Medici family - Medici

A distinguished family of Florence, Italy, and patron of the arts and sciences during the Renaissance. The family's name is also found in documents from the late 13th century, but it was Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici (c. 1360-1429) who founded the Medici Bank and built the foundation for its later prosperity. His son Cosimo de' M. (1389-1464) expanded the business, opening branches all over Europe, and amassing a huge fortune, while at the same time investing in land and stabilizing the bank's finances. Politically, he avoided public appearances, but used his wealth and prestige among the newly emerging wealthy merchant class to establish a network of supporters and exert a hidden influence within the Florentine Republic. This oligarchy was the backbone of the family's stability in later years. It was this preparation that allowed Cosimo, who was exiled from the Republic in 1433, to return home early the following year. His consistent diplomatic policy was to maintain friendly relations with Milan and Naples, and he contributed greatly to the stability and prosperity of the Republic, for which he was posthumously awarded the title "Father of the Nation."

Cosimo's grandson Lorenzo de' M. (1449-1492), a citizen, was able to interact with other princes on an equal footing from a young age, and reigned as an uncrowned king in Florence. He inherited his grandfather's diplomatic policy and worked to balance the various powers on the Italian peninsula. He was wise, bold, and straightforward in his character and actions, earning him the nickname "il Magnifico" (the great one), and these qualities were also displayed in his response to the Pazzi family's conspiracy that put the Medici family in crisis in 1478. Like Cosimo, he also supported the arts, and produced literary works of his own. However, Lorenzo lacked talent for management, and the Medici family's finances were already beginning to falter at that time. His eldest son, Piero de' M. (1472-1503), was a fool, and was banished from the Republic in 1494 for succumbing to Charles VIII of France, who had moved south. In 1512 the Medici were allowed to return, only to be driven out again in 1527. However, during this time the family produced two popes, Leo X (1513-1521) and Clement VII (1523-1534), and married into the French royal family (Catherine de' Medici, wife of Henry II, and Marie de' Medici, wife of Henry IV).

The Medici were finally able to return to Florence in 1530, this time with the support of Emperor Charles V and the Papal forces. In 1532, Alessandro de' M. (1512-1537) was made Duke of Florence, and the Medici became lords in both name and reality.

The next prince, Cosimo I (1519-1574), was from a side branch of the family, but was an excellent politician who worked hard to modernize the duchy by training bureaucrats and improving the governing system, and became Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1569. However, the Grand Dukes after him were mostly mediocre, with the exception of Ferdinando I (1549-1609), who demonstrated excellent diplomatic skills and worked to promote agriculture and commerce, and Cosimo II (1590-1621) closed the Medici Bank. With the death of the eccentric master Gian Gastone de' M. (1671-1737), who left no heirs, the Medici line came to an end.

[Kanji Arizato]

"The Medici Family: The Glory and Decadence of the Renaissance, The Fall of the Medici Family, by Koji Nakata (Kawade Bunko)" "The Medici Family: The Rise and Fall, by C. Hibbert, translated by Toshikuni Endo (1984, Libroport)"

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

イタリア、フィレンツェの名家で、ルネサンスの学芸の保護者。この家系の名は13世紀後半の資料にもみられるが、メディチ銀行を創立し、後代の隆盛の基盤を築いたのはジョバンニ・ディ・ビッチGiovanni di Bicci de' Medici（1360ころ―1429）である。その子コジモCosimo de' M.（1389―1464）は、事業を拡張、ヨーロッパ各地に支店を出し、巨万の富を蓄えると同時に土地へ投資し、財政の安定を図った。政治的には表だつことを避け、財力と新興大商人層内での信望を武器に支持人脈網を確立し、フィレンツェ共和国内で隠然たる影響力を行使した。この寡頭体制が、後年への同家の安泰の後ろ盾であった。1433年に共和国より追放されたコジモが翌年早々に帰国できたのも、この布石ゆえである。ミラノ、ナポリとの友好関係を保つのが彼の一貫した外交方針で、共和国の安定と繁栄に大いに貢献し、死後「祖国の父」の称号を贈られた。

　コジモの孫ロレンツォLorenzo de' M.（1449―1492）は、市民ながら若年より他国の君公とも対等に交わり、フィレンツェでも無冠の王のごとく君臨した。祖父の外交方針を継承し、イタリア半島の諸勢力の均衡に努めた。賢明かつ豪胆で、率直な性格と行動ゆえ「イル・マニフィコil Magnifico（偉大なる者）」とあだ名されたが、その資質は、1478年同家を危機に陥れたパッツィ家の陰謀への対処にも発揮された。また、コジモ同様、芸術を保護し、自らも文学作品を残している。しかしロレンツォは経営の才能に乏しく、当時すでにメディチ家の財政は揺らぎ始めていた。彼の長男ピエロPiero de' M.（1472―1503）は凡愚で、南下したフランスのシャルル8世に屈したため、共和国より追放された（1494）。1512年にメディチ家は帰国を許されたが、1527年にもまた追われている。ただし、この間同家は2人の教皇、レオ10世（在位1513～1521）およびクレメンス7世（在位1523～1534）を輩出、フランス王家と婚姻関係を結んだ（アンリ2世の妃カトリーヌ・ド・メディシス、アンリ4世の妃マリ・ド・メディシス）。

　メディチ家のフィレンツェ再復帰がかなうのは1530年で、このときは皇帝カール5世と教皇軍の後押しによった。1532年、アレッサンドロAlessandro de' M.（1512―1537）がフィレンツェ公に叙せられ、メディチ家は名実ともに領主となった。

　次代のコジモ1世Cosimo Ⅰ（1519―1574）は傍系の出身であったが、優れた政治家で、官僚の養成、統治機構の整備など公国の近代化に尽力し、1569年、トスカナ大公位についた。しかし彼以後の大公は、外交に優れた手腕を発揮して農業、商業の振興に努めたフェルディナンド1世Ferdinando Ⅰ（1549―1609）を除くと、おおむね凡庸で、コジモ2世Cosimo Ⅱ（1590―1621）はメディチ銀行を閉鎖した。相続人を残さなかった奇行の主ジャン・ガストーネGian Gastone de' M.（1671―1737）の死により、トスカナ大公＝メディチ家は絶える。

［在里寛司］

『中田耕治著『メディチ家の人びと――ルネサンスの栄光と頽廃』『メディチ家の滅亡』（河出文庫）』▽『C・ヒッバート著、遠藤利国訳『メディチ家――その勃興と没落』（1984・リブロポート）』

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