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However, the De Medici business fortunes began to falter, which ultimately weakened Florence's hold. Lorenzo and the Medici survived a plot to kill them and seize power in 1474.<ref>Schevill, p. 115</ref> After Lorenzo died, his son became head of Florence. Still, he was incompetent, and he provoked a popular uprising against the family, which led to their expulsion from Florence from 1494-1512. The Family was restored to Florence in 1512, and they eventually became the Dukes of Florence. However, the glory days were gone, the later de Medici was not as powerful or as rich as their predecessors, and Florence became a political and cultural backwater.<ref>Paul Strathern, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1844130983/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1844130983&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=a398a7e529dca0fff02bd3e08ca6b25a The Medici—Godfathers of the Renaissance]</i> (London, Pimlico, 2005), p. 213</ref>
====How did the de Medici and dominate Florence==during the Renaissance ==In the 15th century when the de Medici was at the height of their powers, they dominated Florence.<ref> Lauro Martines, <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/019517609X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=019517609X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=654c7c84b58e8d9216a561104ef011e1 April Blood: Florence and the Plot Against the Medici]</i> (Oxford, Oxford University Press 2003, p. 114)</ref> However, they were eager to appear as first among equals, they went to great lengths to allow the other noble and wealthy families to secure many of the offices in the City-Republic’s government.<ref> Schevill, p. 115</ref> This reconciled many of them to the domination of their Republic by one family. The de Medici were fabulously wealthy at least until the 1480s, and their wealth was able to smooth out any difficulties that they had experienced and the City of Florence experienced a period of peace and stability because of the de Medici's wealth. This period of tranquility was unique in the city’s history that well-known for its political turbulence. The de Medici brought stability to the city and this allowed trade to flourish and also the arts. The stability that the de Medici provided allowed Florence to become a cultural center.
This period of tranquility was unique in the city’s history that well-known for its political turbulence. The de Medici brought stability to the city and this allowed trade to flourish and also the arts. The stability that the de Medici provided allowed Florence to become a cultural center. The city’s artists and writers took advantage of the peace and stability to develop new styles of art in security. Then the de Medici were was quite tolerant for the times.<ref> Martines, p. 145</ref> They were mostly secular in outlook and their power meant that the city’s artists and writers did not have to fear from the Inquisition or clerical interference.<ref>Schevill, p. 117</ref> The Medici, especially Lorenzo the Magnificent was broad-minded. Indeed, Lorenzo was himself a distinguished poet, and this led to an atmosphere where new ideas and practices were encouraged and even promoted in Florence.<ref> Strathern, p. 117</ref>
The de Medic had long been associated with the Humanists. Lorenzo the Magnificent was himself taught by a well-known Humanist and was sympathetic to the aims of the movement. For this reason, humanism and its ideas on human reason and capabilities flourished in the city. Indeed, many humanists such as De Valla were able to secure employment in the de Medici administration and added to the cultural life of the city.<ref> Hibbert, p. 167</ref>