Francesco Maria de' Medici, Duke of Rovere and Montefeltro

Francesco Maria de ' Medici ( born November 12, 1660 in Florence, † February 3, 1711 in Bagno a Ripoli ) was an Italian Cardinal and patron.

Life

Francesco Maria de ' Medici was the second son of Grand Duke Ferdinando II of Tuscany and his wife Vittoria della Rovere 18 years after the birth of her first son, Cosimo III. born. In the meantime, the couple had lived for a homosexual affair of the Grand Duke separated by a Hofpagen.

From a young age Francesco Maria was destined for a clerical career. He was Grand Prior of the Order of Malta in Pisa, in 1683 Abbot of San Galgano in Siena, in 1685 Abbot of San Stefano in Carrara and 1686, cardinal deacon. In 1687, he received the cardinal of the titular church of Santa Maria in Domnica. He participated in the conclave of 1689, 1691 and 1700, but remained otherwise still in Florence, where he devoted himself to a less than shaped by art and pleasures of life from religion. According to sources, he was also homosexual. In 1703 he became the abbot of Marchiennes, 1708 Abbot of Saint- Amand (both in France) appointed.

Through his lifestyle health already very struck, he laid in 1709 at the request of his brother the cardinal down to get married and the house of Medici to beget a progeny. At the same time he was appointed Prince of Siena. The closed against her will marry the 26-year younger Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga ( 1686-1742 ), the daughter of Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla, but remained childless.

Patronage

Francesco Maria de ' Medici was known as a music lover. In 1678 he founded the Conversazione del Casino di San Marco, were listed in the operas to 1682. He was also the dedicatee of Tomaso Albinoni 12 cantatas, Op 4 (Venice 1702).