Ippolito de' Medici
Encyclopedia
Ippolito de' Medici was the illegitimate only son of Giuliano di Lorenzo de' Medici
.
Ippolito was born in Urbino
. His father died when he was only five (1516), and he was subsequently raised by his uncle Pope Leo X
and his cousin Giulio.
When Giulio de' Medici was elected pope as Clement VII, Ippolito ruled Florence
on his behalf. After the siege of Florence
(1529–1530), however, Clement favored his other illegitimate nephew Alessandro, and made Ippolito first archbishop of Avignon and then cardinal
instead (1529), sending him as Papal legate
to Hungary
, where he evidenced a talent for soldiering.
He was a friend to, and possibly had a liaison with, Giulia Gonzaga
, the Countess of Fondi.
In 1535 he acted as Florentine ambassador to emperor Charles V
. Ippolito died from malaria
in Itri
, in southern Lazio, although there were rumours that he had been poisoned by Alexander, whose abuses he was intending to denounce.
Giuliano di Lorenzo de' Medici
Giuliano di Lorenzo de' Medici was an Italian nobleman, one of three sons of Lorenzo the Magnificent.-Biography:He was born in Florence, Italy. His brothers were Piero and Giovanni de' Medici....
.
Ippolito was born in Urbino
Urbino
Urbino is a walled city in the Marche region of Italy, south-west of Pesaro, a World Heritage Site notable for a remarkable historical legacy of independent Renaissance culture, especially under the patronage of Federico da Montefeltro, duke of Urbino from 1444 to 1482...
. His father died when he was only five (1516), and he was subsequently raised by his uncle Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X
Pope Leo X , born Giovanni di Lorenzo de' Medici, was the Pope from 1513 to his death in 1521. He was the last non-priest to be elected Pope. He is known for granting indulgences for those who donated to reconstruct St. Peter's Basilica and his challenging of Martin Luther's 95 Theses...
and his cousin Giulio.
When Giulio de' Medici was elected pope as Clement VII, Ippolito ruled 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....
on his behalf. After the siege of Florence
Siege of Florence
There have been a number of sieges of the city of Florence:* Siege of Florence , part of the Wars of the Guelphs and Ghibellines* Siege of Florence , part of the War of the League of Cognac...
(1529–1530), however, Clement favored his other illegitimate nephew Alessandro, and made Ippolito first archbishop of Avignon and then cardinal
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
instead (1529), sending him as Papal legate
Papal legate
A papal legate – from the Latin, authentic Roman title Legatus – is a personal representative of the pope to foreign nations, or to some part of the Catholic Church. He is empowered on matters of Catholic Faith and for the settlement of ecclesiastical matters....
to Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, where he evidenced a talent for soldiering.
He was a friend to, and possibly had a liaison with, Giulia Gonzaga
Giulia Gonzaga
Giulia Gonzaga was an Italian noblewoman of the Renaissance.-Biography:Giulia was born in Gazzuolo in 1512. In 1526 she was married to count Vespasiano Colonna , count of Fondi and duke of Traetto...
, the Countess of Fondi.
In 1535 he acted as Florentine ambassador to emperor Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
. Ippolito died from malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
in Itri
Itri
Itri is a small city and comune in the central Italian region of Latium and the Province of Latina.Itri is an agricultural centre divided in two parts by a small river, the Pontone. It lies in a valley between the Monti Aurunci and the sea, not far from the Gulf of Gaeta...
, in southern Lazio, although there were rumours that he had been poisoned by Alexander, whose abuses he was intending to denounce.