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[[File:Medici_the_Magnificent.jpg|thumbnail|300px|left|Figure 1. The Medici Season 2 Poster.]]__NOTOC__The <i>Medici</i> has recently been released has moved forward in time and it cover picks up five years after the period death of Cosmo de Medici, played by Richard Madden in the season 1. Season 2 focuses on Lorenzo the Magnificant (Lorenzo de' Medici), who was one of the most influential Medici family members who . He ruled or and influenced Florence and at the birth of the Renaissance. The period this season covers is between covered is around 1469-1477, 1478. This season climaxes with the series culminating in the Pazzi conspiracy on Easter Sunday , April 26, 1478, that sought to depose the Medicis from power.

====The Key Characters====Lorenzo the Magnificant: Lorenzo is depicted as a smart and wise leader of the Medici family. His father, Piero di Cosimo de' Medici dies at the beginning of the series, in 1469. His father was shown as somewhat a weak character who could not always deal well with all the intrigues of the Signoria, which was the seat of government and ruling body in Florence. The Medici bank is also in a weak position and on the brink of bankruptcy. Lorenzo is energetic, ambitious for his family, and displayed traits like his grandfather Cosimo Medici by supporting the arts, with the series concentrating on his patronage of Sandro Botticelli. He is shown as having Florence's best interest in mind, although in reality he often did promote his family above all else. He could also be ruthless, although he is shown as preferring to work with his rivals and give them a chance.<ref>For more on Lorenzo and his life, see: Horsburgh, E. L. S. (2017). <i>Lorenzo the Magnificent and Florence in Her Golden Age</i>. Forgotten Books.</ref>

Lorenzo Giuliano de' Medici: Guiliano is the Magnificant: brother of Lorenzo . He is depicted shown as a smart skilled fighter, handsome, and a someone who always showed interest in women, refusing to settle down and wise leader instead bedding different women, including Simonetta Vespucci, a renowned beauty who was the wife of a prominent noble in Florence. In fact, he appears to fall in love with Simonetta and this begins to create problems for the Medici family. His father, Piero di Cosimo deafter Simonetta' Medici dies at the beginning s husband learned of the series, in 1469affair and jails his own wife. His father was shown youthful love of life and handsome appearance influences Botticelli to paint him as somewhat a weak his Mars character , but that is not certain. Giuliano did father an illegitimate child, with another woman, who could later became Pope Clement VII, but for this was not always deal well with all even brought up by the series despite the intrigues historical significance of this. Clement VII was the Signoria, which was pope who presided over the seat fragmentation of government and ruling body Christianity during the Protestant Reformation. Giuliano was killed in Florence. Lorenzo is energetic, ambitious for his family, the Pazzi conspiracy and displayed traits like his grandfather Cosimo Medici that was depicted by supporting the arts, with the series concentrating .<ref>For more on his patronage of Sandro BotticelliGiuliano, see: Jungić, J. He is shown as having Florence's best interest in mind, although & Leader, A. (2018). <i>Giuliano de’ Medici: Machiavelli’s prince in reality he often did promote his family above all elselife and art</i>. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.</ref>

Giuliano de' MediciClarice Orsini: Guiliano is Clarice was shown as a nun in training at the brother beginning of the series who is then arranged by Lorenzo's mother, Lucrezia, to marry Lorenzo. He is While reluctant, and shown as a skilled fighter, handsome, somewhat naive and a someone who always showed interest in womenpious individual, refusing to settle down and instead bedding different womenshe complies with this marriage as she sees it as God's chosen path for her. At first, including Simonetta Vespucci. In factshe is not happy, he appears as Lorenzo continues to fall in love have a relationship with Simonettaa nobleman's wife after his marriage. Eventually, although she is married has Lorenzo stop this affair and she begins to one of the members of the Signoriabecome more influential in Lorenzo's life. His youthful love The couple eventually grow more fond of life each other and handsome appearance influences Botticelli to pain him they both help each other as his Mars characterthey plan the family's affairs.<ref>For more on Clarice, see: Pernis, M. G., & Adams, but that is not certainL. Giuliano did father an illegitimate child that later became pope (Clement VII2006), but for some reason, this was not even brought up by the series despite the historical significance of this. Clement VII was <i>Lucrezia Tornabuoni de’ Medici and the pope who presided over the fragmentation of Christianity during Medici family in the Protestant Reformationfifteenth century</i>. Giuliano was killed in the Pazzi conspiracy and that was depicted by the seriesNew York: Peter Lang.</ref>

Clarice OrsiniSandro Botticelli: Clarice was shown The series depicts Botticelli as a nun in training at well-regarded painter patronized by the beginning of Medici. The series depicts the series who is then arranged painter as being inspired by Lorenzo's motherSimonetta Vespucci, Lucreziawho inspired <i>Venus and Mars</i> and later <i>Primavera</i>, with his later <i>Birth of Venus</i> painting alluded to marry Lorenzoas also inspired by her. While reluctant, she complies with this marriage. At first, she The actual history of these paintings is not happycertain, as Lorenzo continues to <i>Venus and Mars</i> may have been painted much later than what was shown in the series. Nevertheless, Simonetta is a relationship with a noblemanpossible muse inspiring Botticelli's wife after his marriagedepiction of her as Venus, but that is also disputed by historians. EventuallyGiuliano is purported to be the one inspiring Mars, she has Lorenzo stop but he had died long after this affair and she begins to become more influential in Lorenzo's life, although the series showing him posing, along with Simonetta, for the painting. The couple eventually grow more fond None of each other and they both help each other this is historically clear, but some historians do accept the two as they plan inspiring the family's affairswell-known painting.<ref>For more on Botticelli, see: Lightbown, R. W. (1989). <i>Sandro Botticelli: life and work (2nd ed)</i>. New York: Abbeville Press. </ref>

BotticelliFrancesco de' Pazzi: The series depicts Botticelli as well regarded painter patronized by Francesco is one of the Medici. The series depicts main characters of the painter as being inspired by Simonetta VespucciPazzi family, who inspired <i>Venus are rivals to the Medicis and Mars</i> resent their control and later <i>Primavera</i>power over Florence. Francesco initially befriends Lorenzo, with as he believes his later <i>Birth of Venus</i> painting alluded touncle Jacopo de' Pazzi did not have Florence's best interest and too obsessed against the Medici. The actual history of these paintings is not certainHowever, over time he becomes disenchanted with the Medicis as <i>Venus and Mars</i> may have been painted much laterhe sees them as power hungry. Nevertheless, Simonetta He is a possible muse inspiring Botticelli's depiction of her as Venusmarried briefly before he sends his wife away, but that is also disputed by historiansthis may have never happened. Giuliano is purported to be Francesco eventually reunites with his uncle Jacopo and they together launch the one inspiring Mars, Pazzi conspiracy on Easter Sunday in 1478. Francesco succeeds in killing Guiliano but the conspiracy fails and he had died long after this, although the series showing him posing, is executed along with Simonetta, for the paintingother conspirators on the walls of the Signoria. None The depiction of this the brief friendship between Francesco and Lorenzo is historically clearlikely inaccurate. He was also dragged from his house and killed, but some historians do accept while in the two series he was shown as inspiring being captured after the conspiracy was launched in the well-known paintingDuomo of Florence.<ref>For more on Francesco, see: Martines, L. (2004). <i>April blood: Florence and the plot against the Medici</i>. Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, pg. 97. </ref>

Francesco Jacopo de' Pazzi: Francesco Jacopo is one of depicted as the main characters real head of the Pazzi family, who are rivals and obsessed with overthrowing the Medici family. He was shown as finding new ways to obtain power for himself and the Medicis and resent their control and power over FlorencePazzi. Francesco initially befriends LorenzoWhile there might be some truth to this, as he believes his uncle Jacopo de' Pazziwas also, historically, did not known to have Florence's best interest. However, over time he becomes disenchanted with patronized the Medicis arts and commissioned works such as he sees them as power hungry. Francesco eventually reunites with his uncle Jacopo and they together launch the Palazzo Pazzi conspiracy on Easter Sunday in 1478Florence. His conspiracy launched with Francesco succeeds in killing Guiliano but the conspiracy fails and he is executed along with ultimately, after many other less violent attempts to topple the other conspiratorsMedici. The depiction of the brief friendship between Francesco and Lorenzo Jacopo is likely inaccurate. He was also dragged from his house depicted as a cunning and killedscheming man, while although in reality the series he was shown as being captured after problem with the conspiracy was launched in Medici probably dealt with the well-known Duomo fact that both families were power hungry.<ref>For more on Jacopo, see: Strathern, P. (2003). <i>The Medici: Godfathers of Florencethe Renaissance</i>. London: Jonathan Cape, pg. 163. </ref>

Jacopo de====Key Plot====[[File:Leonardo da Vinci - Hanging of Bernardo Baroncelli 1479.jpg|thumb|left|Figure 2. Leonardo' Pazzi: Jacopo s drawing showing one of the conspirators hung.]]The primary focus for this season is depicted as Lorenzo beginning efforts to try to unite some of the head main city-states of Italy, in particular, Milan and eventually Venice. He believes that if the Pazzi family city-states band together they can form a stronger alliance for these cities and obsessed with overthrowing help their businesses, including the Medici familybank that is struggling and overextended. While there might be some truth to this, he was also, historicallyIn addition, known to have patronized the arts Medici lost their papal account and commissioned works such their bank is threatened with insolvency as the Palazzo Pazzi in Florenceconspire with the Pope (Pope Paul II and later Pope Sixtus IV) to stop the Medici. His conspiracy launched The Medici try to forge an alliance with Francesco fails ultimatelyPazzi, after many other less violent attempts as they see a split within the Pazzi family. This initially works but then begins to topple fail as Francesco begins to question the Medicimotives of Lorenzo. Jacopo The alliance with Milan is depicted as also broken up with the murder of Duke Sforza of Milan, which was a cunning and scheming man, although in reality conspiracy launched by the problem Pazzi. The Pope is also used to threaten families from forming alliances with the Medici probably dealt with the fact that both families were power hungry.

The key plot of the series is Lorenzo beginning to try to unite some of the main city-states of Italy, in particular Milan and eventually Venice, together to form a stronger alliance for these cities and help their business. However, the Medici lost their papal account and their bank is threatened with insolvency as the Pazzi conspire with the Pope (Pope Paul II and later Pope Sixtus IV) to stop the Medici. The alliance with Milan is broken up with the murder of Duke Sforza of Milan. Without seemingly knowing or at leat not knowing in detail, Pope Sixtus has Cardinal Riario send a deligation to Florence to try to sooth relations with the Medici and resolve the conflict with the Pazzi. This deligation is sent with armed guards who are actually sent to conspire against the Medici. The Pazzi form alliances with some of the powerful families of Florence so they can also take power after killing the Medici. The choice of Easter Sunday was chosen to launch the conspiracy because the Medici will certainly be in the Duomo attending services. The Pazzi appear to show peace and reconcliation with the Medici but in reality attack the Medici in the Duomo during Easter. Giuliano is killed from behind by Francesco and his collaborators. However, they fail to kill Lorenzo, who is wounded but holed up in a small room in the Duomowith his wife and mother. Eventually, the people of Florence rally around the Medici Medicis and the conspirators are rounded up in the Signoria, where they tried to complete their conspiracy by taking authority over the city. This Lorenzo also escapes the Duomo. The conspiracy now fails and the conspirators are captured and hung from the Signoria. Leonardo da Vinci, who was young and in Florence at the time, drew the hanging of one of the conspirators , who was Bernardo Baroncellifrom a prominent merchant family in Florence that conspired with the Pazzi(Figure 2).<ref>For more on the key events leading up to the main Easter conspiracy, see: (Martines, 2004).</ref>

====Assessment====The key events are accurate, in that the Pazzis did ultimately try to topple Lorenzo. The Medici's are shown as more benevolent, but this is not accurate as politics in 15th century Florence was likely ruthless with conspiracies launched by various sides. Such politics even may have later inspired Machiavelli to write his well know work <i> The Prince </i>. The events and people that influenced Botticelli, including two of his well-known paintings, may not have happened as shown, as the timelines do not match since his famous works were finished probably almost a decade later.

==Summary== ==References==[[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Historically Accurate]] [[Category:Renaissance History]]