| Lords and Dukes of the Florentine Republic | |
|---|---|
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| Creation date | 6 October 1434 |
| First holder | Cosimo de' Medici (de facto Lord) |
| Last holder | Cosimo I de' Medici (Duke) |
| Extinction date | 21 August 1569 |
The first de facto Lord (Italian: Signore) in the history of the Republic of Florence was Cosimo de' Medici. Thanks to his moderate policy, Cosimo managed to maintain power for over thirty years until his death, ruling the state silently through his trusted men and thus allowing the consolidation of his family, the Medici, in the government of Florence.[1]
In 1532, to reinforce and formalize the Medici rule in Florence, Pope Clement VII, himself a Medici, created the title of Duke of the Florentine Republic to Alessandro de' Medici. With the creation of the new title it abolished the age-old signoria (elective government) and the office of gonfaloniere (titular head-of-state elected for a two-month term) and replaced it with three institutions: the consigliere, the Senate and the Council of Two Hundred.[2][3]
- ^ "Cosimo de' Medici, il fondatore di una dinastia". www.storicang.it (in Italian). 1 August 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "ALESSANDRO de' Medici, primo duca di Firenze in "Dizionario Biografico"". www.treccani.it (in Italian). Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ "Repubblica di Firenze: storia, cronologia e protagonisti della Signoria dei Medici | Studenti.it". www.studenti.it (in Italian). Retrieved 30 June 2023.
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