disseminate their content across Europe. The young Lorenzo grew up watching his grandfather Cosimo, whom he always tried to surpass in wisdom and cunning. [23] When these moves had little effect, Sixtus formed a military alliance with King Ferdinand I of Naples, whose son, Alfonso, Duke of Calabria, led an invasion of the Florentine Republic, still ruled by Lorenzo. In 1489 he manages to have his son Giovanni made a cardinal, at the age of 14. Lorenzo expanded the collection of books called Laurentian Library, today the heritage of the city of Florence. [22] News of the conspiracy spread throughout Florence, and it was brutally put down by the populace through such measures as the lynching of the archbishop of Pisa and members of the Pazzi family who were involved in the conspiracy. Suspiciously, that is also the year the Borgias rose to power in Rome. Lorenzo played a role in bringing Savonarola to Florence. Contents 1 Youth 2 Politics 3 Patronage 4 Marriage and children 5 Later years 6 In popular culture 7 References 8 Further reading 9 External links Youth Lorenzo's grandfather, Cosimo de' Medici, was the first member of the Medici family to combine Contessina Antonia Romola de' Medici (1478–1515), Lorenzo de' Medici is depicted as a teenager in. Florence Inferno is a blog about the Florentine mysteries, symbols, and places that are mentioned in Dan Brown’s latest novel Inferno, and much more about the city. He continued the Medici patronage of ecclesiastical institutions. Giovanni later ruled as Pope Leo … [26] When they realized the value of the alum mine, the people of Volterra wanted its revenues for their municipal funds rather than having it enter the pockets of their Florentine backers. Spreading Art. Lorenzo was an artist and wrote poetry in his native Tuscan. [9] With his brother Giuliano, he participated in jousting, hawking, hunting, and horse breeding for the Palio, a horse race in Siena. Recognizing his brother’s superior qualities, Giuliano immediately left to Lorenzo the tasks of government. Lorenzo’s father, Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici, was equally at the centre of Florentine life, chiefly as an art patron and collector, like his father Cosimo de’ Medici, who was one of the wealthiest men in Europe and the first member of the Medici family to combine running the Medici Bank with leading the Republic of Florence.Lorenzo’s mother, Lucrezia Tornabuoni, was a writer of sonnets and a friend to poets and philosophers of the Medic… Piero died on Dec. 5, 1469, and 2 days later the 20-year-old Lorenzo was asked by a delegation of eminent citizens to take control of the state. Lorenzo rallied the citizens. On Easter Sunday, 26 April 1478, in an incident called the Pazzi conspiracy, a group headed by Girolamo Riario, Francesco Pazzi, and Francesco Salviati, the Archbishop of Pisa, with the blessing of his patron Pope Sixtus IV, attacked Lorenzo and his brother and co-ruler Giuliano in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in an attempt to seize control of the Florentine government. Lorenzo’s mother, Lucrezia Tornabuoni, was a writer of sonnets and a friend to poets and philosophers of the Medici Academy. His death occurred during the end of the Golden Age of Florence. I didn’t realize he wanted to be a simple citizen. Lorenzo is certainly a fascinating character. He was also a writer, patron, poet and humanist, as well as one of the most significant Renaissance politicians, both for having embodied the ideal of the humanist prince, and for his skill in managing power. André Chastel, Art et Humanisme à Florence au temps de Laurent le Magnifique (Paris, 1959). Ascending to power after the death of his father, he became the sole unchallenged ruler of Florence during its most prosperous years. He was a writer, a poet and a great patron: in these capacities he did so much to beautify his beloved Florence. Lorenzo emerged from the conflict with greatly increased prestige. Alum had been discovered by local citizens of Volterra, who turned to Florence to get backing to exploit this important natural resource. He was also Duke of Urbino from 1516 to 1519. On April 9, the 43-year-old Florentine finally died. Lorenzo de’ Medici died in 1492. Legend says that in his early childhood, Lorenzo demonstrated unusual intelligence, good taste, curiosity and prodigious memory, all of which was accompanied by a healthy dose of wit, a trait held by many famous Florentines. He also ensured a period of peace among the various Italian powers through his influence and important friendships. Lorenzo is remembered as The Magnificent for his political astuteness as well as his artistic skills. [2][3][4] Also known as Lorenzo the Magnificent (Lorenzo il Magnifico [loˈrɛntso il maɲˈɲiːfiko]) by contemporary Florentines, he was a magnate, diplomat, politician and patron of scholars, artists, and poets. The joust was the subject of a poem written by Luigi Pulci. Letters written by witnesses to Lorenzo's death report that he died peacefully after listening to the Gospel of the day. [30] They studied Greek philosophers and attempted to merge the ideas of Plato with Christianity. Lorenzo, like his grandfather, father, and son, ruled Florence indirectly through surrogates in the city councils, threats, payoffs, and strategic marriages.Although Florence flourished under Lorenzo’s rule, he effectively reigned as a despot, and people had little political freedom. Lorenzo sent mercenaries to suppress the revolt by force, and the mercenaries ultimately sacked the city. To this day, his death mask is preserved in the Museo degli Argenti in Palazzo Pitti. In the spring of 1467 Lorenzo de Medici's mother, Lucrezia Tournabuoni, went to Rome. Lorenzo’s influence on the patronage of others extended outside Florence’s borders. [7] She became her son's advisor after the deaths of his father and uncle. Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici (September 12, 1492 – May 4, 1519) was the ruler of Florence from 1513 to his death from syphilis in 1519. The latter holds the two monumental tombs of Lorenzo and Giuliano's less known namesakes: Lorenzo, Duke of Urbino, and Giuliano, Duke of Nemours. Season 3 which is now streaming on Netflix also serves as the last season for the show -- Lorenzo was, after all, the last great Medici. The most infamous Renaissance murder was the assault on Giuliano and Lorenzo de'Medici. Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici (Italian: [loˈrɛntso de ˈmɛːditʃi]; 1 January 1449 – 8 April 1492)[1] was an Italian statesman, banker, de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic and the most powerful and enthusiastic patron of Renaissance culture in Italy. This post was originally published in October 28, 2013, and has been updated and enriched on March 15, 2017. He was buried in the Church of San Lorenzo, alongside his brother Giuliano. [37] Many signs and portents were claimed to have taken place at the moment of his death, including the dome of Florence Cathedral being struck by lightning, ghosts appearing, and the lions kept at Via Leone fighting one another.[38]. His life coincided with the mature phase of Italian Renaissance, and his death coincided with the end of the Golden Age of Florence. Lorenzo enhanced the prestige and stability of his house when he came to an agreement with Pope Sixtus IV in 1471 by which the Medici would continue to handle the papal finances. Love, feasts and light dominate his verse.[29]. Cosimo the Elder was very fond of Lorenzo and ensured that he had the opportunity to study with the best teachers of the time. Correspondingly, how did the Medici family end? The curtains closed on almost 300 years of Medici rule in Florence with the death of Gian Gastone de' Medici, the seventh family member to serve as grand duke of Tuscany. Ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance who was a renowned patron of the arts. Cosimo had started the collection of books that became the Medici Library (also called the Laurentian Library), and Lorenzo expanded it. Your email address will not be published. [25], Efforts to acquire revenue from the mining of alum in Tuscany unfortunately marred Lorenzo's reputation. Already drained by his grandfather's building projects and constantly stressed by mismanagement, wars, and political expenses, the assets of the Medici Bank reduced seriously during the course of Lorenzo's lifetime. "Florentine Palaces & Their Stories". Required fields are marked *. In 1469 Piero organized a joust to celebrate Lorenzo’s marriage to Clarice Orsini. He is well known for his contribution to the art world by sponsoring artists such as Botticelli and Michelangelo. Lorenzo maintained good relations with Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire, as the Florentine maritime trade with the Ottomans was a major source of wealth for the Medici. Piero sent Lorenzo on many important diplomatic missions when he was still a youth, which included trips to Rome to meet the pope and other important religious and political figures. Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici, known as Lorenzo il Magnifico, third of the Medici dynasty, was lord of Florence from 1469 to his death. During his tenure, several branches of the family bank collapsed because of bad loans, and, in later years, he got into financial difficulties and resorted to mis-appropriating trust and state funds. Lorenzo de’ Medici died at the Villa Medici at Careggi, on April 8, 1492, reportedly dying peacefully after hearing the day’s Scripture readings. Giuliano, on the other hand, was regarded as handsome and a "golden boy", and was used as a model by Botticelli in his painting of Mars and Venus. During Lorenzo's tenure, several branches of the family bank collapsed because of bad loans, and in later years he got into financial difficulties and resorted to misappropriating trust and state funds. Lorenzo did not officially accept power, wanting to be considered a simple citizen of Florence while virtually centralizing into his own hands the power of the city and the state. [20], On Sunday, 26 April 1478, in an incident known as the Pazzi conspiracy, a group headed by Girolamo Riario, Francesco de' Pazzi, and Francesco Salviati (the archbishop of Pisa), attacked Lorenzo and his brother and co-ruler Giuliano in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in an attempt to seize control of the Florentine government. Lorenzo de’ Medici (January 1, 1449 – April 9, 1492) – called Il Magnifico (The Magnificent) – is probably the most well-known member of the Medici family; he was the son of Piero de’ Medici and Lucrezia Tornabuoni and the grandson of Cosimo the Elder. However, with little support from the traditional Medici allies in Bologna and Milan (the latter being convulsed by power struggles among the Milanese ruling family, the Sforza), the war dragged on, and only diplomacy by Lorenzo, who personally traveled to Naples, resolved the crisis. That success enabled Lorenzo to secure constitutional changes within the Florentine Republic’s government, which further enhanced his own power. At the age of 16, Lorenzo entered politics and demonstrated excellent qualities in administering the family’s fortunes. He had a flat nose, a nasal high-pitched voice and didn’t look the … While many dispute its historical accuracy, the lavish production captures the seize-the-day spirit of the age. If you would like to know everything about Lorenzo The Magnificent and his times we suggest you this book: If you are planning to visit in Florence, here some Medici family tours. This he did, ruling as his father and grandfather had done, from behind the scenes and without holding any public office. A distinguished vernacular poet, he was also passionately interested in Classical antiquity and became the center of a humanist circle of poets, artists, and philosophers, which included Marsilio Ficino, Pico della Mirandola, Angelo Poliziano, Botticelli, Bertoldo di Giovanni, and Michelangelo. Pictures by Wikimedia Commons and Lorenzo il Magnifico by Riccardo M. (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0). Lorenzo de’ Medici was an Italian politician, statesman, diplomat, banker, and de facto ruler of the Republic of Florence. For these reasons, Lorenzo was the subject of the Pazzi conspiracy (1478), in which his brother Giuliano was assassinated. When these moves had little effect, Sixtus formed a military alliance with King Ferdinand I of Naples, whose son, Alfonso, Duke of Calabria, led an invasion of the Florentine Republic, still ruled by Lorenzo. News of the conspiracy spread throughout Florence and was brutally put down by the populace through such measures as the lynching of the Archbishop of Pisa and the death of the Pazzi family members who were involved. [11] He carried a banner painted by Verrocchio, and his horse was named Morello di Vento. Live webinar to learn about the art, history and architecture of Florence. Rival Florentine families inevitably harboured resentment over the Medici’s dominance, and enemies of the Medici remained a factor in Florentine life long after Lorenzo’s passing. First the Roman Curia in 1462, and then Lorenzo and the Medici Bank less than a year later, got involved in backing the mining operation, with the pope taking a two-ducat commission for each cantar quintal of alum retrieved and ensuring a monopoly against the Turkish-derived goods by prohibiting trade in alum with infidels. Clarice Orsini de Medici (1453-1488) - Married Lorenzo de' Medici by proxy on February 7 1469. In particular, Lorenzo attended the Platonic Academy of Marsilio Ficino, who had a big influence on many elements of Florentine culture. Lorenzo was influential and an important part on Italian renaissance. Clarice Orsini was born circa1453 in Monterotondo, Papal States, Italy to Giacomo Orsini (-1482) and Maddalena Orsini (c1410) and died 30 July 1488 inFlorence, Republic of Florence, Italy of tuberculosis. [6], Lorenzo, considered the most promising of the five children of Piero and Lucrezia, was tutored by a diplomat and bishop, Gentile de' Becchi, and the humanist philosopher Marsilio Ficino,[8] and he was trained in Greek by John Argyropoulos. During Lorenzo's tenure, several branches of the family bank collapsed because of bad loans, and in later years he got into financial difficulties and resorted to misappropriating trust and state funds. Giuliano was brutally stabbed to death, but Lorenzo escaped with only a minor wound to the shoulder, having been defended by the poet Politian. You can watch Showtime’s The Borgias , … In an attempt to … [42], Italian statesman and de facto dictator of the Florentine Republic, Paintings by Botticelli that use the Medici family as models. Lorenzo de' Medici is buried in the Medici Chapel in Florence. Lorenzo's grandfather, Cosimo de' Medici, was the first member of the Medici family to lead the Republic of Florence and run the Medici Bank simultaneously. Lorenzo was both ruler and scholar. Lorenzo maintained good relations with Sultan Mehmed II of the Ottoman Empire, as the Florentine maritime trade with the Ottomans was a major source of wealth for the Medici. Lorenzo played a role in bringing Savonarola to Florence. But as all do, he became the Medici Academy ( Paris 1959... 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