Lorenzo de' Medici

1 January 1449 – 8 April 1492

Lorenzo de' Medici, called 'the Magnificent', was the de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic during the height of the Italian Renaissance. A skilled statesman and diplomat, he was also one of history's greatest patrons of the arts, supporting artists such as Botticelli and the young Michelangelo. His death in 1492 is often seen as marking the end of Florence's golden age.

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Lived at the same time

Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Lorenzo de' Medici.

Life events

Born in Florence
1 January 1449

Lorenzo was born on 1 January 1449, the son of Piero di Cosimo de' Medici and Lucrezia Tornabuoni, into the powerful Medici banking family.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Educated by leading humanist scholars
c. 1457

Lorenzo received a humanist education from tutors including Gentile de' Becchi and the philosopher Marsilio Ficino.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Married Clarice Orsini
4 June 1469

Lorenzo married Clarice Orsini of the Roman noble family on 4 June 1469, an alliance that linked the Medici to the old aristocracy.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Became de facto ruler of Florence
December 1469

On the death of his father Piero in December 1469, the twenty-year-old Lorenzo assumed leadership of the Medici family and of Florentine politics alongside his brother Giuliano.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Survived the Pazzi conspiracy
26 April 1478

On 26 April 1478 assassins attacked Lorenzo and his brother Giuliano during Mass in Florence Cathedral; Giuliano was killed but Lorenzo escaped with wounds.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Traveled to Naples to negotiate peace
December 1479 – March 1480

In December 1479 Lorenzo sailed to Naples and personally negotiated with King Ferrante, ending the war that followed the Pazzi conspiracy and cementing his reputation as a statesman.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Secured a cardinalate for his son Giovanni
1489

Lorenzo obtained the appointment of his thirteen-year-old son Giovanni, the future Pope Leo X, as a cardinal in 1489.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Took the young Michelangelo into his household
c. 1490

Around 1490 Lorenzo recognized the talent of the teenage Michelangelo and brought him to live in the Medici palace, one of many acts of artistic patronage.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died at the Medici villa at Careggi
8 April 1492

Lorenzo the Magnificent died on 8 April 1492 at the family villa of Careggi outside Florence.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Death ✓