 |
| House of Medici |
Introduction
My research project was on the Medici family and their Libraries in Florence. I took a dive into the Family’s history and family tree, as well as their rise and fall as a Dynasty. I also looked into the creation and history of their Libraries in Florence, including what those libraries contained and accomplished, as well as who was directly involved with the creation of Libraries, including the buildings, art and the information keep within them.
The di Medici
Medici Family Tree
According to The Medici Family : A brief history of the Medici Family by Albert Van Helden, The
Medici family was a part of the patrician class and can be traced back to the
12th century Florence. Not of noble blood, throughout history the family was
seen as friends to the common people. The family become quite wealthy through
clever banking and by the 13th century had acquired great wealth. With this
wealth came political influence and by the end of the 13th century a member of
the Medici family served as Gonfaloniere of Florence.
Over the next century the family's wealth and political influence increased and with the rise of this influence, Salvestro de' Medici, who was Gonfaloniere at the time led the common people in a revolt against the ciompi (small Artisanate). Although, through this seemingly gallant act, Salvestro become an brutal dictator to the city and his downfall led to his banishment in 1382.
With the banishment came a fall in wealth and prestige until it was rebuilt within the next century by Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici, who made the Medici family the wealthiest in Italy and maybe even Europe. Giovanni was made gonfaloniere in the year 1421.
Giovanni's son, Cosimo il Vecchio, came to be considered the real founder of the family's wealth through politics. Regardless of initially being banished during a political struggle with the Powerful Albizzi family, Cosimo was soon recalled to to power by the people and in 1434 he banished the Albizzi family in return. Cosimo occupied no political party but ruled the city as uncrowned king for the rest of his life and it was under this rule that fair Florence prospered.
Cosimo lived simply on his huge wealth and enacted many charitable acts, including the cultivation of literature and the arts. It is Cosimo who was responsible for amassing the largest library in Europe, including works of Plato.
During the rule of Cosimo and his sons and grandson, Florence was known as the cultural centre of Europe.
Over the next century the family's wealth and political influence increased and with the rise of this influence, Salvestro de' Medici, who was Gonfaloniere at the time led the common people in a revolt against the ciompi (small Artisanate). Although, through this seemingly gallant act, Salvestro become an brutal dictator to the city and his downfall led to his banishment in 1382.
With the banishment came a fall in wealth and prestige until it was rebuilt within the next century by Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici, who made the Medici family the wealthiest in Italy and maybe even Europe. Giovanni was made gonfaloniere in the year 1421.
Giovanni's son, Cosimo il Vecchio, came to be considered the real founder of the family's wealth through politics. Regardless of initially being banished during a political struggle with the Powerful Albizzi family, Cosimo was soon recalled to to power by the people and in 1434 he banished the Albizzi family in return. Cosimo occupied no political party but ruled the city as uncrowned king for the rest of his life and it was under this rule that fair Florence prospered.
Cosimo lived simply on his huge wealth and enacted many charitable acts, including the cultivation of literature and the arts. It is Cosimo who was responsible for amassing the largest library in Europe, including works of Plato.
During the rule of Cosimo and his sons and grandson, Florence was known as the cultural centre of Europe.
Things
were generally peaceful in Florence until Cosimo's grandsons, Lorenzo and
Giuliano ruled as tyrants. In an attack in 1478, Giuliano was killed and
Lorenso wounded. Lorenzo was known as the Magnificent, saw the city
surpassed all earlier cultural achievements. Ficino, Giovanni Pico della
Mirandola, Botticelli and Michelangelo rose during this high point in the
Florentine Renaissance. But the goodwill of the Florentine people was eroded by
the tyrannical styles of Lorenzo.
For some time after Lorenzo, various descendants ruled Florence in a generally ineffectual way and this was not changed until a new Cosimo, son of the original Cosmio il Vecchio's brother, ascended the throne in 1537. He known for transforming Tuscany into an absolutist nation state. Regardless of his political ruthlessness, Cosmo was cultured and promoted both the arts as well as the economy and military, as well as many other feats.
Over the next few century the family would become involved with Galileo, be ravaged by the plague, set up many prestigious and groundbreaking universities, academies and museums. The Medici managed to mix genes with most royal families in Europe. Incompetence in ruling was not unknown and Florence was ravaged by wars and economic stagnancy.
For some time after Lorenzo, various descendants ruled Florence in a generally ineffectual way and this was not changed until a new Cosimo, son of the original Cosmio il Vecchio's brother, ascended the throne in 1537. He known for transforming Tuscany into an absolutist nation state. Regardless of his political ruthlessness, Cosmo was cultured and promoted both the arts as well as the economy and military, as well as many other feats.
Over the next few century the family would become involved with Galileo, be ravaged by the plague, set up many prestigious and groundbreaking universities, academies and museums. The Medici managed to mix genes with most royal families in Europe. Incompetence in ruling was not unknown and Florence was ravaged by wars and economic stagnancy.
Unfortunately,
the house of Medici died with the last male heir, Gian Gastone di Medici in
1737.
The original ‘Godfathers’
The esteemed
Medici family are well renowned as being the original 'Godfathers'. Leading way for the more modern mafia’s of
the likes of Lucky Luciana and Salvatore Raiina , the Medici family reached the
top by no means of goodness or using a kind hand.
In the 1300’s, the
young son of a Merchant, Cosimo de' Medici would go on to become the Godfather of a
dynasty. Cosimo Cultivated the artists and thinkers who would begin the Renaissance era.
The Medici
climbed their way to the top, not through kindness and money alone, but often
through bribery, corruption and violence. They exploited a network of friends
of friends to get into politics as well as the church, where their power was
often 'bought' and 'bribed'.
The following clip, The Renaissance and the Medici found on TheHistoryTV YouTube channel is rather simple and alludes to the
beginning of the glory that would be the Medici family triumphs, with the
initiatives of Cosimo being the central focus.
Medici Libraries in Florence
History of the creation of the Library
As found via the Museums in Florence website, the Laurentian library began under the educated eye of Cosimo the elder,
changing hands through inheritance, even being confiscated when the whole of
the Medici family was banished in 1494. The collection was reclaimed in 1508 by
Cardinal Giovanni de' Medici, who transferred the lot to Rome. The manuscripts
were returned to Florence in 1523 by Giulio de' Medici, who immediately
commissioned Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni
to design an actual library to house the collection.
Michaelangelo
took the job very seriously and spent much time on preparatory drawings for the
building and spent ten years on the construction of the Library before he
departed Rome in 1534. However, he continued to monitor the phases of building,
with work being continued by his followers Giorgio Vasari and Bartolommeo
Ammannati.
 |
| Books were originally Chained to each row, to deter thieves. |
The Elevation of
the Library was built in the characteristic Florentine two-one combination of
grey sand-stone elements on white plaster. Here Michelangelo's styles can be
seen in the tabernacle niches, the paired columns and the portal. It consists
of three flights of steps; the outer ones are quadrangular shaped, the central
ones convex, and the bottom three steps are completely elliptical.
The books were
orginially not to be kept in traditional bookshelves, but instead were chained
to the reading seats. Each set of benches had a list on the bench entrance
catalouging what books were contained in that row.
You can see a
great lovely architectural overview of the library and discussion on
Michelangelo’s specific styles in the following 'Smart History Video's'
mini commentated documentary called 'Michelangelo, Laurentian Library, 1524 -71'.
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana today
The Biblioteca
Medicea Laurenziana contains some of
the most important historical manuscripts from Florence. The Library is located
in Piazza San Lorenzo – Firenze and holds a very vast collection of records
which continue to charm and beguile the world.
The official
Library website Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana advised that the collection
consists of 11,000, 2,500 papyri, 43
ostraka, 566 incunabula, 1,681 sixteenth century printed books, 592 periodicals
on related subjects and a total of 126,527 books dating from the seventeenth to
the twentieth century. A very hefty collection if you think that this library
began as a private family library.
Some of the
treasures listed are such amazing manuscripts by Tacitus, Pliny, Aeschylus,
Sophocles, Quintilian, the codex of Vergil, and the oldest extant copy of
Justinian's Corpus Iuris, copied just after its promulgation.
The collection
also boosts one of the three complete collections of Plato's Dialogi, the
Squarcialupi codex (alleged the only existing source for the study of profane
music between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries), autographs of
Petrarch and Boccaccio, the Storie by Guicciardini (including notes by the
author) as well as the autographed biography of Benvenuto Cellini.
According to the
website, due to the specific nature of the holdings, Access is generally only
for scholars who can prove they are over 18 years and conducting scientific
research requiring access to manuscripts or rare books. To view the originals
you need to obtain a 'reader pass'.
Obtaining a
reader pass is pretty strict, including provision of photo Identification,
Application form and academic recommendation letters. If the required documents
are then pronounced as available, you will be advised when the required records
will be available for viewing. You will only be able to view up 10 items per
day. It is also important to read up on the Library's 'how to pay royalties'
pages, which discuss payment required for copyright and reproductions.
Alternately, a complete
set of Black and White microfiche of most of the originals are freely available
for your personal use. There are also
digital resources available through the online catalogue, but these are only accessible in Italian.
The websites Exhibition
and Activities page contains historical exhibition information as well as
up and coming. For example, from the 26th October 2012 until the 22nd June 2013
the Library has a new exhibition, Letters from far away - The Medici Printing
House between Rome and the East. The exhibition is focuses on Eastern
manuscripts of the Library which illustrates their history and close connection
to the Medici Printing House.
 |
| New Exhibition - Letters from far away |
In Conclusion
The Medici family achieved great successes as well as great falls as Florence's first great family. From establishing a renaissance culture to bribing their way into politics and money, the Medici family were seemingly infalible in their need to climb their way to the top, no matter what the consequences. They mingled with great minds such as Galileo and Michelangelo and subsequently are responsible for one of the most important Libraries in Europe,emphasising their responsibility in the cultural overhaul of Florence. Sadly the family line ended 1737, but the immortality of their Library collection will live on for eternity.
 |
| Botticelli - The birth of Venus. An example of Renaissance art as cultivated by the Medici |
Bibliography:
Wikipedia 2009, Coat of arms of the house of Medici, viewed 31 October 2012, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_of_the_House_of_de%27_Medici.png.
Robert Terwilliger, Medici family tree, Twigdigs.com , viewed 31 October 2012, http://www.twigsdigs.com/sundials/polyhedral/medici_family_tree.gif.
Van Helden, Albert 2004, The Medici Family : A brief history of the Medici Family, Connexions, viewed 31 October 2012, http://cnx.org/content/m11975/1.2/.
TheHistoryTV 2010, The Renaissance and the Medici, 15 March 2010, viewed 31 October 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsrRqsSM97U.
Museumsinflorence 2012, Laurentian library, viewed 31 October 2012, http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/laurentian_library.html.
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana 2001-2012, photograph the reading room, viewed 31 October 2012, http://www.bml.firenze.sbn.it/ing/tour_of_the_complex.htm.
Smarthistoryvideos 2011, Michelangelo, Laurentian Library, 1524 - 71, viewed 31 October 2012, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUOKkeEOkXk&feature=share&list=PLc9rdsInrewGuTspcv_0xf8Iz1Mn76eq4
Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana 2001-2012, letters from far away, viewed 31 October 2012, http://www.bml.firenze.sbn.it/ing/le_vie_delle_lettere_ing.htm.
PBS 2004, Boticelli : Birth of venus, PBS, 31 October 2012, PBS http://www.pbs.org/empires/medici/gallery/bot_ven.html.
