Lorenzo de' Medici

In a time when ideology and convictions were shaped by the church, a new ideology was on the horizon that would begin the revolutionary transformation of the western world into what we know as the renaissance period. This new way of thought was brought about due to certain doctrines of the Catholic church that was viewed as uncanonical and dogmatic. The idealistic movement of Renaissance humanism’s spread throughout first Florence and then western Europe was greatly due to men with common…

Catherine de Medici was the queen of France from 1547 to 1559. She was the wife of King Henri II and the mother of ten children, most notably King Francis II, King Charles IX, and King Henry III. Catherine is perhaps best known for serving as Queen Regent to her son Charles, during which time she orchestrated the Saint Bartholomew’s Day Massacre, but her influence also extended into more cultural achievements, like bringing high heels and ballet dancing to France. Catherine de Medici had a…

Within about 40 years the Medici Bank was able to procure so much wealth and profit that it was economically equal with the Florentine treasury. Risks were taken to obtain as much profit as possible. Loans were given out to princes, kings, and even the hard working merchant. Everything was done for the money. The Medici Bank and family were the icons of Florence and the model standard when it came to wealth and power, they became the silent rulers of their hometown after the realization that…

His inspiration had come from his family who, having held high up positions in the city’s republic, had become prominent figures in Florence. In 1494 the Medici were driven out of power and replaced by Piero Soderini, “a man Machiavelli characterized as "good, but weak,"” “During this time, Machiavelli thrived under the patronage of the Florentine gonfaloniere (or chief administrator for life)” In 1498…

This first report is on pages up to 115 out of 479, or Part I. Youth and Humility, of Catherine de’ Medici by Jean Heritier. Catherine de’ Medici was born in Florence, Italy on April 13th 1519. Her family was the ruling power in Florence at the time because of their successful banking business. Both of her parents died within a month of her birth, and at age nine she was sent to live in a convent until she was ready to marry. When she was 14, her great-uncle Pope Clement VII arranged to marry…

prepared for war, so peace from the war was settled a year later in March of 1668. However, little time had passed before another conflict arose. The Cardinal of Lorraine attempted to kidnap two allies of the Huguenots, The Prince of Condé and Odet de Coligny, a French aristocrat, and this action started the Third War of Religion.The Huguenots lost the two major battles in the Third War, and both sides decided to sign the Peace St. Germain in August of 1570. This treaty soothed tensions by…

Catherine de’ Medici This report is on pages 115 through 299 out of 475 from Jean Heritier’s Catherine de’ Medici. This section begins with Part II. The Accession and ends with Part III Ch.II, Machiavellism and Maternal Love. When the last part ended, Catherine’s eldest son Francois II had just died, kicking the Guises, who had been controlling him through their niece, his wife, out of power. With no heirs, Francois was replaced by his younger brother Charles IX, who was only nine at the time.…

Saint Catherine was born in Siena, Italy on March 25, 1347 during the outbreak of the plague. She was the twenty-fifth child born to her mother, although almost half of her brothers and sisters died during their childhood. Bonaventura, Catherine’s sister, died at the age of sixteen, leaving her husband as a widower. Her parents thought that this would be a great opportunity for Catherine to marry, so they suggested that he marry her as a replacement. Catherine was appalled by this idea and ended…

century, the Medici family held an extremely influential role in the governance of Florence. Giovanni di’ Bicci, whom many consider to be the founder of the Medici dynasty, brought to life the Medici Bank, a strong economic power of this time. Ensuing Giovanni’s death, his son Cosimo inherited the family fortune. Cosimo was well-versed in the politics of diplomacy and business, therefore allowing him to expand the family bank and become the most influential man in Florence . Cosimo de’ Medici…

In Florence 1389, a boy is baptized, he was not of noble birth. He was the son of a local merchant. His name was Cosimo De Medici. According to the book “Culture & Values: A survey of the Humanities” by Lawrence S. Cunningham, John J. Reich, and Louis Fichner-Rathus, “ Cosimo de’ Medici (de facto ruler of Florence from 1434 to 1464) was an astute banker and a cultivated man of letters” (382). From humble beginnings, his dynasty would seek for power and influence and not stop until they secured…