Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

Cosimo I de' Medici (June 12, 1519, Florence http://www.worldroots.com/cgi-bin/gasteldb?@I15897@ – April 21, 1574, Castello) was the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling from 1537 to 1574, during the waning days of the Renaissance.

Related Topics:
June 12 - June 15 - 1519 - Florence - April 21 - 1574 - Castello - Grand Duke - Tuscany - 1537 - Renaissance

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Son of the condottiere Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, Cosimo came to power when Alessandro de' Medici was assassinated in 1537 because Alessandro's only male issue was illegitimate. He was from a different branch of the family, but many of the influential men in Florence favored him, in some cases perhaps hoping to rule through him, since he was only 17. However, he proved strong-willed and ambitious and was immediately recognized by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. He restored the power of the Medici, who thereafter ruled Florence until the last of the Medici Grand Dukes, Gian Gastone de' Medici (1671–1737). The governmental structures he set up endured beyond that to the time when the grand duchy was absorbed into the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Related Topics:
Condottiere - Giovanni dalle Bande Nere - Alessandro de' Medici - 1537 - Florence - Holy Roman Emperor - Charles V - Medici - Gian Gastone de' Medici - 1671 - 1737 - Austro-Hungarian Empire

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When the Florentine exiles heard of the death of Alessandro, they marshaled their forces with support from France and from disgruntled neighbors of Florence. Toward the end of July 1537, they marched into Tuscany under the leadership of Bernardo Salviati and Piero Strozzi. When Cosimo heard of their approach, he sent his best troops under Alessandro Vitelli to engage the enemy, which they did at Montemurlo, a fortress that belonged to the Nerli. After defeating the exile's army, Vitelli stormed the fortress, where Strozzi and a few of his companions had retreated to safety. It fell after only a few hours, and Cosimo celebrated his first victory. The prominent prisoners were subsequently beheaded on the Piazza or in the Bargello. Strozzi's body was found with a bloody sword next to it and a note quoting Virgil, but many believe that his suicide was faked.

Related Topics:
France - July - 1537 - Bargello - Virgil

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Cosimo next turned on his neighbors of Lucca and Siena. With the support of the Emperor, he laid siege to Siena, even though it was occupied by Spanish troops. In 1557, after a 15-month siege, he finally took the city, although its population had been diminished from forty thousand to eight thousand.

Related Topics:
Lucca - Siena - Spanish - 1557

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In 1559, he added Mantalcino to his territories and formed the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. He was a despotic ruler and also found it necessary to lay heavy tax burdens on his subjects, thus laying the groundwork for the future dissatisfaction and rebellion that eventually brought about the downfall his successors. Despite his economic difficulties, he was a lavish patron of the arts and also developed the Florentine navy, which eventually took part in the Battle of Lepanto.

Related Topics:
1559 - Battle of Lepanto

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In the last 10 years of his reign, he gave up the active rule to his son and successor Francesco I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.

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