Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (14 July 1610 – 23 May 1670) ruled as Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1621 to 1670.

Related Topics:
14 July - 1610 - 23 May - 1670 - Grand Duke of Tuscany - 1621

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He was the son of Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Maria Magadalena of Austria. His father died when he was only 11, so his mother acted as regent when he ascended the throne. He took the reigns himself in 1628, but he was unable to retain the independence of Tuscany from foreign powers and the Church.

Related Topics:
Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany - 1628

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He was loved by his subjects because of his mild disposition and friendliness, although these qualities made him a bad leader. Paolo Boccone served as his court botanist.

Related Topics:
Paolo Boccone - Botanist

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He married Vittoria della Rovere, and they had the following children:

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• Cosimo (August 14, 1642 – October 31, 1723), who married in 1661 to Marguerite Louise d'Orléans, a cousin of the King Louis XIV of France.