Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
| Cosimo I de' Medici | |
|---|---|
Cosimo I de' Medici in Armour
By Agnolo Bronzino. |
|
| Duke of Florence | |
| Reign | 6 January 1537 – 21 August 1569 |
| Predecessor | Alessandro |
| Grand Duke of Tuscany | |
| Reign | 21 August 1569 – 21 April 1574 |
| Successor | Francesco I |
| Born |
12 June 1519 Florence, Republic of Florence |
| Died | 21 April 1574 (aged 54) Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany |
| Spouse |
Eleanor of Toledo Camilla Martelli |
| Issue |
Bia de' Medici Maria de' Medici Francesco I de' Medici Isabella, Duchess of Bracciano Cardinal Giovanni Lucrezia, Duchess of Modena Prince Pedricco Prince Garzia Ferdinando I de' Medici Anna de' Medici Prince Pietro Virginia, Duchess of Modena |
| House | Medici |
| Father | Giovanni dalle Bande Nere |
| Mother | Maria Salviati |
Cosimo I de' Medici (12 June 1519 – 21 April 1574) was the second Duke of Florence from 1537 until 1569, when he became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany.
Cosimo was born in Florence, on 12 June 1519, the son of the famous condottiere Giovanni dalle Bande Nere from Forlì and Maria Salviati. He was the grandson of Caterina Sforza, the Countess of Forlì and Lady of Imola. Cosimo came to power at 17, when the 26-year-old Duke, Alessandro de' Medici, was assassinated in 1537, as Alessandro's only male child was illegitimate. Cosimo was from a different branch of the family, and so far had lived in Mugello, and was almost unknown in Florence. However, many of the influential men in the city favoured him. Several hoped to rule through him, thereby enriching themselves at the state's expense. However, as Benedetto Varchi famously put it "The innkeeper's reckoning was different from the glutton's." Cosimo proved strong-willed, astute and ambitious, and soon rejected the clause he had signed, which entrusted much of the power to a council of Forty-Eight.
When the Florentine exiles heard of the death of Alessandro, they marshalled their forces with support from France and from disgruntled neighbors of Florence. During this time, Cosimo had an illegitimate daughter, Bia (1537 – 1542), who was portrayed shortly before her premature death in a marvelous painting by Bronzino.
Toward the end of July 1537, the exiles 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 exiles' 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. Filippo 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.
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Wikipedia