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[[File:916vWFgtTnL. SY445 .jpg|thumb|left|250px|TV Poster]]__NOTOC__The series <i>Medici: Master of Florence </i> is a family drama of the famous Medici household that shaped the Italian Renaissance in the 15th century and continue continues to be influential long after. The series begins with the death of the household patriarch, Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici who may have died of poisoning, and the subsequent control of the family business by Cosimo de' Medici, who then led the household along with his brother Lorenzo de' Medici. This article examines the historical accuracy of the first season of the series.

====Key Plot====The series begins with the poisoning of Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici and Cosomo de' Medici, his son, taking over the by then well-known and established Medici bank. By this time, the business was flourishing and among the largest in Europe with branches in many cities. The family also had close connections with the papacy, as they were responsible for the finances of the Pope. Throughout the series, flashbacks show Giovanni training his children, Cosimo and Lorenzo, the family banking business and being very controlling of their lives, including who they could marry. Cosimo was influenced to marry Contessina de' Bardi, which ended up being a sometimes strained marriage, although Contessina was loyal to Cosimo. Lorenzo also had great tension with his father, also involving his love life.

[[File:916vWFgtTnLTwo key plots play throughout the first season. SY445 First, Cosimo was elected to an important seat in the Signoria of Florence, which was effectively its government. This caused great jealousy among his rivals, namely Rinaldo degli Albizzi, who headed the Albizzi family.jpg|thumb]]The series begins with second key plot was the poisoning murder of Giovanni di Bicci deCosimo' Medici and Cosomo de' Medici taking over the s father that was investigated by then well known and established Medici bankMarco Bella, a close family associate. By this time, the business was flourishing and The rising power of Cosimo creates great jealousy among some of the largest in Europe Signoria, with branches in many citiesRinaldo eventually successfully accusing Cosimo of usury. Although they fail to have Cosimo sentenced to death, he is exiled to Venice. The family also had close connections with the papacy After some time, Cosimo returns to Florence as they were responsible things turned poorly for the finances of city, where it was in financial difficulty and mercenaries were causing trouble, leading them to invite back Cosimo to the PopeSignoria. Throughout the seriesIn his return, flashbacks show Giovanni training Cosimo eventually is successful in exiling his childrenAlbizzi rival, who had taken control of the government in Florence. Tensions in the investigation of Cosimo 's father's murder boil over as first Lorenzo and Lorenzothen Marco are accused by an increasingly distrustful Cosimo. Meanwhile, the family banking business Albizzi and being very controlling of his son are murdered by mercenaries during their livesjourney into exile. Rumors swirl that Cosimo was the one who ordered the killings in order to revenge himself against his rival whilst still appearing magnanimous by publicly calling for exile, including who rather than execution. Adding to this suspicion is the fact that Cosimo had recently met with the mercenaries to pay them off so that they could marrymight leave Florence.  Cosimo , though, tells the Pope that it was influenced to marry Contessina likely Jacopo de' BardiPazzi, a rival banker, which ended up being who contracted the mercenaries so that he might take over the Papal banking accounts from a sometimes strained marriageMedici family now tainted by accusations of murder. Cosimo funds an army to retake Rome and reinstall the displaced Pope there in an attempt to keep control of the accounts, although Contessina was loyal but the Pope continues to maintain that the Papal banker cannot be a murderer. To this, Cosimoproduces a letter from Pazzi implicating him in the murder of a member of the Signoria and showing him to be in league with their enemies. Lorenzo also had great tension The pope then has little choice but to keep the accounts with his father, also involving his love lifethe Medici.

Two key plots play throughout Although the first season. First, Cosimo was elected to an important seat in the Signoria of Medici have become Florence's premier family, which was effectively its governmentit has not come without a cost. This caused great jealousy among his rivalsLorenzo, namely Rinaldo degli AlbizziCosimo's brother, who headed has been killed in the Albizzi family. The second key plot was the murder mission to find proof of CosimoPazzi's father that was investigated by Marco Bella, a close family associate. The rising power of Cosimo creates great jealousy among some involvement in the murder of the Signoriamember. And Marco has left Florence, seemingly for good, with Rinaldo eventually successfully accusing in response to Cosimo having suspected him of usury. Although they fail to have Cosimo sentenced to death, he is exiled to Venicekilling his father Giovanni.

After sometime, Cosimo returns to Folerence as things turned poorly for the city, where it was in financial difficulty and mercenaries were causing trouble, leading them to invite back Cosimo to the Signoria. In his return, Cosimo eventually The mystery of that murder is successful in exiling his Albizzi rivalfinally revealed when Ugo, who had taken control of the government in Florence. Tensions in the investigation of CosimoMedici's bank's father murder boil over as first Lorenzo and then Marco are accused. Meanwhilelong-serving functionary, Albizzi remembers to himself is murdered as how he tries chose to begin his exile, which implicates Cosimo since kill Giovanni when he was seen as could longer stomach his main rival. Howeverdisregard for other people, that was a plot including those loved by Jacopo de' Pazzi, another member of the Signoria and prominent family head in Florencehis children. He had Albizzi killed to try to frame Cosimo so he could take the banking account of the Papacy. This failed when a letter is uncovered The straw that implicated Pazzi. Lorenzo, Cosimo's borther, however, was killed after he and Marco captured a Pazzi assassin. Nevertheless, the Medici family gains prominence again as they regain broke the Popeproverbial camel's favor and ultimately Florence's. The murder of Giovanni is finally uncovered back came when the Medici's close banking associate who kept records, Ugo, confessed to murdering Giovanni because he was ordered to kill a lover of Lorezo's that was take away the woman pregnant with Lorenzo's child. His regret in this led him to kill Giovannia home for unwed mothers where she and the baby ended up perishing.

====Characters====[[File:1200px-Florence Duomo from Michelangelo hill.jpg|thumbnail|left|250px|Figure 1. The dome was designed and built by Brunelleschi, who was supported by Cosimo.]]Cosimo de' Medici (1389-1464): The series depicts him as a wise and cunning head of the Medici family who also began the tradition of patronizing the arts that the Medici family became known for in the Renaissance. Historically, this was certainly the case and he was often seen as the first great head of the Medici family in the Renaissance period, although his father Giovanni helped to establish the Medici bank. The series shows Cosimo learning much from his father, but family tension also created a sometimes strained relationship.

Cosimo de' Medici (1389-1464): The series depicts him as a wise and cunning head of the Medici family who also began the tradition of patronizing the arts that the Medici family became known for in the Renaissance. Historically, this was certainly the case and he was often seen as the first great head of the Medici family in the Renaissance period, although his father Giovanni helped to establish the Medici bank. The series shows Cosimo learning much from his father, but family tension also created a sometimes strained relationship. In particular, Giovanni was keen on having his sons, in particular , Cosimo, marry women that provided greater power to their family. Cosimo's love of the arts was shown early on, although his father was seen as someone who discouraged such pursuits. Cosimo is historically known to have commissioned Donatello's David, which was a controversial piece for its time. He is shown as supporting Filippo Brunelleschi in his work in completing the great dome of Florence's cathedral. While Cosimo's support is accurate, others in Florence also support Brunelleschi in his masterpiece (Figure 1).<ref>For more on Cosimo, see: Kent, D. V. (2000). <i>Cosimo de’ Medici and the Florentine Renaissance: the patron’s oeuvre</i>. New Haven: Yale University Press.</ref>

Contessina de' Bardi (1390-1473): She is depicted as having to marry Cosimo, where both were unhappy for a period but did eventually learn to live with each other. As the series depicts, she was from an old nobel noble family that, in fact, had lost much of their wealth. Cosimo marries her for her family connections and name, while Contessina is married to Cosimo for his family's wealth. The series depicts her getting involved in the political matters of the city and saving her husband from execution, prior to Cosimo being exiled, but in reality , this likely never happened and others intervened to save Cosimo.<ref>For more on Contessina, see: Franklin, M. A. (2006). <i>Boccaccio’s heroines: power and virtue in Renaissance society</i>. Burlington: Ashgate.</ref>

Lorenzo de’ Medici (1395-1440): He is the younger brother of Cosimo who helps run the bank with Cosimo after their father's death. While he did, in fact, run the bank's business in places such as Rome, helping to lead that important branch of the bank, he likely died of natural causes and was not murdered.<ref>For more on Lorenzo, see: Strathern, P. (2007). <i>The Medici: godfathers Godfathers of the Renaissance</i>. London: Vintage Books. </ref>

[[File:1200px-Florence Duomo from Michelangelo hill.jpg|thumb|Figure 1. The dome was designed and built by Brunelleschi, who was supported by Cosimo.]] ====Historical Accuracy====The series has a mixed record in depicting historical events. Many of the buildings, for instance , the famous Florence Duomo, was shown, but the facade depicted was not built until the 19th century. The series takes liberty with some important historical facts, such as how characters, including Lorenzo, Giovanni, and Albizzi died, but in reality , all of them died a natural deathdeaths. Cosimo's wife probably was not as involved in politics as depicted, given that society was very patriarchal at this time, although she may have used some indirect influence. The Albizzi was shown as being against the type of art the Medici tried to promote and actively tried to stop work on the dome in the cathedral, but we know little about this.<ref>For more on the Medici family history and Florence's history, see: Hale, J. R. (2001). <i>Florence and the Medici</i> (New ed). London: Phoenix.</ref>

Other facts are at least partially accurate, such as the exile of Cosimo, the decision to exile AbizziAlbizzi, and the war with Milan shown. Venice was, in fact, where Cosimo did go to into exile. Furthermore, this likely was the main reason why Cosimo was invited back to Florence, as Cosimo had withdrawn his banking activities from Florence, helping to enrich Venice as capital began to flow there. The slave Cosimo obtains as a gift from Venice, Maddalena, did exist and he did, in fact, father a son with her, who did later become an important priest supported by the Medici family despite being illegitimate.<ref>For more on Cosimo's family history, see: Ewart, K. D. (2006). <i>Cosimo De’ Medici</i>. New York: Cosimo Classics.</ref>

====References====<references/>[[Category:Wikis]][[Category:Historically Accurate]][[Category:Renaissance History]][[Category:European History]]