Pazzi

The Pazzi family were Tuscan nobles who had become bankers in Florence in the 14th century. They are now best known for the "Pazzi conspiracy" to assassinate Lorenzo de' Medici, which was realized April 26, 1478. Andrea de' Pazzi was also the patron for Brunelleschi's chapter house for the Franciscan community at Florence's Santa Maria Novella church, often known as the Pazzi Chapel. After the conspiracy, the Pazzi were rehabilitated and returned to Florence.

Related Topics:
Bankers - Florence - 14th century - Assassin - Lorenzo de' Medici - April 26 - 1478 - Brunelleschi - Chapter house - Franciscan - Santa Maria Novella - Church - Pazzi Chapel

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The family stem from Pazzo ("the madman"), one of the first over the walls in the Siege of Jerusalem (1099), who brought away with him and returned to Florence a stone from the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. A member of the Pazzi family was accorded the privilege of striking a light from this stone on Holy Saturday when all fires in the city were extinguished, from which light the altar light of the Duomo would be annually rekindled, and from it all the hearth fires of Florence. In an elaboration of the primal ceremony, the following day, Easter, a dove-shaped rocket would slide on a wire from above the high altar to an oxcart loaded with fireworks in the piazza. From the fireworks' explosion (the scoppio del carro), sparks would be carried to the city's hearths.

Related Topics:
Siege of Jerusalem (1099) - Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre - Duomo

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