pre- and post-Medici upheavals in, 6–9
property and wealth register in, 73, 81–83, 85
property tax in, 147–48
republican constitution of, 6, 88, 137, 148, 154, 158, 159
“secret things of,” 136–38, 151, 209
silver currency of, see piccioli
smells of, 37
tax assessments in, 33
Ten of War committee of, 86, 89, 90
textile industry in, 82
towers built by nobles in, 16
two ideal self-images of, 121, 127
Volterran tax rebellion against, 85–86
war debt in, 77, 79, 88
Florentine Histories (Machiavelli), 74–76, 78–79, 86–87, 90, 140, 147, 157
florins, Florentine, 17, 79–80, 90, 92
description of, 17
exchange between piccioli and, 31–35
as indivisible unit of currency, 36
sealed, 43
worth of, 34–37
florins, Roman, 43
Fortebraccio, Niccolò, 85–86
France, 65, 67–68, 183
Italy invaded by, 4, 9, 244–45
Franciscan order, 81
Frescobaldi, Castellano di Tommaso, 50
fundamentalists, compromisers and, 23
galley ships, 118, 178–79, 198
gambling, banned for Medici bank employees, 63
General Church Council of Lyon, 10
Genesis, 236
Geneva, 66, 72
as currency center, 112–13
Medici bank branch in, 76–77, 91, 112–13, 115, 170, 175
Genevan golden mark, 43
Genoa, 67–68, 77, 195–96, 198, 226
Germany, 9, 49, 50, 65
Ghibellines, 16
Ghiberti, Lorenzo, 8, 13, 62, 131
Ghirlandaio, Domenico, 166, 168–69, 170, 225
Giotto di Bondone, 5, 10, 14, 123
Giovanni XXIII, Pope (Baldassarre Cossa), 55
Giovanni de’ Medici and, 47–48, 51, 57
struggle for papacy lost by, 51–52
tomb of, 53, 56, 57–59, 121, 125, 242
God, Florence as city of, 121, 127, 136
Goes, Ugo van der, 178
gold coins, of Florence, see florins, Florentine
golden mark, 43, 113
gonfaloniere della giustizia, 106, 143, 155, 156, 160, 216
Cosimo de’ Medici elected as, 140
description of position, 62
election of, 87–88
function of, 94, 137
Giovanni de’ Medici elected as, 62
length of term served by, 87
Gonzaga, Federico, 238
Good Men of San Martino, 108–9, 127
gout, 5
description of, 3
suffered by Cosimo de’ Medici, 119, 127, 150
suffered by Lorenzo de’ Medici, 4, 226, 240
suffered by Piero de’ Medici, 3, 151, 157
Government of Florence Under the Medici, The (Rubinstein), 107–8
Gozzoli, Benozzo, 128–29, 129, 151, 168, 169
Greece, 147
Greece, ancient, 57
Greek language and philosophy, 185
Gregory XII, Pope, 51
grossi, 114
Guadagni, Antonio, 100
Guadagni, Bernardo, 97–98, 100
Guelfs, 16
Guicciardini, Francesco, 6–7, 8–9, 193, 203, 222, 225, 226, 239, 243–44
Guidetti, Tommaso, 231
guilds, 33, 88
see also Exchangers’ Guild
Guinigi, Pagolo, 90
hell, 20, 21, 26, 45, 54, 57
blasphemers in, 14
sodomites in, 13–14
usurers in, 13–14
Henry IV, King of England, 24
Henry VI, King of England, 136
Hermaphroditus, 103
Hibbert, Christopher, 92
Histoire de la Peinture en Italie (Stendhal), 223
holding system, introduction of, 48–49
Holy Roman Empire, 6, 16, 51
Holy Sepulchre, 121, 131
Holy Sepulchre, Church of, 127
Holy Trinity, 116, 134–35
homosexuals:
Cosimo de’ Medici accused of having sympathy for, 102, 103
viewed as sinners, 13–14
humanism, 19, 116, 172, 184, 211
art affected by, 130
Cosimo de’ Medici’s education in, 55, 159
and justification of leaders, 238
Lorenzo de’ Medici’s relationship with, 206, 208
Lorenzo di Giovanni de’ Medici’s education in, 55
middle ages dismissed by, 206–8
philosophical breakthrough of, 57
prominent early figures in, 55
Savonarola’s fundamentalism as reaction to, 235
secularization of the West begun by, 92–93
Hundred Years’ War, 174
Iliad (Homer), 11–12
illustrissima, 65
Imola, 204, 213
indulgences, 20, 123, 125, 203
Innocent VIII, Pope, 225, 226, 228, 234, 241, 244
insurance, shipping and, 40
interest:
banche a minuto and, 31
discretionary deposits and, 23–24
on exchange deals, 44–45
exchange transformed by, 13
fifteenth-century vs. contemporary views of, 15
on tax loans, 80–81
see also usury
Isaac and Abraham, 8, 13
Ischia, 194–95, 196, 197
Islam, 14, 147, 195
Italian language, 225
Italy:
French invasion of, 4, 9, 244–45
illegitimacy and etiquette in, 64–65
Lorenzo de’ Medici’s political power in, 225
loss of independence of, 9
monopoly on European finance held by, 5, 21
political factions and warfare in, 6, 15–17, 66–79, 84, 88–90, 99–100, 106, 116–18, 141–42, 146–47, 150, 218, 221, 225, 244
political map of, 69
protective figures in, 66
Turkish invasion of, 223
united against Ottoman Turks, 147
Izmir, Gulf of, 195
Jerome, Saint, 64
Jerusalem, 127
Jesus Christ, 25, 74, 75, 116, 124, 130, 131, 238, 246
Jews, 116
Cosimo de’ Medici and, 103
as Florence’s only legal pawnbrokers, 31, 103
wearing of yellow circle required of, 103
John the Baptist, 53
John XXIII, Pope, 47, 52
Journey of the Three Kings (Gozzoli), 151
Kent, Dale, 108
kings:
coinage and, 12, 17
monetary exchange governed by, 12
Koran, 14
language, used as legal or moral camouflage, 24, 31
Last Judgment (in Baptistery), 54
Last Judgment (Memling), 179, 230, 231
Last Judgment (Traini), 19
Lateran Church Council (1179), 10
Latin language, 185, 208–9, 221
Leonardo da Vinci, 225, 243
Leo X, Pope (Giovanni di Lorenzo de’ Medici), 221, 233–34, 236, 240, 243
Le Pin, Abbey of, 233
letters of credit, 6, 21, 25, 111, 135–36, 229–31
Life of Hannibal and Scipio Africanus (Acciaiuoli), 160
lily, as emblem of Florence, 17
Lippi, Filippo, 116, 133, 151
lira a fiorino, 36–37
literacy, 30
Lodi, Peace of (1454), 147
Logiati, Girolamo, 211
Lombardy, 142
London, 83, 113, 118, 197, 204
exchange deals between Italy and, 40–44
Medici bank branch in, 110–11, 114,
120, 179–83, 198, 232
population of, 7
trade between Italy and, 21–22
Lorraine, duke of, 244
Louis XI, King of France, 218, 229
Lucca, 89–90, 117, 120, 150
Luke, Saint, 11
Luther, Martin, 235, 243
Lyon, Medici bank branch in, 229–31, 232, 233, 239
Machiavelli, Girolamo, 104–6, 153
Machiavelli, Niccolò, 71–76, 78–79, 85–87, 90, 100, 140, 147, 157, 163, 193, 206, 224
Machiavelli, Totto, 42
Maddalena (slave), 63–64, 76
Madonna, 130
Magi, 116, 121, 128–30, 129, 151, 168
magic:
art and, 130–31
money and, 34
“manifest usurers,” 31
Marco, Saint, 125
Martelli, Ugolino, 120
Martin V, Pope, 24, 25, 52–53, 59, 61, 67–68, 93
Masaccio, 74, 75, 80
Masi, Matteo, 120
Mazzei, Lapo, 8
Medici, Antonio de’, 229
Medici, Averardo “Bicci” de’, 3, 8, 9–10
Medici, Averardo di Francesco de’, 83, 84, 98, 109, 111
Medici, Cambio d’Antonio de’, 8
Medici, Carlo de’, 63–64, 159
Medici, Clarice Orsini, 167, 178, 192–93, 201, 220–21, 239
Medici, Contessina de’ Bardi, 6, 52, 61, 111, 116, 162
Medici, Cosimo di Giovanni de’, 5, 6, 9, 17, 20, 24, 46, 61–152, 184, 185, 241, 242
as ambiguous figure, 86, 92, 103–9, 119–20, 121, 187–88, 246
arrest, exile, and return of, 94–100, 137, 138, 140
art and architecture commissioned by, 3, 56, 58–59, 62, 84, 104, 105, 108, 121–22, 124–30, 126, 129, 151, 186, 225, 246
birth of, 3
Calderoni’s poem addressed to, 106–7
as collector, 119, 120, 232–33
death of, 3, 107, 153
education of sons of, 159–60
as gonfaloniere della giustizia, 140
gout suffered by, 119, 127, 150
humanist education of, 55, 159
humanists’ relationships with, 92–93, 108, 119, 121, 185–86
illegitimate child of, 63–64
imprisonment and exile of, 3
Medici bank headed by, 61, 64, 66, 73, 83, 91–92, 107–20, 149–50, 171–72
motto of, 63
name saint of, see Cosma, Saint
official cleansing of sins of, 11, 128
as partner in Medici bank, 39
personality of, 61–62, 108, 119
physical appearance of, 106
political power of, 3, 86–87, 106, 107–8, 137, 139–41, 143, 153–55
portrayed in religious paintings, 129, 129, 151
princely ambitions of, 106, 160
as protective figure, 66
religious confraternities and, 62, 108–9, 116, 121
Rinaldo degli Albizzi’s victory over, 92–98
slaves of, 63–64, 86
in Ten of War committee, 86, 89, 90
title Pater Patriae awarded to, 3, 107
tomb of, 152
Medici, Damiano di Giovanni de’, 62, 91, 127
Medici, Filippo de’, 154
Medici, Francesco di Bicci, 20
Medici, Giovanni di Bicci de’, 2–3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 15, 19–20, 36, 54–55, 92, 159, 242
Albizzi family’s planned coup stopped by, 78
amount of bank profits taken by, 39
antiwar position of, 77
Bardi family and, 6
Bronzino’s portrait of, 27
death of, 84–85
early banking career of, 20, 22–23, 26, 55
elected head of Florentine government, 62
Giovanni XXIII and, 47–48, 51, 57
Medici bank founded by, 2–3, 11, 26, 38
Medici bank structured by, 48–51
retirement of, 38–39, 61
sons’ education and, 55
“stay out of the public eye” advice of, 3, 4, 27, 28
Medici, Giovanni di Cosimo de’, 61, 64, 125, 149, 150–52, 159–60, 168, 169, 171
Medici, Giovanni di Lorenzo, see Leo X, Pope
Medici, Giovanni di Pierfrancesco, 219–20
Medici, Giuliano di Piero, 205–6, 211, 214–16, 229
Medici, Laudamia Acciaiuoli, 156, 157
Medici, Lorenzo di Giovanni, 20, 97, 156
death of, 125
exile of, 98
humanist education of, 55
as Medici bank partner and director, 39, 83
on political power, 87
Medici, Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de’, 219–20
Medici, Lorenzo Il Magnifico de’, 5, 9, 165, 175, 180, 183–243
alum and, 190, 193, 198–99, 233
aristocratic aspirations of, 4, 203, 221–22
as art patron, 187
assassination plot against Giuliano di Piero Medici and, 206, 211–17, 219
birth of, 163
children of, 201, 208, 243
church incomes and, 233
as collector, 225
death of, 4, 241–43
education of, 163, 184, 189
excommunication and absolution of, 218, 223
Florence viewed as own personal work of art by, 208
gout suffered by, 4, 226, 240
humanism and, 206, 208
ignorance of banking declared by, 177
Il Magnifico title awarded to, 224
marriage of, 163, 167, 178, 192–93
Medici bank’s decline under, 4, 208, 213, 215, 218–20, 228–33
personality of, 203
physical appearance of, 189
as poet, 4, 184, 189–90, 191, 193, 201, 209–10, 239, 241
political power of, 4, 199–200, 209, 225–27
ricordi of, 183, 201
role of prince played by, 183–84
sculptures of, 191, 219
Volterra sacked by, 201–3
Medici, Lucrezia de’, 201
Medici, Lucrezia Tornabuoni de’, 162–63, 166, 167, 168, 202
Medici, Maddalena de’, 208, 226, 233
Medici, Piccarda Bueri de’, 20, 162
Medici, Pierfrancesco de’, 156, 157, 164, 219, 231
Medici, Piero di Cosimo de’, 3–4, 61, 64, 125, 129, 153, 165, 167, 190, 191
children of, 162–63
as collector, 160, 233
death of, 4, 177, 178, 183
ill health of, 3, 150, 151, 157, 163, 177
marriage of, 161–63, 168
Medici bank headed by, 156, 172–75
nickname of, 3
personal emblem of, 160
political education of, 159–60
political power of, 3, 155, 160, 163–67
principle of succession established by, 3, 153
Medici, Piero di Lorenzo de’, 243–45
birth of, 201
death of, 4
as “dumb son,” 243
flight from Florence of, 4, 9, 245
nickname of, 4
Medici, Silvestro de’, 7, 62
Medici, Vieri di Cambio de’, 20, 26
Medici bank:
alum affair and, see alum
Ancona branch of, 116, 117
Avignon branch of, 170, 232
Basle branch of, 113
branch directors of, 49–50, 170–71, 175, 177, 228
branch staffs of, 49
Bruges branch of, 114, 116, 120, 135, 174–77, 179, 197, 198, 213, 220, 228, 229, 231–32
condottiere and, 79
under Cosimo de’ Medici, 3, 61, 64, 66, 73, 83, 91–92, 107–20, 149–50, 171–72
debt bonds and, 81
decline and collapse of, 2, 4–5, 110, 167, 170–83, 208, 213, 215, 218–20, 228–33, 246–47
dry exchanges and, 46
Florence branch of, 49, 81, 83, 91, 94, 112, 171, 180, 217, 231, 232
forei
gn correspondents of, 42, 110, 114
founding of, 2, 11, 26, 38
Geneva branch of, 76–77, 91, 112–13, 115, 170, 175
under Giovanni de’ Medici, 2–3, 38–39, 47–51
Giovanni XXIII and, 47–48, 51–53
Good Men of San Martino and, 108
holding office of, 6, 48–49, 114, 115, 120, 149, 168, 169, 170, 239
London branch of, 110–11, 114, 120, 179–83, 198, 232
under Lorenzo de’Medici, 4, 208, 213, 215, 218–20, 228–33
Lyon branch of, 229–31, 232, 233, 239
Milan branch of, 150, 172–73, 175, 181, 190, 220, 232
Naples branch of, 48, 50, 201, 219, 232
partners in, 38–39, 83, 111–12, 120
under Piero de’ Medici, 3–4, 156–57, 172–75
Pisa branch of, 118, 119, 120, 232
political power and, 83–84, 117–18
premises of, 34
profits made by, 38–39, 91, 99
registering of new branches of, 120
restructuring of, 170–71
Roman Church and, 47–48, 51–52, 91, 92, 93, 97, 113, 169, 224, 242
Rome branch of, 47–48, 52, 61, 64, 83, 91, 92, 110–11, 167, 168, 169, 172, 175, 180, 190, 198, 219, 224, 232
rules for branches of, 49–50, 63
St. Cosma’s Day holiday observed by, 133
Sassetti as general manager of, 170–71, 180–81, 228, 232
“secret books” of, 50
Sforza and, 106, 117–18, 146, 150
shareholders of, 49, 219
tax evasion and, 73, 82
Venice branch of, 48, 50–51, 63, 83, 91, 96, 98, 112, 116, 135, 146, 172, 201, 231, 232
Medici family, 2–5
Albizzi family’s political struggle with, 88–98
amount of bank profits taken by, 39
aristocratic presumptions of, 160–61, 170, 178, 246
church of, see San Lorenzo, Church of
common traits found in, 5
confiscation of wealth of, 4
currency exchange as source of wealth of, 40, 44
as dukes, 246
expulsion from Florence of, 234, 246
Florence warehouse of, 40
Florentine roots of, 28
insignia of, 85, 126, 128
manipulative genius of, 48–49, 50
as merchants, 39–40
name saints of, 125, 126
palazzo of, see Palazzo Medici political and financial power of, 83–84, 88, 117–18, 143–45, 148–49, 167, 200, 204, 217, 223
as priors of Florence, 19
puns made on name of, 91
status of, 62
textile factories owned by, 82
upheavals in periods preceding and following, 5–9
villas owned by, 82–83, 97, 163, 186, 231
warehouse of, 40
Mehmet II, Sultan, 73, 147
Memling, Hans, 178–79, 230, 231
“mental usury,” 24
mercenaries, 77, 80, 86, 89, 98
warlord leaders of, see condottieri
Merchants’ Guild (Arte di Calimala), 33, 58