Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Encyclopedia
Ferdinando II de' Medici (14 July 1610 – 23 May 1670) was grand duke of Tuscany
from 1621 to 1670. He was the eldest child of Cosimo II de' Medici
and Maria Maddalena of Austria. His 49 year rule was punctuated by the terminations of the remaining operations of the Medici Bank
, and the beginning of Tuscany's long economic decline. He married Vittoria della Rovere
, with whom he had two children: Cosimo III de' Medici
, his eventual successor, and Francesco Maria de' Medici
, a Prince of the Church
.
and Maria Maddalena of Austria. Cosimo II died when he was 10; because he had not yet reached legal maturity, his mother and paternal grandmother, Christina of Lorraine, acted as joint regents. Dowager Grand Duchess Christina brought Tuscany into the Pope’s sphere of influence.
In his seventeenth year, Ferdinando embarked on a tour of Europe. One year later, his regency ended and his personal rule began. Dowager Grand Duchess Christina was the power behind the throne until her demise in 1636.
The first calamity of Ferdinando’s reign was in 1630, when a plague swept through Florence and took 10% of the population with it. Unlike the Tuscan nobility, Ferdinando and his brothers stayed in the city to try to ameliorate the general suffering. His mother and grandmother arranged a marriage with Vittoria della Rovere
, a granddaughter of the then incumbent Duke of Urbino, in 1634. Together they had two children: Cosimo
, in 1642, and Francesco Maria de' Medici
, in 1660. The latter was the fruit of a brief reconciliation, as after the birth of Cosimo, the two became estranged; Vittoria caught Ferdinando in bed with a page, Count Bruto della Molera.
Grand Duke Ferdinando was obsessed with new technology, and had several hygrometers, barometers, thermometers, and telescopes installed in the Pitti
. In 1657, Leopoldo de' Medici
, the Grand Duke’s youngest brother, established the Accademia del Cimento
. It was set up to attract scientists from all over Tuscany to Florence for mutual study.
Tuscany participated in the Wars of Castro
(the last time Medicean Tuscany was involved in a conflict) and inflicted a defeat on the forces of Urban VIII in 1643. The treasury was so empty that when the Castro mercenaries were paid for the state could no longer afford to pay interest on government bonds. The interest rate was lowered by 0.75%. The economy was so decrepit that barter trade became prevalent in rural market places.
Ferdinando died on 23 May 1670 of apoplexy
and dropsy. He was interred in the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the Medici's necropolis. At the time of his death, the population of the grand duchy was 730,594 souls; the streets were lined with grass and the buildings on the verge of collapse in Pisa
.
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
from 1621 to 1670. He was the eldest child of Cosimo II de' Medici
Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Cosimo II de' Medici was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1609 until 1621. He was the elder son of the then incumbent Grand Duke and Christina of Lorraine. He married Maria Magdalena of Austria, and had eight children....
and Maria Maddalena of Austria. His 49 year rule was punctuated by the terminations of the remaining operations of the Medici Bank
Medici bank
The Medici Bank was a financial institution created by the Medici family in Italy during the 15th century. It was the largest and most respected bank in Europe during its prime. There are some estimates that the Medici family was, for a period of time, the wealthiest family in Europe...
, and the beginning of Tuscany's long economic decline. He married Vittoria della Rovere
Vittoria della Rovere
Vittoria della Rovere was Grand Duchess of Tuscany as the wife of Grand Duke Ferdinando II. She gave her husband four children, two of which would survive infancy; the future Cosimo III, Tuscany's longest reigning monarch and Francesco Maria, a prince of the Church...
, with whom he had two children: Cosimo III de' Medici
Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Cosimo III de' Medici was the penultimate Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany. He reigned from 1670 to 1723, and was the elder son of Grand Duke Ferdinando II. Cosimo's 53-year long reign, the longest in Tuscan history, was marked by a series of ultra-reactionary laws which regulated prostitution and...
, his eventual successor, and Francesco Maria de' Medici
Francesco Maria de' Medici
Francesco Maria de' Medici was a member of the House of Medici. He was successively a Governor of Siena, cardinal and later the heir of the Duchies of Rovere and Montefeltro by right of his mother.-Biography:...
, a Prince of the Church
Prince of the Church
The term Prince of the Church is nowadays used nearly exclusively for Catholic Cardinals. However the term is historically more important as a generic term for clergymen whose offices hold the secular rank and privilege of a prince or are considered its equivalent...
.
Biography
Ferdinando was the eldest son of Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of TuscanyCosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Cosimo II de' Medici was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1609 until 1621. He was the elder son of the then incumbent Grand Duke and Christina of Lorraine. He married Maria Magdalena of Austria, and had eight children....
and Maria Maddalena of Austria. Cosimo II died when he was 10; because he had not yet reached legal maturity, his mother and paternal grandmother, Christina of Lorraine, acted as joint regents. Dowager Grand Duchess Christina brought Tuscany into the Pope’s sphere of influence.
In his seventeenth year, Ferdinando embarked on a tour of Europe. One year later, his regency ended and his personal rule began. Dowager Grand Duchess Christina was the power behind the throne until her demise in 1636.
The first calamity of Ferdinando’s reign was in 1630, when a plague swept through Florence and took 10% of the population with it. Unlike the Tuscan nobility, Ferdinando and his brothers stayed in the city to try to ameliorate the general suffering. His mother and grandmother arranged a marriage with Vittoria della Rovere
Vittoria della Rovere
Vittoria della Rovere was Grand Duchess of Tuscany as the wife of Grand Duke Ferdinando II. She gave her husband four children, two of which would survive infancy; the future Cosimo III, Tuscany's longest reigning monarch and Francesco Maria, a prince of the Church...
, a granddaughter of the then incumbent Duke of Urbino, in 1634. Together they had two children: Cosimo
Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Cosimo III de' Medici was the penultimate Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany. He reigned from 1670 to 1723, and was the elder son of Grand Duke Ferdinando II. Cosimo's 53-year long reign, the longest in Tuscan history, was marked by a series of ultra-reactionary laws which regulated prostitution and...
, in 1642, and Francesco Maria de' Medici
Francesco Maria de' Medici
Francesco Maria de' Medici was a member of the House of Medici. He was successively a Governor of Siena, cardinal and later the heir of the Duchies of Rovere and Montefeltro by right of his mother.-Biography:...
, in 1660. The latter was the fruit of a brief reconciliation, as after the birth of Cosimo, the two became estranged; Vittoria caught Ferdinando in bed with a page, Count Bruto della Molera.
Palazzo Pitti
The Palazzo Pitti , in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast mainly Renaissance palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio...
. In 1657, Leopoldo de' Medici
Leopoldo de' Medici
Leopoldo de' Medici was an Italian cardinal, scholar, patron of the arts and Governor of Siena. He was the brother of Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.-Biography:...
, the Grand Duke’s youngest brother, established the Accademia del Cimento
Accademia del Cimento
The Accademia del Cimento , an early scientific society, was founded in Florence 1657 by students of Galileo, Giovanni Alfonso Borelli and Vincenzo Viviani. The foundation of Academy was funded by Prince Leopoldo and Grand Duke Ferdinando II de' Medici...
. It was set up to attract scientists from all over Tuscany to Florence for mutual study.
Tuscany participated in the Wars of Castro
Wars of Castro
The Wars of Castro is a term referring to a series of events in the mid-17th century revolving around the ancient city of Castro , which eventually resulted in the city's destruction on 2 September 1649...
(the last time Medicean Tuscany was involved in a conflict) and inflicted a defeat on the forces of Urban VIII in 1643. The treasury was so empty that when the Castro mercenaries were paid for the state could no longer afford to pay interest on government bonds. The interest rate was lowered by 0.75%. The economy was so decrepit that barter trade became prevalent in rural market places.
Ferdinando died on 23 May 1670 of apoplexy
Apoplexy
Apoplexy is a medical term, which can be used to describe 'bleeding' in a stroke . Without further specification, it is rather outdated in use. Today it is used only for specific conditions, such as pituitary apoplexy and ovarian apoplexy. In common speech, it is used non-medically to mean a state...
and dropsy. He was interred in the Basilica of San Lorenzo, the Medici's necropolis. At the time of his death, the population of the grand duchy was 730,594 souls; the streets were lined with grass and the buildings on the verge of collapse in Pisa
Pisa
Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
.
Issue
- Cosimo de' Medici, Grand Prince of Tuscany (19 December 1639 - 21 December 1639) died in infancy.
- Unnamed son (1640)
- Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of TuscanyCosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of TuscanyCosimo III de' Medici was the penultimate Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany. He reigned from 1670 to 1723, and was the elder son of Grand Duke Ferdinando II. Cosimo's 53-year long reign, the longest in Tuscan history, was marked by a series of ultra-reactionary laws which regulated prostitution and...
(14 August 1642 – 31 October 1723) married Marguerite Louise d'OrléansMarguerite Louise d'OrléansMarguerite Louise d'Orléans was Grand Duchess of Tuscany, as the wife of Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici. Deprived of her lover, Charles V of Lorraine, and yearning for France, Marguerite Louise despised her husband and his family, whom she often quarrelled with and falsely suspected of...
and had issue. - Francesco Maria de' Medici (12 November 1660 – 3 February 1711) married Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga, no issue.
Ancestors
Titles, styles, honours and arms
Titles and styles
- 14 July 1610 – 28 February 1621 His Highness The Grand Prince of Tuscany
- 28 February 1621 – 23 May 1670 His Highness The Grand Duke of Tuscany