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Cosimo de' Medici
Sign in to saveAlso known as Cosimo the Elder, Cosimo Pater Patriae, Cosimo de' Medici the Elder, Cosimo il Vecchio de' Medici, Cosimo de' Medici il Vecchio, Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici, Cosmo de Medici
First ruler of the Medici political dynasty (1389–1464)
Cosimo de' Medici was an Italian banker and political leader who lived from 1389 to 1464 and founded the Medici family's control over Florence, one of Europe's most powerful cities during the Renaissance. He matters because he established a dynasty that would dominate Florentine politics and become major patrons of art and culture for centuries to come.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- human
- Gender
- male
- Citizenship
- Florence
- Place of birth
- Florence
- Place of death
- Villa Medici at Careggi
- Spouse
- Contessina de' Bardi
- Child
- Carlo de' Medici
- Mother
- Piccarda Bueri
- Sibling
- Lorenzo the Elder
- Occupation
- banker
- Position held
- ambassador
- Languages spoken
- Italian
- Family
- House of Medici
- Image
- Pontormo - Ritratto di Cosimo il Vecchio - Google Art Project.jpg
- Work location
- Florence
- Residence
- Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Show 12 more facts
- Commons category
- Cosimo de' Medici
- date of birth
- 1389-01-01
- date of death
- 1464-01-01
- Commons gallery
- Cosimo de' Medici
- place of burial
- Medici Chapels
- name in native language
- Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici
- described by source
- The Nuttall Encyclopædia
- owner of
- Palazzo Medici Riccardi
- name
- Cosimo de’ Medici
- P13311
- Andriy Shevchenko
- Commons Creator page
- Cosimo de' Medici
Sources (3)
via Wikidata · CC0
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Encyclopedic overview
Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici (27 September 1389 – 1 August 1464) was an Italian banker and politician who became the de facto first ruler of Florence during the Italian Renaissance, establishing the Medici family as its effective leaders for generations. His power derived from his wealth as a banker and intermarriage with other rich and powerful families. He was a patron of arts, learning, and architecture. He spent over 600,000 gold florins (approx. $500 million inflation adjusted) on art and culture, including Donatello's David, the first freestanding nude male sculpture since antiquity.
Despite his influence, his power was not absolute; he was viewed by fellow Florentine politicians as first among equals rather than an autocrat. Florence's legislative councils resisted his proposals throughout his political career, even sending him into exile from 1433 to 1434.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Cosimo de' Medici” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.