Giovanni de' Medici il Popolano
Encyclopedia
Giovanni de' Medici, later known as il Popolano (October 21, 1467 – September 14, 1498) was an Italian nobleman of the Medici
House of Florence. He was the son of Pierfrancesco di Lorenzo de' Medici
, and therefore a member of a secondary branch of the family.
. After his father's death (1476), he and his elder brother Lorenzo (il Popolano)
came under the tutelage of their cousins Giuliano
and Lorenzo
(il Magnifico), and were educated by humanists such as Marsilio Ficino
and Angelo Poliziano. They conceived a passion for classical studies and books, and later created a large library of manuscripts and codexes.
Later their relationship with Lorenzo il Magnifico deteriorated, mostly for economic reasons (Lorenzo had kept for himself the Popolanos' inheritance, instead of simply administering it). After Lorenzo il Magnifico's death, they were among the opponents of Lorenzo's successor, Piero (il Fatuo)
, who exiled them in April 1494.
The following November, Lorenzo and Giovanni returned to Florence in the wake of Charles VIII of France
's invasion of Italy, as Piero had been ousted by a Republican revolution in the city. Their support for Girolamo Savonarola
gained them the Popolano ("Populist") nickname.
In 1497 Giovanni married Caterina Sforza
, Lady of Forlì
and Imola
. They had a son, baptized Ludovico. However, after Giovanni's death soon afterwards, Caterina re-christened the baby Giovanni. He grew up to become the renowned condottiero
Giovanni dalle Bande Nere
.
Medici
The House of Medici or Famiglia de' Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of the Tuscan countryside,...
House of Florence. He was the son of Pierfrancesco di Lorenzo de' Medici
Pierfrancesco di Lorenzo de' Medici
Pierfrancesco de' Medici the Elder was an Italian banker and diplomat, a member of the House of Medici of Florence.Born in Florence, he was the son of Lorenzo the Elder and Ginevra Cavalcanti, and thus nephew of Cosimo de' Medici and cousin to Piero the Gouty, de facto lords of the city from...
, and therefore a member of a secondary branch of the family.
Biography
Giovanni was born in FlorenceFlorence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
. After his father's death (1476), he and his elder brother Lorenzo (il Popolano)
Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici
Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici , nicknamed the Popolano, was an Italian banker and politician, the brother of Giovanni de' Medici il Popolano....
came under the tutelage of their cousins Giuliano
Giuliano di Piero de' Medici
Giuliano de' Medici was the second son of Piero de' Medici and Lucrezia Tornabuoni. As co-ruler of Florence, with his brother Lorenzo the Magnificent, he complemented his brother's image as the "patron of the arts" with his own image as the handsome, sporting, "golden boy."-Death:As the opening...
and Lorenzo
Lorenzo de' Medici
Lorenzo de' Medici was an Italian statesman and de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance. Known as Lorenzo the Magnificent by contemporary Florentines, he was a diplomat, politician and patron of scholars, artists and poets...
(il Magnifico), and were educated by humanists such as Marsilio Ficino
Marsilio Ficino
Marsilio Ficino was one of the most influential humanist philosophers of the early Italian Renaissance, an astrologer, a reviver of Neoplatonism who was in touch with every major academic thinker and writer of his day, and the first translator of Plato's complete extant works into Latin...
and Angelo Poliziano. They conceived a passion for classical studies and books, and later created a large library of manuscripts and codexes.
Later their relationship with Lorenzo il Magnifico deteriorated, mostly for economic reasons (Lorenzo had kept for himself the Popolanos' inheritance, instead of simply administering it). After Lorenzo il Magnifico's death, they were among the opponents of Lorenzo's successor, Piero (il Fatuo)
Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici
Piero de' Medici , called Piero the Unfortunate, was the Gran maestro of Florence from 1492 until his exile in 1494.-Life and death:...
, who exiled them in April 1494.
The following November, Lorenzo and Giovanni returned to Florence in the wake of Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII, called the Affable, , was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. Charles was a member of the House of Valois...
's invasion of Italy, as Piero had been ousted by a Republican revolution in the city. Their support for Girolamo Savonarola
Girolamo Savonarola
Girolamo Savonarola was an Italian Dominican friar, Scholastic, and an influential contributor to the politics of Florence from 1494 until his execution in 1498. He was known for his book burning, destruction of what he considered immoral art, and what he thought the Renaissance—which began in his...
gained them the Popolano ("Populist") nickname.
In 1497 Giovanni married Caterina Sforza
Caterina Sforza
Caterina Sforza, Countess of Forlì was an Italian noblewoman, the illegitimate daughter of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan and Lucrezia Landriani, the wife of the courtier Gian Piero Landriani, a close friend of the Duke...
, Lady of Forlì
Forlì
Forlì is a comune and city in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, and is the capital of the province of Forlì-Cesena. The city is situated along the Via Emilia, to the right of the Montone river, and is an important agricultural centre...
and Imola
Imola
thumb|250px|The Cathedral of Imola.Imola is a town and comune in the province of Bologna, located on the Santerno river, in the Emilia-Romagna region of north-central Italy...
. They had a son, baptized Ludovico. However, after Giovanni's death soon afterwards, Caterina re-christened the baby Giovanni. He grew up to become the renowned condottiero
Condottieri
thumb|Depiction of [[Farinata degli Uberti]] by [[Andrea del Castagno]], showing a 15th century condottiero's typical attire.Condottieri were the mercenary soldier leaders of the professional, military free companies contracted by the Italian city-states and the Papacy, from the late Middle Ages...
Giovanni dalle Bande Nere
Giovanni dalle Bande Nere
Lodovico de Medici also known as Giovanni dalle Bande Nere was an Italian condottiero.-Biography:Giovanni was born in the Northern Italian town of Forlì to Giovanni de' Medici and Caterina Sforza, one of the most famous women of the Italian Renaissance.From an early age, he demonstrated great...
.