Cosimo de' Medici

Cosimo the Elder (Italian Cosimo il Vecchio; * September 27, 1389 in Florence; † August 1, 1464 in Careggi, near Florence ) was the real founder of the later influence his family, the Medici. The family dominated for generations, first in the city of the Republic of Florence and later as monarch of Tuscany.

Life

Cosimo's father, Giovanni di Bicci de ' Medici (1360-1429) founded in 1393 in Rome, later so successful banking business and moved the headquarters of the Medici bank in 1397 to Florence. His son Cosimo was educated in his father's bank, which he, as well as the leadership of the family, taking over after the death of his father.

Florence was at this time a Republic, which had not yet been consolidated. The families Albizzi and Medici fought for supremacy. 1433 were in the "election" of the new Signoria predominantly followers of the Albizzi drawn so that Cosimo first been imprisoned, was then banished to Urbino, after an assassination attempt had failed him. However, he defied the ruling and went to Venice into exile, where he continued the business of his bank.

Partly because of unfair tax policy Albizzi and papal interventions Cosimo was recalled in 1434 to Florence. The followers of the Albizzi had their turn to go into exile, but without leading to assassinations or death sentences. This kind of revenge was at that time unusual. The form to get rid of his enemies by exile, led to asset growth of the state, since the assets of the exiles was drafted, at the same time nachfolgten no heirs and thus arose no new enemies.

In the aftermath Cosimo changed the constitution of Florence, whose republican form of government, although he retained formal, actually indirectly led the fate of the city. His prodigious financial talent formed the basis of his power. He used his case gained in banking assets to build a large clientele Association. He was able to attract friends and ruin enemies through his loan with ease. Both he did extensively. This system of indirect exercise of power was successfully continued by his successors. To those who he believed to be gifted, he allowed the ascent to high office. For Cosimo not the origin, but ability and loyalty was crucial. The pragmatist Cosimo lived relatively modest and not extravagant. He, too, was not suffering from the family of the Medici, the gout, spared and died in 1464. His grave stone in the crypt of San Lorenzo, the inscription " Pater Patriae " was decided by the city of Florence carved ( Father of the Nation ).

With his wife, the Conte Sina de Bardi, Cosimo had two sons, Piero (1416-1469) and Giovanni (1421-1463) ( not to be confused with the later Pope Leo X ). Added to this was the illegitimate son Carlo ( * 1430). After the originally intended as the heir Giovanni had already died in 1463, had to Piero, who was also seriously ill at the family disease gout, take over the leadership of the family and the city of Florence after the death of Cosimo.

Policy

Political action Cosimo was generally marked by his patriotism with which he intended to increase the prosperity and security of the Republic of Florence, and his power to show his reluctance to open. He turned his attention not primarily on the territorial size of the Florentine Republic, but made ​​successfully for the security needed by the State to further develop its economic power and cultural status.

Domestic Policy

Although Cosimo was clearly the ruler of Florence, he made the Florentines their Republic and exercised his power unobtrusively but consistently. It is significant that Cosimo himself a total of only three times held the office of Gonfaloniere (Head of the City Council ), the highest Priors of the Signoria ( 1435, 1439, 1445 ).

Even if he could rely on his popularity with the people always, even Cosimo delicate situations had to survive. Since the Florentine harbored against Milan a deep dislike (and vice versa), was Cosimo Milan policy (see below) very unpopular. Because of its support for the Milan Francesco I Sforza and the violent deaths of an opponent of Cosimo in 1441, in which he should have been involved, according to rumors, stir increased resistance to his policies. This danger he met, by 1444 he was put together by an open breach of the constitution him an agreeable People's Assembly ( Balia ) and select 1445 for the third time gonfaloniere. This allowed him to bring his plan to Francesco Sforza in Milan to power, to pursue. That Cosimo for openly committed a breach of the constitution, which was absolutely not typical of him, shows how important it was the alliance with Milan. The opposition to this alliance was still getting stronger.

Foreign Policy

The primary goal of his foreign policy was a strengthening and safeguarding of Florence through an alliance with the rival Milan. Because he knew that an alliance with the ruling house of Visconti was by no means possible, he planned the overthrow of Filippo Maria Visconti. He wanted to replace the Visconti by Francesco Sforza, a powerful mercenary leader, with whom he had a sincere friendship. This plan pursued since 1435 Cosimo extremely persevering, though in result unsuccessful. 1447 Filippo finally died without a male heir to leave and Sforza was supported by Cosimo, in 1450 the winner of the battle for the throne. Thus Cosimo had caused a profound change in the political map of Italy. The coalition with Venice had been replaced by an alliance with former nemesis Milan. Now the two parties Milan - Florence was offset by ( supported by France and the Pope ) and Venice - Naples.

Cultural commitment

Although Cosimo was not an intellectual, but keenly interested in cultural things. This interest was reflected in his extensive patronage down, with whom he drew well-known artists and scholars to Florence, and so contributed to the intellectual and artistic splendor of the city. So he promoted eg Brunelleschi, Michelozzo, Filippo Lippi and Donatello.

In 1436 he founded the monastery of San Marco, the Fra Angelico decorated with masterful frescoes. Michelozzo advanced at the same time the construction. The monastery and the church donated Cosimo a library.

1444 Cosimo called the Laurentian Library, the first library open for everyone in the world to life. Michelozzo he gave the order to build the Palazzo Medici. Benozzo Gozzoli painted the frescoes in the chapel of the Palazzo Medici.

For centuries it was thought that Cosimo had founded the Florentine Platonic Academy and transfer their line Marsilio Ficino. Cosimo gave Ficino Although a country house, but the Florentine " Platonic Academy " has as an institution does not exist; it was only around the circle of students of Ficino, the designated this as the academics.