By 1434, Cosimo de Medici had consolidated power for himself and his family in Florence, all the while maintaining the appearance of a democratic government. Cosimo clung to his position as a private citizen, but it was clear to all that he ruled the city of Florence from behind the scenes.

What did the medici family rule?

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Summary
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Florence is often named as the birthplace of the Renaissance. The early writers 
and artists of the period sprung from this city in the northern hills of Italy. 
As a center for the European wool trade, the political power of the city rested 
primarily in the hands of the wealthy merchants who dominated the industry. 
These merchants built enormous gilded mansions in the city, villas in the 
country, and contributed to the construction of grand cathedrals, spawning the 
physical rebirth of the city. A spirit of competition developed between the 
rich merchants, who often competed with each other to see who could commission 
the grandest buildings and the finest works of art. Competition augmented the 
fervor with which the city entered into the Renaissance. 

The Medici family, which controlled Florence throughout much of the Renaissance, 
played a large part in the patronage of the arts and the political development 
of the city. In 1397, Giovanni de Medici, the banker to the Papal Court, 
established headquarters in Florence. As a wealthy and influential citizen, 
Giovanni had virtually no choice but to participate in public life, holding 
almost every political office in Florence at some point. Giovanni died in 1429, 
leaving behind a legacy of patronage for the arts, an immense fortune, and a 
son, Cosimo de Medici, who was educated in the principles of humanism. 
Cosimo de Medici took over the family banking business at the age of forty. A 
successful businessman, Cosimo built up his father's fortune and established 
business connections all over Europe. 
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By 1434, Cosimo de Medici had consolidated power for himself and his family in 
Florence, all the while maintaining the appearance of democratic government. 
Cosimo clung to his position as a private citizen, but it was clear to all that 
he ruled the city of Florence from behind the scenes. Though Cosimo maintained 
his power through the actions of a manipulative schemer, other aspects of his 
life were nothing if not admirable. He generously supported the arts, 
commissioning the building of great cathedrals, and commissioning the best 
artists of the age to decorate them. He demonstrated great support for 
education, establishing the Platonic Academy for the study of ancient works. It 
is estimated that before his death in 1464, Cosimo spent approximately 600,000 
gold florins supporting architecture, scholarly learning, and other arts. When 
one considers that the unprecedented fortune left to Cosimo by his father 
totaled only 180,000 florins, this amount is clearly extraordinary.

From Cosimo's death in 1464, his son Piero ruled for five years, and then was 
succeeded by Cosimo's grandson, Lorenzo de Medici, known as 'Il Magnifico.' 
Lorenzo lived more elegantly than had Cosimo, and enjoyed the spotlight of power 
immensely. Under his control, the Florentine economy expanded significantly and 
the lower class enjoyed a greater level of comfort and protection than it had 
before. During the period of Lorenzo's rule, from 1469 to 1492, Florence became 
undeniably the most important city-state in Italy and the most beautiful city in 
all of Europe. The arts flourished, and commerce increased, but Lorenzo let the 
family business decline, and the Medici were forced to flee Florence two years 
after his death.

The popular uprising which ousted the Medici family was spawned by a fanatical 
priest, Girolamo Savonarola. Savonarola had attracted a following since 
1491, when he began preaching against the worldliness and paganism of the 
Renaissance. He called for a return to simple faith. After the Medici were 
ousted in 1494, Savonarola assumed power, drafting a new draconian constitution, 
and attempting to revive the medieval spirit. He had burned many books and 
paintings he considered immoral. In 1495, Savonarola called for the deposal of 
Pope Alexander VI. By this time very little support remained in Florence 
for the renegade priest, and he was declared a heretic and burned at the stake.

Though the Medici returned, Florence would never return to its former position 
of preeminence.

Medici family, French Médicis, Italian bourgeois family that ruled Florence and, later, Tuscany during most of the period from 1434 to 1737, except for two brief intervals (from 1494 to 1512 and from 1527 to 1530).

Italian Renaissance (1330-1550) quizzes about important details and events in every section of the book.

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Florence is often named as the birthplace of the Renaissance. The early writers and artists of the period sprung from this city in the northern hills of Italy. As a center for the European wool trade, the political power of the city rested primarily in the hands of the wealthy merchants who dominated the industry. These merchants built enormous gilded mansions in the city, villas in the country, and contributed to the construction of grand cathedrals, spawning the physical rebirth of the city. A spirit of competition developed between the rich merchants, who often competed with each other to see who could commission the grandest buildings and the finest works of art. Competition augmented the fervor with which the city entered into the Renaissance.

The Medici family, which controlled Florence throughout much of the Renaissance, played a large part in the patronage of the arts and the political development of the city. In 1397, Giovanni de Medici, the banker to the Papal Court, established headquarters in Florence. As a wealthy and influential citizen, Giovanni had virtually no choice but to participate in public life, holding almost every political office in Florence at some point. Giovanni died in 1429, leaving behind a legacy of patronage for the arts, an immense fortune, and a son, Cosimo de Medici, who was educated in the principles of humanism. Cosimo de Medici took over the family banking business at the age of forty. A successful businessman, Cosimo built up his father's fortune and established business connections all over Europe.

By 1434, Cosimo de Medici had consolidated power for himself and his family in Florence, all the while maintaining the appearance of democratic government. Cosimo clung to his position as a private citizen, but it was clear to all that he ruled the city of Florence from behind the scenes. Though Cosimo maintained his power through the actions of a manipulative schemer, other aspects of his life were nothing if not admirable. He generously supported the arts, commissioning the building of great cathedrals, and commissioning the best artists of the age to decorate them. He demonstrated great support for education, establishing the Platonic Academy for the study of ancient works. It is estimated that before his death in 1464, Cosimo spent approximately 600,000 gold florins supporting architecture, scholarly learning, and other arts. When one considers that the unprecedented fortune left to Cosimo by his father totaled only 180,000 florins, this amount is clearly extraordinary.

From Cosimo's death in 1464, his son Piero ruled for five years, and then was succeeded by Cosimo's grandson, Lorenzo de Medici, known as 'Il Magnifico.' Lorenzo lived more elegantly than had Cosimo, and enjoyed the spotlight of power immensely. Under his control, the Florentine economy expanded significantly and the lower class enjoyed a greater level of comfort and protection than it had before. During the period of Lorenzo's rule, from 1469 to 1492, Florence became undeniably the most important city-state in Italy and the most beautiful city in all of Europe. The arts flourished, and commerce increased, but Lorenzo let the family business decline, and the Medici were forced to flee Florence two years after his death.

The popular uprising which ousted the Medici family was spawned by a fanatical priest, Girolamo Savonarola. Savonarola had attracted a following since 1491, when he began preaching against the worldliness and paganism of the Renaissance. He called for a return to simple faith. After the Medici were ousted in 1494, Savonarola assumed power, drafting a new draconian constitution, and attempting to revive the medieval spirit. He had burned many books and paintings he considered immoral. In 1495, Savonarola called for the deposal of Pope Alexander VI. By this time very little support remained in Florence for the renegade priest, and he was declared a heretic and burned at the stake.

Though the Medici returned, Florence would never return to its former position of preeminence.

Italian Renaissance (1330-1550): Florence and the Medici (1397-1495)

What did the medici family rule?

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