The Medicean Dynasty: The Medici Family

The Medici Family The Medicean Dynasty lasted over 300 years with few/brief interruptions starting with Giovanni. “He began by heading the peace party, which deplored any steps to suppress the resurgent power of Milan.” In 1427, Giovanni and Cosimo discretely introduced a new system of taxation. “It was devised to ensure that demands by the authorities would be distributed according to each citizen's
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capacity to pay” (Cleugh 39). In1433, Cosimo refrained from using the growing numbers of pro-Medicean opponents of the government. It seemed likely that it was time to end the military policy of an aggressively aristocratic government. Revolt, successful or not, would lead to a thirst for vengeance (Cleugh 44). “1434 can be taken as the founding …show more content…
By 1427, the Albizzi seemed to be the most powerful family in the city as well as far richer than the Medici (Cleugh 25). From the beginning, it seemed as though the Albizzi would be very influential within the arts and information as they were patrons but it seemed as though they became more interested in stirring up wars (Cleugh 26). In 1393, Maso Albizzi
(Gonfalonier) withdrew all civil rights from the Alberti family which led to a pitched battle in the 'piazza' with the Alberti and Medici against the Albizzi. The Albizzi won and Maso remained in practice as the absolute master of Florence until his death in 1417. The Medici sent an armed group to murder Maso but the guards forced the rebels back to the environs of the cathedral and cut them to pieces (Cleugh …show more content…
The Pazzi conspiracy was a tragedy for the Medici family but it also allowed Lorenzo to gain authority as well as eliminate the potential for having to share wealth and power with his younger brother, Giuliano (Martines 127). The Florentine bankers and tradesmen had updated accounts and all of the Pazzi banking and business ledgers fell subject to government seizure. Officials went to sell off all Pazzi possessions and everything they owned. The Medici concluded that all traces of the Pazzi were to be destroyed and the members of the family were to change their surname. Multiple strict rules were enforced upon these people to make sure there was no sign of the Pazzi left in existence (Martines 133). The entire conflict destroyed the reign of the Pazzi and acted as support for the Medici who gained more power and control because of it (Martines

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