Have you ever wanted to support your community? Very few people have done as much as Lorenzo de’ Medici for their community. As you study his life, you may get inspired to do what you can for your friends and neighbors. Lorenzo de' Medici was an artist, a poet, and the ruler of the Florentine Republic of Italy. Because of all that he gave to the city of Florence, he was given the name of Lorenzo Il Magnifico, or Lorenzo The Magnificent, by the people of his time.
The culture of Florence would not be what it is today if it were not for Lorenzo and his family. The Medici were a powerful banking family. With millions and millions of dollars in their name, they had the ability to make the city of Florence great. Lorenzo’s grandfather, Cosimo de’ Medici spent millions of dollars bringing art to Florence. Lorenzo’s father, Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici continued to support the arts. Lorenzo did as well. The artists of his court included some big names. He worked with Andrea del Verrocchio and his student, Leonardo da Vinci, Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio and his student Michelangelo Buonarroti. These were some of the greatest names of the High Renaissance. Imagine working with Leonardo da Vinci AND Michelangelo! Michelangelo lived with Lorenzo and his children for three years. He dined at the family table and participating in philosophical discussions with Italy’s greatest minds.
Life wasn’t always peaceful for Lorenzo and his family. Wealth and power often bring with it, resentment from people who have less than you. On Easter Sunday, 26 April 1478, Lorenzo and his brother Giuliano were attacked in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. A rival family called the Pazzi attempted to take control of Florence. To the surprise of many people Pope Sixtus IV conspired with the Pazzi family against the Medici. Giuliano died after being stabbed 19 times. Lorenzo escaped with only a minor wound to the shoulder. This incident is known as the Pazzi Conspiracy.
Of course the Medici were angry. With the help of his many supporters, Lorenzo brought the guilty people to justice. That meant their death. Of course this made Pope Sixtus IV became angry with the Medici and the city of Florence. Lorenzo, and the entire government of Florence, were excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.
Lorenzo had to travel to Naples to meet with King Ferdinand I in an attempt to get his help in this war against the Pope. In time the crisis was resolved. Lorenzo was restored to power.
Ancient knowledge was very important to Lorenzo. This study was called humanism. His family began collecting books. This collection eventually became known as the Medici Library. It is also called the Laurentian Library. Lorenzo created a large workshop to copy his books, in an effort to bring books to libraries across Europe. He supported the development of humanism through his circle of scholarly friends, who studied Greek philosophers. They attempted to bring together the ideas of Plato with Christianity.
Being a peaceful man, he commissioned some of the greatest artists of Florence to paint murals in the Sistine Chapel. This holy site was named after Pope Sixtus IV. Lorenzo did this in an effort to inspire peace between Florence and the pope.
Lorenzo died during the late night of 8 April 1492. Legend tells us that at the moment of his death the dome of Santa Maria del Fiore was struck by lightning, ghosts appeared and the lions kept at Via Leone began to fight each other.
Lorenzo de’ Medici is buried in the Medici Chapel in Florence.