Medal of Cosimo de Medici: Explore Collections: Windows to the World: Digital Artifacts for Global Educators: Indiana University Bloomington

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Medal of Cosimo de Medici

Medal of Cosimo de Medici

The Medici family was one of the most powerful families in Italy during the Renaissance. The Medici family was unique from others because it wasn’t noble. At this point in time, most families gained and kept power by marrying and/or being born into noble families. Instead, the Medicis became powerful through business, and their political power was a result of their wealth. Their home city of Florence was a center for maritime trade. Cosimo the Elder, a banker, was the first Medici to secure massive economic and political sway in Florence.

After Cosimo the Elder’s death in 1464, his economic and political power over Florence was passed down to his descendants until 1532, when Alessandro de’ Medici was officially declared the Duke of Florence by Pope Clement VII. However, his rule did not last long, ending in 1537 when he was assassinated by his cousin Lorenzino de' Medici, who fled Florence afterward. Without a legitimate direct heir, Cosimo I de Medici was elected to be the second Duke of Florence despite being from a more distant branch of the family. The men who elected him thought he would be easy to manipulate, as he was only 18 years old at the time and had lived most of his life outside of Florence, but they were quickly proven wrong. Cosimo I furthered the Medici’s legitimacy of Florentine rule by gaining the approval of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, and he laid a siege on the city of Sienna in the 1550s that led him to be named the first Grand Duke of Tuscany by Pope Pius V.

This medal was made in 1537, the year that Cosimo I became Duke of Florence and attained power. These portrait medals became popular during the Renaissance as people began to revive classical Roman customs (including portrait medals). Like ancient Roman coins, portrait medals were a quick and official way to promote important political figures. However, unlike ancient Roman coins, they had no monetary value. At their core, medals were just tchotchkes. They were often given as gifts to friends or potential business partners, and then slowly spread around the city. Cosimo I was the first Medici to take advantage of portrait medallions in this way, and later passed the practice on to his children, along with the rest of his massive, mercantile fortune.

Teacher-Made Medici Medal Lesson Plan- High School Latin

Resources

Resource 1

Florence and the Renaissance: Crash Course to European History- YouTube

This video explains how the Renaissance was a time of Classical revival, contextualizing Florence as a significant city-state and the role that families like the Medicis played in its development.

Resource 2

Bia de Medici- Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi

This is a painting of Cosimo I’s “natural” (illegitimate) daughter, Bianca. Despite being illegitimate, she was raised in Cosimo I’s household among his legitimate children. This painting was presumably commissioned around the time of her death when she was five years old. Note the medal of Cosimo I that she wears around her neck, similar to this medal.

Resource 3

Medici Family Tree- Wordpress

This is the whole Medici family tree, starting from Giovanni di Bicci. Giovanni is the start of this family tree because he founded the Medici Bank that would make his descendants so wealthy. Note that Cosimo I doesn’t appear until halfway down this tree, indicating how long it took the family to achieve noble status. The tree ends with Gian Gastone, the seventh and last Medicean Grand Duke. After his death, reign of the region passed into another, extended family from the Medicis.