Historical Figure
Lorenzo de' Medici
1492–1519
Italian nobleman (1492–1519)
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Biography
Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici was the ruler of Florence from 1516 until his death in 1519. He was also Duke of Urbino during the same period. A scion of the Medici, his wealth and power saw his daughter Catherine de' Medici become Queen Consort of France, while his recognised but illegitimate son, Alessandro de' Medici, inherited his estate and became the first Duke of Florence.
Timeline
The story of Lorenzo de' Medici, told in moments.
The Medici returned to Florence after 18 years of exile, restored by a Spanish army. Lorenzo's uncle Giovanni, soon to become Pope Leo X, pulled the strings.
Became Duke of Urbino after Pope Leo X waged a brief war to seize the duchy from its previous ruler. Lorenzo led the campaign himself and was wounded by an arquebus shot during the siege.
Machiavelli dedicated The Prince to him. The book was likely written for his uncle Giuliano, who'd died. Lorenzo may never have read it. He was more interested in hunting and parties.
His wife Madeleine de la Tour d'Auvergne gave birth to their daughter Catherine. Both parents would be dead within weeks. Catherine grew up to become Queen of France.
In Their Own Words (2)
The Time returns.
Personal motto, in Del Lungo and Steegman (1907) p. 192, 1907
That I might take part in everything, and bear me like the rest, I did tilt in the Piazza of Santa Croce—which tilting occasioned an outlay of ten thousand florins—and although I was very vigorous neither of my years nor of blows, yet was the first prize awarded unto me, namely, a helmet adorned with silver and having a figure of Mars for the crest.
On the jousting tournament held in the Piazza Santa Croce on 7 February 1468, in Lorenzo's Ricordi (c. 1483–5), reported in Isidoro Del Lungo, Women of Florence, tr. Mary C. Steegmann (London: Chatto and Windus, 1907) p. 190, 1468
Artifacts (15)
Grabmal des Lorenzo de'Medici, Herzog von Urbino, Lorenzo de Medici
https://d-nb.info/gnd/118582143
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