The Medici Family

The Rise and Fall of the Medici Family

• The Medici family rose to power in Florence through commerce, becoming one of the most influential families in Europe.
• Giovanni de’ Medici established the Medici Bank in Florence, which became the top financial institution in the region, with branches in Rome, Geneva, and Venice.
• Cosimo and Lorenzo, Giovanni's sons, expanded the bank's influence throughout western Europe, gaining control of the Church’s purse strings and becoming the de facto rulers of Florence.
• Cosimo used his wealth to set up an elaborate network in Florence, lending money in exchange for favors and gaining significant influence.
• Cosimo's patronage of the arts and cultural pursuits made him and the Medici family popular and helped him maintain control over Florence.
• After Cosimo's death, his son Piero took over but was unable to effectively run the family bank and was forced out of the city by angry citizens.
• The Medici dynasty continued under the rule of Lorenzo's sons, two of whom became popes in the 16th century and unofficial rulers of Florence and Rome.
• The later Medici rulers were more authoritarian and less concerned with cultural or artistic endeavors, leading to the decline of Florence as the cultural center of Europe.
• The last male of the senior branch of the Medici family died in 1737, marking the end of their rule.
• The Medici family reportedly owned 27 villas in Florence and Tuscany at one point.
• The family spent more than $460 million at today’s valuation on charity, buildings, and artistic support during their rule.
• The Medici family's power was passed peacefully through the generations with very little resistance in Florence for the next 200 years.

Test your knowledge of the influential Medici family with this quiz. Explore the rise to power, banking prowess, patronage of the arts, and eventual decline of this prominent Italian dynasty.