LETTERS OF THE EARLY MEDICI
“_It has ever been a hobby of mine, though perhaps it is a truism,
not a hobby, that the true life of a man is in his letters.... Not
only for the interest of a biography, but for arriving at the inside
of things the publication of letters is the true method. Biographers
varnish, they assign motives, they conjecture feelings, they interpret
Lord Burleigh’s nods, but contemporary letters are facts._”--Dr.
Newman to his Sister, Mrs. John Mozley, _May 18, 1863_.
[Illustration:
LORENZO DI PIERO DE MEDICI.
_From a picture at Poggio a Caiano._]
LIVES OF
THE EARLY MEDICI
AS TOLD IN THEIR
CORRESPONDENCE
TRANSLATED & EDITED BY
JANET ROSS
[Illustration]
WITH 12 PORTRAITS AND FACSIMILES
LONDON
CHATTO & WINDUS
1910
_All rights reserved_
PREFACE
Many a book has been written about the Medici; yet how little has been
said about the private lives of the founders of that wonderful family
which rose from prosperous middle-class condition to take its place
among the sovereign houses of Europe, to seat its daughters on the
throne of the Queen-consorts of France, and its sons on the Chair of
St. Peter? Their rival capitalists north of the Alps climbed high in
those days when the gulf was dug deep between nobles and all who were
below them in the social scale. The Fuggers made many alliances with
the German and Bohemian nobles, and the Welsers had the unheard-of
glory of mating one of their daughters with the Emperor of Germany;
does not the Philipine-Welser Strasse in Augsburg commemorate to this
day the renown of the match? But neither had the fortune to found a
dynasty as did the Medici. They are so inseparably connected with the
history of their native city that the biographies have insensibly
become sketches of Florentine, even of European history. The men and
women have disappeared, and we see instead the dexterous manipulators
of tortuous Italian diplomacy, or the splendid patrons of art and
literature during the best period of the Renaissance. Yet, in our day,
we sometimes like to turn aside from the stage life to learn about the
_vie intime_ of personages who have become historical. We are curious
about their doings within the home circle, about their private loves
and hates, whether they were good or bad husbands and wives, parents
and children. The simpler human interests attract us.
This book attempts to supply such details. It is founded on letters,
for the most part private, of Medici men, women, and children, and
their friends, written during those decades when the family was being
moulded for the great European destiny which lay hidden in the future
before it. In these old-world epistles Contessina artlessly displays
her household economies, Lucrezia reveals her fondness for bathing,
Clarice quarrels with no less a tutor than the celebrated Poliziano
about the lessons he gave to her children, and the child Piero tells
his father how he has studied hard, even writing in Latin, “in order to
give a more literary tone to my letters,” and proudly and persistently
demands the pony promised as a reward for diligence.
The materials have been gathered from many a quarter. Angelo Fabroni’s
ponderous tomes, _Magni Cosmi Medicei Vita_ and _Laurentii Medicis
Magnifici Vita_; the Histories of Florence by Giovanni Cavalcanti,
Giovanni Cambi, and Niccolὸ Machiavelli; rare pamphlets, published in
small editions of twenty-five or a hundred copies, by Italian men of
letters in honour of the marriage of some friend, which are a mine of
wealth; and last, but not least, the Florentine Archives. Most of the
letters from the _Archivio Medicei ante Principato_ have never been
published before, much less translated; others are given here in full,
which have hitherto seen the light only in very fragmentary form.
The volume can therefore claim to contain a great deal of thoroughly
original matter. In them it will be seen that well-born or important
men and women were addressed as Your Magnificence, and written to and
spoken of as The Magnificent. It was, therefore, no special title
bestowed on Lorenzo de’ Medici, but suiting so well with his character
and whole personality it has become, as it were, his property.
My best thanks are due to Cavaliere Angelo Bruschi, librarian of the
Marucelliana Library in Florence, without whose valid assistance and
advice I should have had great difficulty in collecting the letters;
to Dr. Dorini of the Florentine Archives, whose aid was invaluable in
helping me to decipher the almost illegible manuscripts; and to Signor
Gugliemo Volpi, several of whose pamphlets and articles are quoted. I
must also thank the Baroness Mollinary of Como for so kindly having
photographed for me her most interesting early portrait of Lorenzo
the Magnificent, never before published; and Dr. Giovanni Poggi,
director of the Bargello in Florence, for giving me the photograph
of Lorenzo’s portrait at Poggio a Caiano. The Baroness Mollinary’s
picture is one of the many that belonged to her ancestor Paolo Giovio,
and bears a strong resemblance to the fine miniature of Lorenzo, the
property of M. Prosper Villon, reproduced in _Le Musée de Portraits
de Paul Jove_ by M. Eugène Muntz, in which, however, Lorenzo looks
rather older. Both show the same humorous, kindly face, with a strong
mouth, determined jaw, and fine eyes. In the miniature the head and
shoulders are against and under a baldaquin, on each side of which is a
small bit of landscape. Below is inscribed _Laur M P P_ and the Medici
arms (with six balls), surmounted by Lorenzo’s device, three ostrich
feathers, white, green, and red (faith, hope, and charity), while
a floating ribbon behind bears his motto _Semper_. The portrait at
Poggio a Caiano is perhaps by Alessandro Allori, therefore of course
not contemporary; it may be a copy of an older and lost picture. I
must also express my great gratitude to the Rev. Principal Lindsay of
Glasgow for kind help and criticism during the progress of my work.
The portrait of Piero de’ Medici in the chapel of the Riccardi palace,
by Benozzo Gozzoli, has been given sometimes as that of his father
Cosimo, or even of his son Lorenzo. But if the bust by Mino da Fiesole,
in the Bargello, represents Piero, then he is the man grasping his
horse’s mane with one hand as he rides by the side of his father
Cosimo, who, as we know, generally rode a mule.
JANET ROSS.
CONTENTS
PAGE
INTRODUCTORY 1
COSIMO DI GIOVANNI DE’ MEDICI (1389-1464) 7
Contessina de’ Medici to her husband Cosimo in Ferrara 10
Cosimo de’ Medici to Averardo de’ Medici, Ambassador
to Ferrara 11
Contessina de’ Medici to her son Giovanni at Ferrara 14
Cosimo de’ Medici to Averardo de’ Medici at Pisa 15
Cosimo de’ Medici to Averardo de’ Medici 16
Cosimo de’ Medici at Florence to Averardo de’ Medici
at Pisa 18
Diary of Cosimo de’ Medici and his Oration to the
Signory of Florence when sentence of exile was
pronounced against him 19
Cosimo de’ Medici to his son Piero de’ Medici 31
Niccolò Fortebraccio to Cosimo de’ Medici and Neri di
Gino Capponi 34
Lorenzo de’ Medici to his brother Cosimo, Ambassador
to Ferrara, in the name of the “Dieci di Balia” 35
Count Francesco Sforza to Cosimo de’ Medici 36
Count Francesco Sforza to Cosimo de’ Medici 38
Count Francesco Sforza to Cosimo de’ Medici 39
Contessina de’ Medici to her son Piero 40
Commissio Laurentii de’ Medicis, 3 Decembris 1438 42
Additio facta Commissioni Laurentii de’ Medicis 43
Francesco Sforza to Cosimo de’ Medici 44
Contessina de’ Medici to her son Giovanni at the Baths
of Petriolo [near Siena] 46
Alberto Averardo de’ Alberti, from Rome, to Giovanni
de’ Medici 47
Contessina de’ Medici to her son Giovanni in Rome 47
The Same to the Same 48
Contessina de’ Medici to her son Piero 48
Lucrezia de’ Medici, at the Baths of Petriolo; to her
husband Piero at Florence 50
Contessina de’ Medici to her son Piero at Trebbio 50
Contessina de’ Medici to her son Giovanni in Rome 51
Cosimo de’ Medici to Giovanni his son in Rome 52
Contessina de’ Medici to Giovanni her son at Volterra 53
Contessina de’ Medici to her son Giovanni at Volterra 54
The Same to the Same 55
Contessina de’ Medici to Ginevra, wife of her son
Giovanni, at the Baths of Petriolo 58
Cosimo de’ Medici to his son Giovanni at Milan 59
Lucrezia de’ Medici (from Careggi or Cafaggiuolo) to
her husband Piero at Florence 60
Contessina de’ Medici to her son Piero at Venice 62
Cosimo de’ Medici to his son Giovanni at the Baths of
Petriolo 62
Contessina de’ Medici to her son Giovanni and his wife
Ginevra at Bagno a Morba 63
Pope Pius II. to Cosimo de’ Medici 64
Cosimo de’ Medici to Pope Pius II. 65
Cosimo de’ Medici to Pius II. 66
Lucrezia de’ Medici to her husband Piero 69
Cosimo de’ Medici to his son Piero at Pisa 70
Francesco Sforza, Duke of Milan, &c. &c. 71
Cosimo de’ Medici to the Reverend Master Marsilio
Ficino, Platonist 73
Piero de’ Medici to Lorenzo and Giuliano, his sons, at
Cafaggiuolo 74
Marsilio Ficino to the noble Lorenzo de’ Medici 76
Brief Memorandum by Piero de’ Medici about his
Father’s Death 77
Notes of the Funeral and of the Masses and Offices said
for the Soul of Cosimo di Giovanni de’ Medici 79
PIERO DI COSIMO DE’ MEDICI (1416-1469) 82
Pope Pius II. to Piero de’ Medici 84
Louis XI., King of France, to Piero de’ Medici 85
Privilege granted by Louis XI. to the Medici to quarter
the Lily of France in their arms 86
The Magnificent Lorenzo to the Illustrious Lord
Federigo, son of the King of Naples 88
Piero de’ Medici to his son Lorenzo at Milan 93
Piero de’ Medici to his son Lorenzo at Milan 94
Luigi Pulci to Lorenzo de’ Medici 100
Piero de’ Medici to his son Lorenzo at Rome 102
Piero de’ Medici to his son Lorenzo at Rome 103
Agnolo Acciaiuoli to Piero de’ Medici. Siena, 17th
Sept. 1466 105
Piero de’ Medici to Agnolo Acciaiuoli. Florence, 22nd
Sept. 1466 105
Luigi Pulci, from Pisa, to Lorenzo de’ Medici at
Florence 107
Lucrezia de’ Medici to her husband Piero 108
Lucrezia de’ Medici to her husband Piero 109
Lucrezia de’ Medici to her husband Piero 110
Lucrezia de’ Medici to her husband Piero 111
Lorenzo de’ Medici to his mother Lucrezia at Bagno a
Morba 115
Piero de’ Medici to his wife Lucrezia at Morba 115
Lorenzo de’ Medici to his mother Lucrezia at Bagno a
Morba 116
Contessina de’ Medici to her daughter-in-law Lucrezia
at Bagno a Morba 117
Piero de’ Medici to his wife Lucrezia at Bagno a
Morba 117
Luigi Pulci from Pisa to Lorenzo de’ Medici at Florence 118
Luigi Pulci at Pisa to Lorenzo de’ Medici 119
Cardinal Latino Orsini to Piero de’ Medici 120
Filippo de’ Medici, Archbishop of Pisa, at Rome, to
Piero de’ Medici 120
Francesco Tornabuoni to his nephew Lorenzo de’
Medici 122
Clarice Orsini to Lorenzo de’ Medici 123
Francesco Tornabuoni to Lorenzo de’ Medici, his
nephew 123
Clarice Orsini to Lorenzo de’ Medici 125
Rinaldo Orsini to Lorenzo de’ Medici 126
Maddalena Orsini to Lorenzo de’ Medici 127
Filippo de’ Medici, Archbishop of Pisa, to Lorenzo de’
Medici 127
An Account of the Wedding of Lorenzo de’ Medici 129
Rinaldo Orsini to his sister Clarice de’ Medici 134
Giovanni di Bentivogli from Bologna to Piero de’
Medici at Florence 135
Piero de’ Medici at Careggi to Lucrezia his wife in
Florence 137
Gentile Becchi to Clarice de’ Medici 138
Lorenzo de’ Medici to his wife Clarice 140
Lorenzo de’ Medici from Monza to his father Piero
in Florence 141
LORENZO DI PIERO DE’ MEDICI (1450-1492) 143
Ricordi of Lorenzo the Magnificent, son of Piero di
Cosimo de’ Medici 150
Agnolo Poliziano to Lorenzo de’ Medici 156
A. Alexander di Conio to Contessina de’ Medici 158
Luigi Pulci to Lorenzo de’ Medici at Florence 159
Clarice de’ Medici to her husband Lorenzo 161
Luigi Pulci to Lorenzo de’ Medici 162
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Sixtus IV. 163
Ingherami di Volterra, Apostolic Scribe, to Lorenzo de’
Medici 165
Francesco Filelfo to Lorenzo de’ Medici 166
Jacopo Ammanati, Cardinal of Pavia, to Lorenzo de’
Medici 167
Jacopo Ammanati, Cardinal of Pavia, to Lorenzo de’
Medici 168
The Syndic and Ancients of Galatea to Lucrezia de’
Medici 171
Fra Cristofano d’Antonio di Mast ... to Lucrezia de’
Medici 172
Matteo Franco to Lorenzo de’ Medici 173
Giuliano de’ Medici from Pisa to his mother Lucrezia 174
Bertoldo di Giovanni to Lorenzo de’ Medici 175
Niccolò Roberti to Duke Borso d’Este 176
Agnolo Poliziano at Pisa to Clarice de’ Medici 177
Agnolo Poliziano to Clarice de’ Medici 178
Clarice de’ Medici to her husband Lorenzo at Florence 178
Lucrezia de’ Medici, from Bagno a Morba, to her son
Lorenzo 179
Lucrezia de’ Medici, from Bagno a Morba, to her son
Lorenzo at Pisa 179
Lucrezia de’ Medici to her grandmother Lucrezia at
Bagno a Morba 180
Agnolo Poliziano to Lucrezia de’ Medici at Bagno a Morba 181
Lucrezia de’ Medici, from Bagno a Morba, to her son
Lorenzo 182
Lucrezia de’ Medici to her son Lorenzo, from Bagno a
Morba 183
Piero Malegonnelle (Vicar of Pomerance) to Lucrezia
de’ Medici 184
Piero Malegonnelle (Vicar of Pomerance) to Lucrezia
de’ Medici 184
Louis XI., King of France, to the Florentine Republic 192
Louis XI. to Pope Sixtus IV. 193
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Tommaso Soderini at Milan 194
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Giovanni Lanfredini, Florentine
Ambassador at Venice 196
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Louis XI., King of France 198
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Sforza de’ Bettini 199
Messer Ceccho, from Milan, to Lorenzo de’ Medici 201
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Messer Giovanni di Bentivoglio
at Milan 202
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Girolamo Morelli, Florentine
Ambassador at Milan 203
Sixtus IV. to the Duke Federigo of Urbino 205
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Girolamo Morelli, Florentine
Ambassador at Milan 207
Agnolo Poliziano at Pistoja to Lorenzo de’ Medici in
Florence 208
Agnolo Poliziano at Pistoja to Lorenzo de’ Medici 209
Agnolo Poliziano at Pistoja to Lorenzo de’ Medici 210
Agnolo Poliziano at Pistoja to Lorenzo de’ Medici at
Florence 211
Agnolo Poliziano at Pistoja to Lorenzo de’ Medici 212
Piero de’ Medici (born 1472) to his father Lorenzo 212
Clarice de’ Medici to Lucrezia 213
Agnolo Poliziano to Lucrezia de’ Medici 213
Lorenzo de’ Medici to the King of Spain 215
Agnolo Poliziano, from Cafaggiuolo, to Lorenzo de’
Medici at Florence 216
Piero de’ Medici to his father Lorenzo 216
Agnolo Poliziano to Lorenzo de’ Medici 217
Piero de’ Medici at Cafaggiuolo to his father Lorenzo 217
Clarice de’ Medici to her husband Lorenzo 218
Lorenzo de’ Medici to his mother Lucrezia in Florence 219
Piero de’ Medici at Cafaggiuolo to his father Lorenzo 219
Piero de’ Medici at Cafaggiuolo to his father Lorenzo 220
Piero de’ Medici at Gagliano to his father Lorenzo 221
Antonio Pucci to Lorenzo de’ Medici at Cafaggiuolo 221
Lucrezia de’ Medici (daughter of Lorenzo) to her
grandmother Lucrezia 222
Nannina Rucellai to her mother Lucrezia de’ Medici 222
Bianca de’ Pazzi to her mother Lucrezia de’ Medici at
Careggi 223
Agnolo Poliziano to Lucrezia de’ Medici at Careggi 224
Guidantonio Vespucci, _Legatus in Epistolis_ at Paris, to
the Ten of the Balìa in Florence 226
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Girolamo Morelli, Florentine
Ambassador at Milan 227
To the Signoria of Florence, from Lorenzo de’ Medici 229
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Antonio Montecatino, Ambassador
to Florence of the Duke of Ferrara 230
Bartolommeo Scala, Secretary of the Florentine Republic,
to Lorenzo de’ Medici at Naples 231
Bartolommeo Scala, Secretary to the Florentine Republic,
to Lorenzo de’ Medici at Naples 233
Bartolommeo Scala, Secretary of the Florentine Republic,
to Lorenzo de’ Medici at Naples 234
Doctor Oliverio, from Bagno a Morba, to Lucrezia de’
Medici 235
Ippolita Maria d’Aragona, Duchess of Calabria, to
Lorenzo de’ Medici 236
Papinio di Artimino to Lucrezia de’ Medici 237
Papinio di Artimino, from Rome, to Lucrezia de’ Medici 238
Lorenzo de’ Medici to the Doge of Venice 239
To Albino, dear to me as a brother, Secretary of the
Illustrious Duke of Calabria, from Lorenzo de’ Medici 240
From Bartolommeo Sgnippi, Clerk of the Embassy, to
Antonio Montecatino, Ambassador of the Duke of
Ferrara (who had gone to Ferrara for a few days)
to the Florentine Republic 241
Lorenzo de’ Medici to the Duchess Eleonora d’Aragona
d’Este at Ferrara 244
Lorenzo de’ Medici to the Duke Ercole d’Este 244
Frederick, Duke of Urbino, to Lorenzo de’ Medici 246
Ugolino Baccio, from Basel, to Lorenzo de’ Medici 247
Ugolino Baccio to Lorenzo de’ Medici 249
Ugolino Baccio to Lorenzo de’ Medici 252
Louis XI., King of France, to Lorenzo de’ Medici 254
Bartolommeo Scala to Lorenzo de’ Medici at Bagno a
Morba 255
“In Amorpham Nympham,” Latin poem by Bartolommeo
Scala, sent to Lorenzo de’ Medici at Bagno
a Morba, April 25, 1484 256
Guidantonio Vespucci, Florentine Ambassador at Rome,
to Lorenzo de’ Medici at Florence 258
Lorenzo de’ Medici to his son Piero in Rome, November
26, 1484 260
Niccolò Michelozzi to Lorenzo de’ Medici at Morba 265
Matteo Franco to Ser Piero Dovizi da Bibbiena,
Chancellor of Lorenzo de’ Medici 267
Two of Piero’s Sayings 272
Lorenzo de’ Medici to the Duke Ercole d’Este 273
Messer Guidone Aldrovandini, Ambassador to the Republic
of Florence from Ferrara, to Duke Ercole
d’Este 274
Duke Ercole d’Este to Messer Aldrovandini, Ambassador
of Ferrara to the Republic of Florence 276
Messer Guidone Aldrovandini, Ambassador of Ferrara
to the Republic of Florence, to the Duke Ercole
d’Este 277
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Ugolino Baccio in Apulia 278
Messer Guidone Aldrovandini, Ambassador from Ferrara
to the Florentine Republic, to the Duke Ercole
d’Este 280
Duke Ercole d’Este to Messer Aldrovandini, Ambassador
of Ferrara to the Florentine Republic 282
Messer Guidone Aldrovandini, Ambassador of Ferrara
to the Republic of Florence, to Duke Ercole
d’Este 283
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Innocent VIII. 285
Messer Aldrovandini, Ambassador from Ferrara to the
Florentine Republic, to Duke Ercole d’Este 285
Agnolo Poliziano to Lorenzo de’ Medici 288
Matteo Franco, from Stigliano, to Ser Piero Dovizi da
Bibbiena, Chancellor to Lorenzo de’ Medici, at
Florence 289
Messer Aldrovandini, Ambassador from Ferrara to the
Florentine Republic, to the Duke Ercole d’Este 294
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Pope Innocent VIII. 296
Messer Aldrovandini, Ambassador to the Republic of
Florence, to the Duke Ercole d’Este 297
Messer Aldrovandini, Ambassador of Ferrara to the
Republic of Florence, to Duke Ercole d’Este 298
Stefano, a trusted servant of Piero de’ Medici, to
Lorenzo de’ Medici 299
Petrus Bonus Avogarius, Doctor, to Lorenzo de’ Medici 301
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Piero Alamanni, Florentine
Ambassador at Rome 303
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Innocent VIII. 304
Manfredo di Manfredi (a new Ferrarese Ambassador) to
Duke Ercole d’Este 305
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Pope Innocent VIII. 306
A Manager of the Medici Bank to the Duke Ercole
d’Este 309
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Giovanni Lanfredini, Florentine
Ambassador at Rome 310
Lorenzo de’ Medici, from the Baths of Spedaletto, to
his daughter Contessina 310
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Giovanni Lanfredini, Florentine
Ambassador at Rome 311
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Monseigneur d’Argenton
(Philippe de Comines) 312
Pietro Vettori, Florentine Ambassador at Naples, to
Lorenzo de’ Medici 314
Lorenzo de’ Medici, from Bagno San Filippo, to his
son Piero 316
Lorenzo de’ Medici to the Commissaries of Pistoja 317
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Ser Andrea at Siena 317
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Giovanni Lanfredini, Florentine
Ambassador at Rome 318
Lorenzo de’ Medici to Giovanni Lanfredini, Florentine
Ambassador at Rome 319
Lorenzo de’ Medici to the King of England 322
Agnolo Poliziano to Lorenzo de’ Medici in Florence 323
Pier Filippo Pandolfini, Florentine Ambassador at Rome,
to Lorenzo de’ Medici 325
Piero Leoni of Spoleto to Lorenzo de’ Medici 326
Matteo Franco at Rome to Ser Piero Dovizi at Florence 327
Manfredo di Manfredi, Ambassador from Ferrara to
Florence, to the Duke Ercole d’Este 330
Lorenzo de’ Medici to his son, Cardinal Giovanni, at
Rome, in March 1492 332
Cardinal Giovanni de’ Medici to his father Lorenzo 336
Poliziano’s letter to Jacopo Antiquario describing the
death of Lorenzo de’ Medici 336
Bartolommeo Dei to his uncle Benedetto Dei, with
Machiavelli in Ferrara 341
INDEX 345
ILLUSTRATIONS
Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici _Frontispiece_
_From a picture at Poggio a Caiano_
Cosimo di Giovanni de’ Medici _To face page_ 7
_From the marble relief by Andrea Del Verrocchio (?) in the
Kaiser Friedrich Museum, Berlin_
Letter from Cosimo di Giovanni de’ Medici 10
Cosimo di Giovanni de’ Medici 31
_By Jacopo da Pontormo. In the Convent of S. Marco, Florence_
Letter from Contessina de’ Medici 46
Letter from Lucrezia de’ Medici 50
Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici 82
_Detail from the fresco by Benozzo Gozzoli in the Chapel of
Palazzo Riccardi, Florence_
Letter from Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici 94
Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici 143
_In the Museo Giovio (Villa Soave, Como)_
Letter from Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici 206
Piero di Lorenzo de’ Medici 212
_Detail from the fresco by Domenico Ghirlandaio in the Church
of S. Trinità, Florence_
Lorenzo di Piero de’ Medici, and three members
of the Sasseti family 312
_In the fresco by Domenico Ghirlandaio in the Church of
S. Trinità, Florence_
LETTERS OF THE EARLY MEDICI
INTRODUCTORY
The ancestors given to the Medici are many, and their origin is not
easy to trace amid the conflicting accounts of friends and foes. The
latter declare they sprang from the very dregs of the people, and that
a charcoal-burner in the Mugello was their progenitor, whose son was a
doctor (_medico_). Their friends say they descend from Perseus, from
a Roman consul, or even from an emperor. Others state that a brave
knight, Averardo de’ Medici, came into Italy with Charlemagne and
killed the fierce giant Mugello, who for years had kept Tuscany in
bondage; while those who cling to the _medico_ story, on account of the
name, tell of a learned physician who saved the life of Charlemagne by
applying cupping-glasses of his own invention. The well-known arms,
six red balls on a field or, are accounted for in as many different
ways. Doctors’ pills, cupping-glasses, apples from the gardens of the
Hesperides, dents made by the giant’s mace on Averardo’s golden shield,
and heads of enemies slain in battle by a valiant knight who killed
eleven of his assailants, because the oldest shield of the Medici bore
eleven balls.
According to genealogists the real progenitor of the Medici was a
certain Giambuono. He appears to have been a priest, as is indicated in
an ancient inscription on the wall of the church of the Assumption near
S. Piero a Sieve in the Mugello. What is certain is that the family
owned houses and towers in Florence in the twelfth century in the
Piazza de’ Medici, afterwards called de’ Succhiellinai, near the church
of S. Tommaso, which was in the Ghetto, now swept away. There a little
inn, Del Porco, used to be pointed out as standing where once was the
loggia of the family.
We have historical proof of the brothers Chiarissimo and Bonagiunta
de’ Medici, descendants of Giambuono. Chiarissimo was a member of the
council which made an alliance with the Sienese against Semifonte in
the Val d’Elsa, when that strong castle was razed to the ground in
1201. Ardingo, a great-grandson of Bonagiunta, was the first of the
family to hold high office in Florence. He became Prior of the city in
1291, Gonfalonier of Justice in 1296, and again in the following year.
This proves decisively that the Medici were not of the old nobility,
which had been excluded from all magisterial offices by a law passed in
1293, called the _Ordinamenti della Giustizia_, which Bonaini terms the
Magna Charta of the Republic of Florence.[1] Ardingo’s brother Guccio,
who was Gonfalonier in 1299, made himself so popular that when he died
he was buried with great pomp in a sarcophagus of the fourth century,
which stood outside the baptistery. Later it was removed into the
cathedral, and in the eighteenth century was placed in the courtyard of
Palazzo Riccardi (once Medici), where it still is. The cover, bearing
the Medici arms and those of the Arte della Lana, or Guild of Wool, to
which Guccio belonged, was made by order of the Priors at the time of
his burial.
In 1314 another of the family, Averardo, was Gonfalonier of Justice,
and one of his grandsons, Filigno di Conte de’ Medici, has left
_Ricordi_, or Memoirs, written in 1373, which show how rich and
influential the Medici had already become. The book, which still exists
in the Florentine archives, was evidently once bound in vellum; the
frontispiece is decorated with the Medici arms, six red balls on a
field or, and the shield is surmounted by the head and paws of a black
wolf rising out of what looks like the coronet of a modern Marquess.
Addressing his children he writes:
“In the name of God and of his blessed Mother Madonna Saint Mary, and
of the whole Court of Paradise, who will I pray give us grace to act
and to speak well.
“I, Filigno di Conte de’ Medici, seeing the late misfortunes of civil
and foreign wars and the terrible mortality from the plague sent by
our Lord God to this earth, which we fear he may send again as our
neighbours have it, will write down the things I see which may be
needful for you who remain or who come after me, so that you can find
them if need be for any emergency. I pray you to write well in the
future and to preserve those lands and houses which you will find
inscribed in this book; most of them were bought by the noble knight
Messer Giovanni di Conte, my brother of honoured memory, after whose
death I began to write this book, taking from his records and from
those of others. I beg you will take care of it and keep it in a secret
place so that it may not fall into other hands, also because it may
be necessary to you in the future as it is now to us, who have to
find papers of one hundred years ago, for reasons which you will find
written, because States change and have no durability.
“Also I beg of you to preserve not only the riches but the position
attained by our ancestors, which is considerable but ought to be
higher. It begins to decline on account of a dearth of capable men, of
whom we once had many.
“Such was our greatness that it used to be said, ‘Thou art like one of
the Medici,’ and every man feared us; even now when a citizen does an
injury to another or abuses him, they say, ‘If he did thus to a Medici
what would happen?’ Our family is still powerful in the State by reason
of many friends and much riches, please God preserve it all to us. And
to-day, thank God, we number about fifty men.
“Since I was born about one hundred of our men have died; there are
but few families and we are badly off for children, that is to say
there are few. I write this book in several parts. First I shall note
certain facts which are useful to know, then the dowers and as many
papers as I can collect, the bills of sale and such like, then all the
purchases and who drew up the deeds, and then all the houses and lands
we possess....”
Page 84 is interesting as showing where the houses of the Medici stood
in Florence, and also that Cafaggiuolo belonged to them in early times.
“In the name of God amen.
“Here I inscribe all our lands and their boundaries and where they are
situated, and the houses in Florence, and what possessions came to us
from Conte our father in the division made between the brothers (that
is the late Conte, Messer Jacopo, Messer Giovenco the knight, Talento,
Francesco and Chiarissimo) of the inheritance of their father Averardo,
those bought by Conte and also those bought by Messer Giovanni di
Conte, knight, together with myself Filigno, and Jacopo and Michele,
our brothers, during their life. To-day I begin to write and to cause
Michele my son also to write on account of the fatigue, and of not
being a good penman. God grant we do well.--1373, in February.
“A house with shops in front in the parish of S. Tommaso in the Mercato
Vecchio in Florence; the first side fronts the street or rather the
Mercato Vecchio, the second boundary is ours, the third is the street
wherein stands S. Tommaso, the fourth is Talento di Chiarissimo de’
Medici and ourselves. Adjoining this house are two others, three
smaller ones and several shops.... Also a palace with a courtyard, an
orchard and a well, in the parish of S. Lorenzo of Florence, in Via
Larga di S. Marco. The confines are first the said street; secondly
the sons of Tantini with a common wall between us, saving that what is
above their roof belongs to us and to Baglo di Dante, with the wall of
our courtyard below; the third is the inn of the Cock, now the property
of Niccolò di Cristofano di Geri Gazza, &c.; the fourth is the palace
of Andrea Franceschi and Francesco di Biccio de’ Medici. A house is
annexed to this palace....
“In the name of God amen. Possessions in Mugello.
“The half of a palace with houses around it, a courtyard, a loggia
and a wall and moat, with an orchard outside in Cafaggiuolo in the
parish of S. Giovanni in Petroio, with the sixth part of the interior
courtyard, and the old walls, and all other things pertaining thereto
that are in the division. The broad road is to be 7 feet 8 inches wide
round the old enclosure of Cafaggiuolo, so that the sons of Messer
Giovenco cannot prevent us from using the road in front of the palace
and by their wall, as far as the bridge. The moat round Cafaggiuolo is
entirely ours as it touches our walls.”[2]
A cousin of Filigno, Salvestro de’ Medici, led the Florentine troops
against Giovanni Visconti, Archbishop and Lord of Milan, and was
knighted on the battlefield of Scarperia. Gonfalonier of Justice in
1370, when Florence was distracted by the rivalry of the Guelphs
and Ghibellines, he, being a Ghibelline, took the side of the people
against the nobles, and advocated enforcing the enactments of the
_Ordinamenti della Giustizia_, which excluded the nobles from power.
But for the moment he failed, and was nigh being exiled when his name
was again drawn from the _borsa_, or ballot-bag, as Gonfalonier in
1378. Once more he proposed to apply the law against the Guelph nobles,
and meeting with opposition, threatened to resign. One of his friends
then appealed to the populace, and the result was the Ciompi riot. The
mob broke into the Palazzo de’ Priori and the Palazzo del Podestà,
burnt many palaces, and knighted sixty-four citizens in the Piazza
della Signoria, of whom Salvestro was the first.
His popularity is shown by a sonnet addressed to him by Franco
Sacchetti, author of many tales, who rather profanely calls him “non
gia Salvestro, ma Salvator mundi.” Salvestro was, however, a canny
burgher and made some profit out of the revolution, as the rents of
the shops on the Ponte Vecchio were assigned to him. Henceforward the
Medici were looked upon as the friends and defenders of the people
against the _Grandi_ or nobles.
The founder of the line of citizens who ruled Florence like princes
was Giovanni d’Averardo, surnamed Bicci, de’ Medici, born in 1360. He
was several times a Prior, and in 1421 Gonfalonier of Justice. During
the Councils of Basel and Constance he made a fortune in exchange,
and being charitable was much beloved by the people. His popularity
increased when, against his advice, the nobles insisted on advancing
to meet the Duke of Milan instead of waiting for him to attack them in
Tuscany, with the result that at Zagonara the Florentines were beaten.
The expenses of the war exhausted the treasury, and disturbances
broke out in Florence. The nobles, fearing a repetition of the Ciompi
riots, attempted to form a government of _Ottimati_, as the party
of the oligarchy were called, and thus undermine the power of the
minor guilds. Some even suggested seizing the property of charitable
confraternities in order to obtain money. Giovanni de’ Medici was
consulted, and declared he would have nothing to do with such robbery.
A few years later he successfully advocated the abolition of the odious
system of forced loans, and the institution of the _catasto_, which
regulated all the taxes to be paid to the Commune of Florence. He
then became the idol of the people. Cavalcanti writes that when he lay
dying on 20th February 1429, “he called his sons Cosimo and Lorenzo,
and in the presence of their mother, Piccarda Bueri, of their wives,
and of other citizens, spoke to them thus: ‘Beloved sons, neither
I nor any man born into this world should feel grief at exchanging
worldly cares for perpetual repose. I know that the last days of my
life are nigh, and where timid or foolish women or cowardly men would
feel sorrow, I feel great joy. I leave you in possession of the great
wealth which my good fortune has bestowed upon me, and which your good
mother and my own hard work has enabled me to preserve. I leave you
with a larger business than any other merchant in the Tuscan land, and
in the enjoyment of the esteem of every good citizen and of the great
mass of the populace, who have ever turned to our family as to their
guiding star. If you are faithful to the traditions of your ancestors,
the people will be generous in giving you honours. To achieve this, be
charitable to the poor, kindly and gracious to the miserable, lending
yourselves with all your might to assist them in their adversity. Never
strive against the will of the people, unless they advocate a baneful
project. Speak not as though giving advice, but rather discuss matters
with gentle and kindly reasoning. Be chary of frequenting the Palace;
rather wait to be summoned, and then be obedient, and not puffed up
with pride at receiving many votes. Have a care to keep the people
at peace, and to increase the commerce of the city. Avoid litigation
or any attempt to influence justice, for whoso impedes justice will
perish by justice. I leave you clear of any stain, for no evil deed
has been committed by me. Thus I bequeath glory and not infamy to you
as a heritage. I depart joyfully and with more happiness if you do not
enter into party strife. Be careful not to attract public attention. I
commend to you Nannina my wife and your mother, see that after my death
ye change not the habits and customs of her life. Pray to God for me,
my sons, that my passage may be crowned by the salvation of my immortal
soul. Now take my blessing. Cosimo, see that Lorenzo be kindly and a
good brother; and thou, Lorenzo, honour Cosimo as the elder.’ Saying
this, he passed from this life.”[3]
[Illustration:
COSIMO DI GIOVANNI DE’ MEDICI.
_From the marble relief by Andrea Del Verrocchio (?) in the Kaiser
Friedrich Museum, Berlin._]
FOOTNOTES:
[1] For an account of the _Ordinamenti della Giustizia_ see _I Primi
Secoli della Storia di Firenze_, chap. viii. Pasquale Villari, Firenze,
1893.
[2] _Archivio Mediceo ante Principatum._ Registro, _Della famiglia de’
Medici_.
[3] _Istorie Fiorentine_, Giovanni Cavalcanti, i. 262. Firenze, 1838.
COSIMO DI GIOVANNI DE’ MEDICI
(1389-1464)
Of Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici’s two sons, Cosimo was by far the most
remarkable. “The father,” writes Gibbon, “of a line of princes, whose
name and age are almost synonymous with the restoration of learning;
his credit was ennobled into fame; his riches were dedicated to the
service of mankind; he corresponded at once with Cairo and London, and
a cargo of Indian spices and Greek books were often imported in the
same vessel.” For even when most deeply engaged in political matters,
Cosimo always found time to attend to his business, and himself
conducted the correspondence with the heads of the banks which were
known throughout Europe and in Asia. All had orders to buy ancient
manuscripts and rare books. As a lad he served in the Pisan war, and
in 1414 was sent by his father in the suite of Pope John XXIII. to
represent the bank at the Council of Constance. After the flight of the
Pope, Cosimo left Constance in disguise and returned to Florence, where
he was elected a Prior of the city in 1415, and again in 1417.
Cosimo was forty when his father died in 1429. Ammirato describes
him as of middle height, with an olive complexion, and of imposing
presence. Machiavelli says that he applied himself so strenuously to
increase the political power of his house that “those who had rejoiced
at Giovanni’s death, now regretted it, perceiving what manner of man
Cosimo was. Of consummate prudence, staid yet agreeable presence,
Cosimo was liberal and humane. He never worked against his party nor
against the State, was prompt in giving aid to all, and his liberality
gained him many partisans among the citizens. Chief amongst those
who helped to consolidate his power were Averardo de’ Medici and
Puccio Pucci--Averardo by his audacity, Puccio by his prudence and
sagacity, augmented his popularity and greatness. The advice and the
sane judgment of Puccio were so highly esteemed and so well known
by all that Cosimo’s party was not called by his name but by that of
Puccio.”[4]
Much of Cosimo’s influence and popularity, no doubt, arose from his
generosity to men of letters. When Niccolò de’ Niccoli, “censor of
the Latin tongue,” ruined himself by buying books, Cosimo opened an
unlimited credit for him at his bank. After Niccoli’s death he paid his
debts on the condition of being allowed to dispose of the collection of
manuscripts, amounting to six hundred volumes. Four hundred he gave to
the library of S. Marco, the rest he kept or distributed among friends.
Cosimo also provided Tommaso Parentucelli, Bishop of Bologna, with what
money he needed; a service that was well repaid when the Bishop became
Pope, and made him his banker. Parentucelli catalogued de’ Niccoli’s
library, and noted for Cosimo the books that were necessary to complete
it. This catalogue Vespasiano declared to be indispensable to all
collectors of books. When the Badia of Fiesole, certainly designed, if
not actually built by Brunelleschi at Cosimo’s expense, was finished,
he summoned Vespasiano, who has recorded their conversation: “One day,
when I was in his room, he said to me, ‘What plan can you suggest for
the formation of this library?’ I answered that to buy the books would
be impossible, since they could not be purchased. ‘What, then, do you
propose?’ he added. I told him they must be copied. He then asked me
if I would undertake the business, and I replied that I was willing.
He bade me begin at my leisure, saying that he left all to me, and he
ordered that for the money needed day by day Don Arcangelo, at that
time Prior of the monastery, should draw cheques upon his bank which
would be honoured. After beginning the collection, since it was his
will that it should be finished with all speed possible, and money was
not lacking, I soon engaged forty-five copyists, and in twenty-two
months provided two hundred volumes, following the admirable list
furnished by Pope Nicholas V.”[5]
Cristofano Landino, Lionardo Aretino (Bruni), whose translations from
the Greek were celebrated for their pure latinity, while his speeches
were compared to those of Pericles, and Carlo Aretino (Marsuppini),
were friends of Cosimo, and members of the Platonic Academy. They
often met in the Badia, and Pico della Mirandola, on whom, says
Poliziano, “nature seems to have showered all her gifts,” passed
some time there in study. In the cell of Ambrogio Traversari in the
convent degl’ Angeli at Fiesole, Cosimo was wont to pass his spare
hours in the company of learned men. He was quick in recognising
talent, and possessed the gift said to belong to royalty of suiting his
conversation to his visitors. Vespasiano tells us that “when giving
audience to a scholar he discoursed concerning letters; in the company
of theologians he showed his acquaintance with theology, a branch of
learning always studied by him with delight. So also with regard to
philosophy. Astrologers found him well versed in their science, for he
somewhat lent faith to astrology, and employed it on certain private
occasions. Musicians in like manner perceived his mastery of music,
wherein he much delighted. The same was true about sculpture and
painting; both of these arts he understood completely, and showed great
favour to all worthy craftsmen. In architecture he was a consummate
judge, for without his opinion and advice no building was begun or
carried to completion.”[6]
While spending money in a princely manner on works of art, public
libraries and buildings, Cosimo lived as simply as any other citizen.
Though for twenty-five years he was practically the ruler of Florence,
he remained the merchant, the plain burgher, the agriculturist.
His estates were in good order; he superintended the planting, and
rose early to prune his vines. Gambling he detested; the only game
he played, and that but rarely, was chess. Habitually taciturn,
particularly in his later years, yet he could give witty and even sharp
answers; as when one of his adherents, a loquacious, not very wise man,
who, on being named Podestà of a foreign (_i.e._ not a Tuscan) town,
asked him for advice. “Dress suitably and talk little,” was the answer.
To another he said there was a weed that ought not to be watered but
allowed to wither, and that weed was envy.
In Cosimo’s letters one sees how well his father’s last words, “Be
careful not to attract public attention,” were obeyed by him. The pity
is that even those who pass their lives poring over manuscripts in the
Florentine archives find the greatest difficulty in deciphering his
handwriting, and there are allusions to passing events or to people
which are impossible to understand, as he uses the _gergo_, or slang,
of his day, or nicknames, the meaning of which are lost to us. The date
of his marriage with Contessina, daughter of Giovanni de’ Bardi, Count
of Vernio, is not recorded, but her eldest son, Piero, was born in
1416. The little we know of her, chiefly from her letters, depict her
as a good, rather parsimonious housewife and a tender mother. In 1427
Cosimo was at Ferrara, and she writes:
Contessina de’ Medici _to her husband_ Cosimo de’ Medici _in Ferrara_
This evening I have a letter from thee and have understood how much
we are to pay for the barrels at Careggi; as soon as they arrive I
will do as thou sayest. I have a letter from Antonio Martelli saying
that he is sending nine bales of our linen cloth, which were at home,
by now I think they must have arrived, give orders that they be put
in a dry place so that the linen be not spoiled. At Careggi every one
is well as usual and I am also well, may it please God that it be so
in the future; one of our labourers it is true, who lives where the
young partridges were, rather frightened us, but he is well again. I
wrote to thee by Giovannino, so be not chary with ink and paper, so
be it is not wearisome to thee. Ginevra and Pier Francesco[7] are in
the Val d’Arno and Amerigo Cavalcanti is with them. They are all well
as Giovannino will have told thee. Lorenzo[8] and I are here, both
well. Shouldst thou want anything let me know. Above all be careful of
thy health and keep a good watch on thyself. No more at present. May
Christ preserve thee.--In Florence, March 4, 1427 (1428).
La Contessina who commends herself to thee.
Matteo gave me the little keys, if thou hast need of them tell
me. Thy mother who put that Santelena[9] into the bag with the others
thou hadst from here is much surprised that thou hast not found
it, she remembers to a certainty putting it into the bag the first
thing after thy departure. She wrote to-day and answered about this.
Those who were in debt for their rents have paid to Piero d’Orlando
according to Lorenzo’s orders.[10]
The following letter was written during the negotiations for peace with
Visconti, Duke of Milan. Florence and Genoa had fared badly in the
war. The former had been defeated over and over again, and the whole
of the Western Riviera had been overrun by the Milanese troops. The
interference of Venice had changed the state of affairs, and the Duke
of Milan was desirous for peace. Averardo de’ Medici with Palla Strozzi
were the ambassadors of Florence, and Cosimo discusses the difficulties
attending the negotiation. The Florentines thought that Venice was too
grasping, as she demanded Bergamo as well as Brescia; but the real
crux of the problem was that the Duke of Milan held tenaciously to his
conquests in the Riviera. Peace was finally concluded on April 28,
1428. The Cardinal di Santa Croce had been appointed by the Pope as
arbiter between the parties. Part of the letter refers to Florentine
internal politics, to which now we have no clue; we also see how these
great Florentines mingled their private mercantile affairs with grave
political matters.
Non ò tue lettere poi ti scrissi per una vostra de dì 29 currente
viddi e dubj v’ erano in animo veduto le diferenze sono nella domanda
et chome dite è da dubitare non tanto per le diferenze quanto
perché si vede el ducha non viene schietto su questi ragionamenti,
pure vorrei voi vi fossi ingiegnati sendire che diferenza è questa
et maxime de fatti di Berghamo e che inporta et chosì quelle di
Valchamonicha la quale a me pare picchola se altro non v’è aschosto
et poi le chose sono ridotte qui non si vorebe per si picchola chosa
tanto bene restasse et pero credo v’ingiegnerete a rottura non si
vengha et chosì si vuole fare et vedere se di queste diferenze si
potesse fare remissione nel chardinale chome de l’altre sarebe tanto
magiore lo schorno se a rottura si venisse quanto per ognuno si tiene
a certo pace deba seghuire fu qui jeri Franceschino da Macerata et
secondo da lui ritrassi non pareva avesse nuova se di questo fatto si
facesse questo dicho per tuo aviso che mi fa assai dubitare benchè
jo creda pure che chostì di cò a dire chon el chardinale per suo
interesso dovria farne ogni chosa posibile ✕ de fatti delli grani
chome per altra ti dissi non te ne gravare troppo in confortare perchè
n’aresti graveza et per ire chosì ci è chommodo Ser p. el chompare
che altra volta non se ne faceva menzione e ora sta chosì forte et
acordasi il chonpare e’lla chomare nonn è però che per questo si
volgla laschare nulla adrieto nè qui anche si lascerebe ma stimasi
sendo d’achordo de l’altre chose per questa sola non vorebe rimanesse
et forse questo medesimo stima el chonpagno ora Idio ne lasci seghuire
el meglio de fati de’ Bordoni che si mandi fiorini 24 per lane a le
gienti di Lomb e chosì di nuovo mandi a quelli di Riviera e rimettonsi
in punto tutti e chosì subito passato pasqua si manderà i resto in
modo potranno scrivere e simile al marchese credo se si fosse fatto
già è un mese sariano in migliore disposizione le chose non sono.
Di verso Gienova cì è la cho[sa] prospere sechondo usanza pure invero
credo abino assai travaglo anno di nuovo perso uno chastello tra
Gienova et Saona et chosì tutta quelle riviera di ponente è in arme
et non v’è dubio se si facesse quello si potrebe quella terra se li
leverebe ma meglo sarebe a non ne avere a fare prouva.
Ne piu per fretta ✕^o ti ghuardi in Firenze a dì primo d’Aprile 1428.
Chosimo.[11]
[Illustration]
Cosimo de’ Medici to Averardo de’ Medici, _Ambassador to Ferrara_