The Medici AND THE Renaissance

Part 1: Rise to power

By Alex Roman

Born into poverty, Giovanni de Medici had worked his entire life to amass a small fortune, coming primarily from the Medici bank, which would one day expand to reach nearly every major city of Europe. In the year 1377 he made a decision that would set his family on a centuries long course for greatness, he made a risky loan to a man who aspired to reach the papacy. It paid off, as Pierre Roger de Beaufort better known as Pope Gregory XI did not forget the man who had provided the fiscal backing which resulted in his election to the papacy. He opened a papal line of credit with the Medici Bank, which was said to have been such that it could buy ten palaces. This placed the Medici bank firmly in league with the most powerful organization on earth. These events launched the Medici family to the top of Florences society, in the year 1400 Giovanni de Medici died one of the richest men in the city, leaving control of his wealth and bank to his son, Cosimo de Medici used this power very wisely. Through patronage, he sponsored many great artworks, in order to promote public image, this strategy was extremely successful. The most impressive and lasting of these projects was arguably Brunelleschis dome. For years the uncompleted dome of the Florence Cathedral stood as an embarrassing failure to the citys people, in the year 1418 a competition to devise a way of completing the dome. Brunelleschi won with the backing of Cosimo. The dome was completed in 1436, bringing great prestige to the city of Florence, the Medici, and of course, Brunelleschi. Cosimo de Medici achieved great power over the city of Florence, In his book The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici Christopher Hibbert writes "Political questions are settled in his
house. The man he chooses holds office...He it is who decides peace and war...He is king in all but name."

However, this power came at a price. Despite all their patronage had done for the city, the people came to resent their power. The opposition was fueled by those who had formerly held the power, most prominently the Albizzi family. In September of 1433 Cosimo was banished from the city. However the majority of the citys institutions and projects had been funded by the Medici bank, when Cosimo left the city, so did his money. After a year Cosimo was summoned back to Florence, and his exile was ended. Upon his return he assumed control of the government, all in time for the completion of Brunelleschis dome.

In his later years he continued to sponsor many fine works of the renascence, he funded such masters as Donatello, Michelozzo, and of course Brunelleschi. Upon his death he was given the title Pater Patria or Father of the fatherland.

Note: This is the first part of a series I intend to write on the Medici, and eventually essays on many other powerful families throughout history