THE MEDICI

THE origin of the Medici is purely Florentine. As early as 1215 we find a certain Buonagiunta de' Medici appearing as one of the councillors, and the name constantly reappears in the annals, of that early period. The first, however, to occupy a prominent place in history, and rise high enough above the level of his fellow-citizens to foreshadow that this merchant family was destined to give Tuscany her future sovereigns, was Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici, whose election in 1421 to the office of Gonfaloniere, while it caused much satisfaction among the people, did not fail to arouse great uneasiness among the rulers. Niccolo da Uzzano pointed out clearly to his associates the danger of thus placing power in the hands of one who not only came from a prominent and ambitious family, but himself possessed wealth and mental attainments far above the ordinary. Giovanni was, however, far too sagacious a man to endanger his position by any an overt act. He kept his ambition in check, devoted himself to the accumulation of enormous wealth, effected a reform in the method of taxation being the author of the famous Catasta and died, deeply regretted by all classes, on the 28th of February, 1428.

Machiavelli has left a portrait of him which all writers of history have accepted. He was very charitable, seeking out the poor in order to relieve them. Affable to all men, he was never a candidate for posts of honor, and yet they were showered upon him. He was only to be seen at the Government palace at such times when the public weal demanded his presence. Of a pacific disposition, he did all in his power to avoid war. Careful of the public money, his main object was to increase the revenues of the State. In public office he distinguished himself by his benevolence. Without being absolutely eloquent, he was gifted with rare intelligence. Sedate and even melancholy in appearance, he was amiable and cheerful in his relations with others. Born in 1360, he was twice elected Prior, once Gonfaloniere, and once a member of the War Council of Ten. He was married to Piccarda Bueri, by whom he had two sons, Cosimo and Lorenzo. He lived to see these two sons grow up and develop habits of great activity, both mental and physical, and to find that, while liberal and generous, they sought to increase the family inheritance and make it useful to the State.

At his death Giovanni was interred in the sacristy of the Basilica of San Lorenzo, which he had employed Brunelleschi to restore at his expense. He had not, however, the satisfaction of witnessing the completion of this edifice, which was to be the pantheon of his family, though the work was carried on by his two sons. His tomb is situated in the centre of the Sagrestia Vecchia, where, five years later, his wife was laid beside him. It is only after looking through all the original correspondence of these merchant princes, as I have done, that one can appreciate their lofty intellect, their flexibility, and varied attainments. There was nothing doing in their day in which they had not some share, or which came foreign to them, whether war, public office, diplomacy, politics, art, or literature; and, above all, they were endowed gifted politicians that they were with peculiar affability towards men of low degree, did they but possess any real merit.

Warmth of heart and the power to kindle enthusiasm in others were their special attributes, as may be gathered from passages in some of the letters still preserved in the "Archivio di Stato " of Florence, under the title " Lettere Innanzi il Principato."

COSIMO THE ELDER

During his father's lifetime Cosimo had taken part in public affairs while still engaged in the business of his house, and as he had a reputation for unusual intelligence, combined with rare prudence, he was on several occasions, selected to undertake the most delicate missions, as, for instance, when he represented the Republic of Florence at the Council of Constance, when the claims of Baldassare Cossa John XXIII. to the Papacy were set aside. There is a curious incident in this connection which testifies to the proud attitude assumed by the Republic towards the great powers, including the greatest of them all the Papacy. After his deposal by the Council, Cossa fled in disguise it is said accompanied by Cosimo but having been discovered and taken, he was confined by order of the, Council, in Heidelberg Castle, where he would no doubt have remained for the rest of his life had he not paid a large sum of money as a ransom and promised to do homage to his rival on his knees. This ceremony took place in Florence with much pomp and circumstance. Martin V. then restoring him to favor, he was appointed Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati and permitted to pass the brief remainder of his days in peace at Florence, where his death occurred in January, 1418. Donatello and Michelozzo Michelozzi were instructed to erect a tomb worthy of one who had been " Pope and prisoner of a Pope." A splendid monument was accordingly raised, which may still be seen, in the Baptistery of San Giovanni, on the right of the high altar. But the inscription provoked the wrath of Pope Martin, who had never quite forgiven the Florentines for a doggerel about himself which the little boys had shouted through the streets on the occasion of his last visit, and he imperiously demanded that the words quondam papa " should be erased, to which the Signory returned the disdainful reply: " Quod scripsi scripsi." It is sometimes alleged that Pope John, out of gratitude for the many services rendered him by Giovanni and Cosimo de' Medici, bequeathed them large sums at his death, but this has been disproved by the publication of the Medicean Archives, among which are documents showing that the Pontiff actually died in debt to the house of Medici.

Giovanni lived long enough to initiate his sons into public life, but Cosimo ranked higher than his father, and laid the foundation of the fame of his family. He married the daughter of Count Bardi, and when he became head of the house his influence and credit increased every day. He did not exercise any official authority in the strict sense of the term, but that moral supremacy, to which the public gave voluntary adhesion, and which became the hereditary, privilege of this illustrious family, was in his case very marked.

The Government at that time consisted of a Council of Priors, presided over by a Gonfaloniere, appointed for a period of only two months, in order that power might not remain permanently in the hands of any one party. This precaution against tyranny was rendered useless, if not by the devices of the Medici, at all events by the extraordinary influence which they exercised over the masses. They had so multiplied their good deeds, had made such an intelligent use of their wealth, and had managed their patronage so well, that every one felt his hands to be tied, and unconsciously, perhaps, surrendered at discretion. With this class the public weal was identified with the private interests of the Medici. If at the elections Cosimo, Lorenzo, and their children, nephews, and more distant relatives did not gain the vote for themselves, partisans of their family were returned. In course of time a powerful party of the Florentines came to look upon the Medici as the natural depositaries of power, as a nursery garden of politicians indispensable to the public welfare.

It will easily be understood that they had made many enemies, and Rinaldo degli Albizzi, who was leader of the opposite faction, contrived in the autumn of 1433 to obtain control of the Signory about entering into office, so that on September 7th Cosimo was cited to appear before that body at the palace. Acting against the advice of his friends he obeyed the summons, and was forthwith consigned to a prison within the walls of that building.

The historian who resides at Florence, and the man of the world who always likes to compare monuments with history, and to see if documents, tally with oral statements, may still picture to themselves, by visiting in the tower of the Old Palace the, prison called the Alberghettino, the scene which was enacted there in 1433, when Cosimo, placed under the charge of Federico Malvolti, exchanged the splendor of his father's palace for the gloomy and confined residence to which he was consigned by his enemies. Machiavelli says that, for fear of being, poisoned, the son of Giovanni, who was soon to be called the " Father of his Country," refused all food for four days, and subsisted on a crust of bread.

He was shortly afterwards banished, taking refuge first at Padua and afterwards at Venice. He was not the only victim of the Signory, his brother Lorenzo, with all the other Medici and their principal partisans, being likewise obliged to leave Florence.

Cosimo was at that time forty-six years of age, and we know that during his exile he interested himself in art, science, and literature, and that while at Venice he applied to some of the eminent artists who were destined to become illustrious in his service for designs for the buildings which he purposed some day to erect. It was evident that in exiling him the Florentines wished to get rid of a citizen whom they deemed too powerful, and that, as in the case, of Aristides, they were tired of hearing him called the Just. This was only a prudent step, no doubt, on the part of those who were anxious to preserve the Republican form of government ; but the people are always ready to accept a certain degree of servitude, and are easily aroused to enthusiasm for those who seem born to command. Before a year had elapsed they began to murmur and demand the recall of Cosimo, who had not conspired against his country, and who, while in exile, still sought to embellish and to render it more prosperous. Pope Eugenius, then at Florence, threw the weight of his influence in with the Medician party, and by the force of the reaction which is one of the characteristic features of popular government Cosimo was recalled. Then was witnessed the singular spectacle of a whole city going out to greet one who was neither a conqueror nor a chosen ruler, but merely a mail who had peacefully exercised a constant influence, and whose moral authority, not, guarded by any decree or law, was as effectual as any recognized and legal power.

From this time forth the Republic ceased to exist in reality, though not in name, for that was maintained for a long time, Cosimo being styled the Father of his Country ; but the Medici dynasty was practically established, and the people paid willing obeisance to a family whose " manifest destiny " was so plainly indicated. The date, of their return (1434) marks virtually the end of the Republican epoch.