Posted by Hovite on 10/6/2012, 12:34:33, in reply to "Re: Grand Duke Francesco I of Tuscany; papal office?"
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--Previous Message-- : The : administrator of this board does not like : pictures being posted because of copywright : concerns. In Europe, the copyright on a painting is the life of the artist plus 70 years. The painting of Alessandro de’ Medici was by Girolamo Macchietti, who died in 1592. Therefore the copyright has expired and the image is in the public domain. Meanwhile, back to the Medici family. They first emerge from the mists of time as bankers in Florence. Giovanni de’ Medici provided the funds that enabled Baldassare Cossa to buy the office of cardinal, and when Cossa was elected Pope as John XXIII, the Medici were appointed papal bankers. From this office they accumulated great wealth and were able to control the Republic of Florence, reaching their zenith under Lorenzo the Magnificient. But in 1494, two years after Lorenzo’s death, his sons were overthrown by a fanatical priest called Savonarola, who ordered the burning of all works of art (the infamous Bonfire of the Vanities). One of the exiled sons, Giovanni de’ Medici, found his way to Rome where he was elected Pope as Leo X {1513-1521}. He is reported to have said: “God has given us the papacy. Let us enjoy it.” Savonarola was executed for heresy and the Pope now ruled Florence as well as Rome. After a brief interruption by Adrian VI, the papal line of the Medici continued with Guilio de’ Medici as Clement VII {1523-1534}. He an illegitimate son of Lorenzo’s assassinated brother Giuliano. It was during the reign of Clement VII that Rome fell to the army of the Emperor Charles V. Peace between the Emperor and Pope was established by the Treaty of Barcelona. One of the provisions of that treaty was that the Pope promised not to grant a divorce to Henry VIII, because the Emperor hoped that with Mary Tudor as heiress, he could acquire England by marriage. In exchange, Imperial troops were used to suppress the Republic of Florence, which was converted into a hereditary duchy for Clement’s illegitimate son Alessandro. The pact was sealed by a dynastic marriage between Alessandro and the Emperor’s equally illegitimate daughter Margaret. Alessandro’s reign was brief, as he was assassinated soon afterward, and the Duchy passed to a distant cousin, Cosimo de’ Medici, who in 1569 was raised to the rank of Grand Duke of Tuscany.