_Via de’ Pucci. No. 4._
The great Pucci palace was built by Paolo Falconieri for Orazio Roberto
Pucci in the middle of the XVIIth century on the site of several old
houses belonging to the family. In 1664 Orazio was created Marquess
of Barsento by the King of Spain, a title still borne by the present
representative of the family. Progenitor of this once powerful house
was Puccio, son of Benintendi, a poet of the XIIIth century. His
descendant, Antonio, inscribed in the Guild of Carpenters, was the
first of twenty-nine Priors the Pucci gave to Florence, but as an ally
of the Alberti he was soon afterwards banished. Puccio Pucci his son,
the intimate friend and adviser of Cosimo the Elder, was Gonfalonier of
Justice in 1447. He died two years later leaving an enormous fortune to
his sons, of whom Antonio was several times Gonfalonier of Justice, and
as Commissary-General at the siege of Pietrasanta distinguished himself
by heading the troops at the final assault and by his care of the
wounded soldiers. By his wife, a daughter of the celebrated Giannozzo
Manetti, he left many sons. Giannozzo, the eldest, was beheaded for
conspiring with Bernardo del Nero in 1497 in favour of the Medici;
Puccio married Girolama Farnese, sister of Pope Paul III., and was
distinguished as a jurist; Lorenzo entered the Church, was Bishop of
eight Sees, Archbishop of Amalfi and Chief Penitentiary. Denounced by
Luther for selling indulgences, only the death of Adriano VI. and the
accession of his friend Giulio de’ Medici to the papal chair saved
him from severe punishment. Antonio’s nephew, Pandolfo, was a worthy
boon-companion to the infamous Duke Alessandro. Cosimo I. dismissed him
with ignominy from his court and he then plotted against the Duke’s
life, but for one reason or another did not succeed in accomplishing
his purpose. When the plot was discovered Pandolfo Pucci and his
companions were hung without trial from the iron bars of the windows of
the Bargello, in January, 1560.
[Illustration: WINDOW OF PALAZZO PUCCI.]
Nearly all Pandolfo’s sons died violent deaths. Orazio, the eldest,
attempted the life of Francesco I. and was hung fifteen years after his
father, at the same window of the Bargello. Another fled to Rome, found
favour with Clement VIII., and was about to be made a Cardinal when he
died of poison, administered by order of the Cardinal Ferdinando de’
Medici. A third was killed by a madman.
The present branch of the family descend from Saracino, a brother of
Puccio, who also made a large fortune under Cosimo the Elder. One of
his sons, implicated in the Pazzi conspiracy, was hung; another, named
Priore, cautiously kept aloof from politics and occupied himself with
commerce. His descendant, Niccolò inherited the riches of the eldest
branch of the family, married an heiress and left a large fortune to
his grandson, who built the palace, and owned many houses and villas,
on which the moor’s head (the Pucci arms) is to be seen. The Marquess
Pucci still inhabits the old palace.