Bardi family

Bardi
Country	Republic of Florence Grand Duchy of Tuscany  Papal States
Place of origin	Tuscany, Italy
Founded	10th century
Final ruler	Pier Maria de' Bardi
Titles	Count of Vernio
Dissolution	1810

The House of Bardi was an influential Florentine family that started the powerful banking company Compagnia dei Bardi. In the 14th century the Bardis lent Edward III of England 900,000 gold florins, a debt which he failed to repay along with 600,000 florins borrowed from the Peruzzi family, leading to the collapse of both families' banks. During the 15th century the Bardi family continued to operate in various European centres, playing a notable role in financing some of the early voyages of discovery to America including those by Christopher Columbus and John Cabot.^[1]