Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici
Encyclopedia
Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici (c. 1360 – February 20/28, 1429) was an Italian banker, the first historically relevant member of Medici
family of Florence
, and the founder of the Medici bank
. He was the father of Cosimo de' Medici
(Pater Patriae), and great-grandfather of Lorenzo de Medici (the Magnificent).
, the son of Averardo de' Medici
. Though he is considered the founder of the rich Medici dynasty, he was not born into a rich family. The little money left by his father was divided between a widow and five sons, leaving Giovanni with little.
Giovanni was somewhat uninterested in politics, unless the issues pertained to him or his bank. Often when his name was put forward to participate in the Florentine government (reggimento), he chose to pay the fine rather than serve, although he did serve one term as Gonfaloniere
.
Giovanni was the head of an early "multi-national" company, as the family bank, his main commercial interest, had branches throughout the northern Italian city-states and beyond. In 1410, Giovanni bet on the return of the papacy to Rome
, and was correct. Rewarding Giovanni for his support, subsequent popes made use of the de' Medici banks. Giovanni was also rewarded with tax-farming contracts and the rights to many alum
mines. He set his family on the path to becoming one of the richest dynasties in Europe, thereby making an essential stride towards its later cultural and political eminence. One way in which he laid the groundwork for this was by marrying Piccarda Bueri, whose family was old and respectable and who brought a dowry.
When he died, he was one of the richest men in Florence. He was buried in the Old Sacristy of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence and his wife was buried with him after her death four years later.
Medici
The House of Medici or Famiglia de' Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of the Tuscan countryside,...
family of Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, and the founder 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...
. He was the father of Cosimo de' Medici
Cosimo de' Medici
Còsimo di Giovanni degli Mèdici was the first of the Medici political dynasty, de facto rulers of Florence during much of the Italian Renaissance; also known as "Cosimo 'the Elder'" and "Cosimo Pater Patriae" .-Biography:Born in Florence, Cosimo inherited both his wealth and his expertise in...
(Pater Patriae), and great-grandfather of Lorenzo de Medici (the Magnificent).
Biography
Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici was born in FlorenceFlorence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, the son of Averardo de' Medici
Averardo de' Medici
Averardo de' Medici was the son of Chiarissimo de' Medici and the father of two children: Giovanni and Francesco. Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici would later become the first historically relevant member of Medici family of Florence and the eventual founder of the Medici bank.-External links:***...
. Though he is considered the founder of the rich Medici dynasty, he was not born into a rich family. The little money left by his father was divided between a widow and five sons, leaving Giovanni with little.
Giovanni was somewhat uninterested in politics, unless the issues pertained to him or his bank. Often when his name was put forward to participate in the Florentine government (reggimento), he chose to pay the fine rather than serve, although he did serve one term as Gonfaloniere
Gonfaloniere of Justice
Gonfaloniere of Justice was a post in the government of medieval and early Renaissance Florence. Like Florence's Podestà and Priori, it was introduced in 1293 when Giano Della Bella's Ordinamenti di Giustizia came into force....
.
Giovanni was the head of an early "multi-national" company, as the family bank, his main commercial interest, had branches throughout the northern Italian city-states and beyond. In 1410, Giovanni bet on the return of the papacy to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and was correct. Rewarding Giovanni for his support, subsequent popes made use of the de' Medici banks. Giovanni was also rewarded with tax-farming contracts and the rights to many alum
Alum
Alum is both a specific chemical compound and a class of chemical compounds. The specific compound is the hydrated potassium aluminium sulfate with the formula KAl2.12H2O. The wider class of compounds known as alums have the related empirical formula, AB2.12H2O.-Chemical properties:Alums are...
mines. He set his family on the path to becoming one of the richest dynasties in Europe, thereby making an essential stride towards its later cultural and political eminence. One way in which he laid the groundwork for this was by marrying Piccarda Bueri, whose family was old and respectable and who brought a dowry.
When he died, he was one of the richest men in Florence. He was buried in the Old Sacristy of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence and his wife was buried with him after her death four years later.
Children
- Cosimo di Giovanni de' MediciCosimo de' MediciCòsimo di Giovanni degli Mèdici was the first of the Medici political dynasty, de facto rulers of Florence during much of the Italian Renaissance; also known as "Cosimo 'the Elder'" and "Cosimo Pater Patriae" .-Biography:Born in Florence, Cosimo inherited both his wealth and his expertise in...
- Lorenzo di Giovanni de' Medici
External links
- PBS - Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance
- History of the Medici family
- THE MEDICI Genealogical tree from Florence Art Guide - The Renaissance
- Medici Family from The Galileo Project
- Image of Medici family tree
