Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Encyclopedia
Cosimo II de' Medici was Grand Duke of Tuscany
from 1609 until 1621. He was the elder son of the then incumbent Grand Duke
and Christina of Lorraine. He married Maria Magdalena of Austria, and had eight children.
For the most of his eleven year reign, he delegated the administration of Tuscany to his ministers. He is best remembered as the patron of Galileo Galilei
, his childhood tutor. He died of tuberculosis in 1621.
, and Christina of Lorraine. His father requisitioned a modern education for him: Galileo Galilei was Cosimo's tutor between 1605 and 1608. Ferdinando arranged for him to marry Archduchess Maria Maddalena of Austria, daughter of Archduke Charles II
, in 1608. Together they had eight children, among whom was Cosimo's eventual successor, an Archduchess of Inner Austria, a Duchess of Parma and two cardinals.
Ferdinando I died in 1609. Due to his precarious health, Cosimo did not actively participate in governing his realm. Just over a year after Cosimo's accession, Galileo dedicated his Sidereus Nuncius
, an account of his telescopic discoveries, to the Grand Duke. Additionally, Galileo christened the moons of Jupiter
the "Medicean star
s". Galileo's advocacy of Copernicanism later led to his trial by the Roman Inquisition
, and he was held under house arrest in Tuscany from 1633 until his death in 1642.
The Grand Duke assiduously enlarged the navy. He died on 28 February 1621 from tuberculosis. He was succeeded by his elder son, Ferdinando. The child-Grand Duke's regency was bestowed upon Cosimo II's wife and mother, as per his wishes.
Grand Duchy of Tuscany
The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was a central Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1859, replacing the Duchy of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence...
from 1609 until 1621. He was the elder son of the then incumbent Grand Duke
Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1587 to 1609, having succeeded his older brother Francesco I.-Biography:...
and Christina of Lorraine. He married Maria Magdalena of Austria, and had eight children.
For the most of his eleven year reign, he delegated the administration of Tuscany to his ministers. He is best remembered as the patron of Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei
Galileo Galilei , was an Italian physicist, mathematician, astronomer, and philosopher who played a major role in the Scientific Revolution. His achievements include improvements to the telescope and consequent astronomical observations and support for Copernicanism...
, his childhood tutor. He died of tuberculosis in 1621.
Biography
Cosimo de' Medici was the elder son of Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of TuscanyFerdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1587 to 1609, having succeeded his older brother Francesco I.-Biography:...
, and Christina of Lorraine. His father requisitioned a modern education for him: Galileo Galilei was Cosimo's tutor between 1605 and 1608. Ferdinando arranged for him to marry Archduchess Maria Maddalena of Austria, daughter of Archduke Charles II
Charles II, Archduke of Austria
Charles II Francis of Austria was an Archduke of Austria and ruler of Inner Austria from 1564...
, in 1608. Together they had eight children, among whom was Cosimo's eventual successor, an Archduchess of Inner Austria, a Duchess of Parma and two cardinals.
Ferdinando I died in 1609. Due to his precarious health, Cosimo did not actively participate in governing his realm. Just over a year after Cosimo's accession, Galileo dedicated his Sidereus Nuncius
Sidereus Nuncius
Sidereus Nuncius is a short treatise published in New Latin by Galileo Galilei in March 1610. It was the first scientific treatise based on observations made through a telescope...
, an account of his telescopic discoveries, to the Grand Duke. Additionally, Galileo christened the moons of Jupiter
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet within the Solar System. It is a gas giant with mass one-thousandth that of the Sun but is two and a half times the mass of all the other planets in our Solar System combined. Jupiter is classified as a gas giant along with Saturn,...
the "Medicean star
Star
A star is a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity. At the end of its lifetime, a star can also contain a proportion of degenerate matter. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth...
s". Galileo's advocacy of Copernicanism later led to his trial by the Roman Inquisition
Roman Inquisition
The Roman Inquisition was a system of tribunals developed by the Holy See during the second half of the 16th century, responsible for prosecuting individuals accused of a wide array of crimes related to heresy, including Protestantism, sorcery, immorality, blasphemy, Judaizing and witchcraft, as...
, and he was held under house arrest in Tuscany from 1633 until his death in 1642.
The Grand Duke assiduously enlarged the navy. He died on 28 February 1621 from tuberculosis. He was succeeded by his elder son, Ferdinando. The child-Grand Duke's regency was bestowed upon Cosimo II's wife and mother, as per his wishes.
Family and children
Maria Magdalena and Cosimo had the following children:- Maria Cristina de' Medici (August 24, 1609 – August 9, 1632)
- Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of TuscanyFerdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of TuscanyFerdinando II de' Medici was grand duke of Tuscany from 1621 to 1670. He was the eldest child of Cosimo II de' Medici and Maria Maddalena of Austria. His 49 year rule was punctuated by the terminations of the remaining operations of the Medici Bank, and the beginning of Tuscany's long economic...
(July 14, 1610 – May 23, 1670), who married Vittoria della RovereVittoria della RovereVittoria della Rovere was Grand Duchess of Tuscany as the wife of Grand Duke Ferdinando II. She gave her husband four children, two of which would survive infancy; the future Cosimo III, Tuscany's longest reigning monarch and Francesco Maria, a prince of the Church...
(February 7, 1622 – March 6, 1694), the daughter of Federico della Rovere, Duke of Urbino and Claudia de' MediciClaudia de' MediciClaudia de' Medici was a daughter of Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Christina of Lorraine...
(sister of Cosimo II.) - Gian Carlo de' MediciGian Carlo de' MediciGian Carlo de' Medici was an Italian cardinal. He was the second son of Grand Duke Cosimo II of Tuscany and his wife, Maria Maddalena of Austria.-Biography:...
(July 24, 1611 – January 23, 1663), made Cardinal in 1644. - Margherita de' MediciMargherita de' MediciMargherita de' Medici was Duchess of Parma and Piacenza by her marriage to Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma...
(May 31, 1612 – February 6, 1679), married on October 11, 1628 to Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma - Mattias de' MediciMattias de' MediciMattias de' Medici was the third son of Grand Duke Cosimo II de' Medici of Tuscany and Archduchess Maria Maddalena of Austria. He was governor of Siena, with interruptions, from 1629. He never married.-Biography:...
(May 9, 1613 – October 14, 1667), appointed Governor of Siena - Francesco de' MediciFrancesco de' Medici (1614–1634)Francesco de' Medici was the fourth son of Grand Duke Cosimo II of Tuscany and his wife, Maria Maddalena of Austria. He died unmarried.-Biography:...
(October 16, 1614 – July 25, 1634) - Anna de' MediciAnna de' Medici (1616–1676)Anna de' Medici was a daughter of Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and his wife Maria Maddalena of Austria. A patron of the arts, she married Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Further Austria in 1646...
(July 21, 1616 – September 11, 1676) who married on June 10, 1646 to Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Austria (1628–1662) - Leopoldo de' MediciLeopoldo de' MediciLeopoldo de' Medici was an Italian cardinal, scholar, patron of the arts and Governor of Siena. He was the brother of Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.-Biography:...
(November 6, 1617 – November 10, 1675), made Cardinal in 1667.