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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 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.
Two key plots play throughout the first season. 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. The second key plot was the murder of Cosimo's father that was investigated by Marco Bella, a close family associate. The rising power of Cosimo creates great jealousy among some of the Signoria, with Rinaldo eventually successfully accusing Cosimo of usury. Although they fail to have Cosimo sentenced to death, he is exiled to Venice.
After some time, Cosimo returns to Florence 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 is successful in exiling his Albizzi 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 then Marco are accused by an increasingly distrustful Cosimo.
Meanwhile, Albizzi and his son are murdered by mercenaries during their journey 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, 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 might leave Florence.
Cosimo, though, tells the Pope that it was likely Jacopo de' Pazzi, a rival banker, who contracted the mercenaries, so that he might take over the Papal banking accounts from a Medici 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, but the Pope continues to maintain that the Papal banker cannot be a murderer. To this, Cosimo produces 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. The pope then has little choice but to keep the accounts with the Medici.
Although the Medici have become Florence's premier family, it has not come without a cost. Lorenzo, Cosimo's brother, has been killed in the mission to find the proof of Pazzi's involvement in the murder of the Signoria member. And Marco has left Florence, seemingly for good, in response to Cosimo having suspected him of killing his father Giovanni.
The mystery of that murder is finally revealed when Ugo, the Medici's bank's long-serving functionary, remembers to himself how he chose to kill Giovanni when he could longer stomach his disregard for other people, including those loved by his children. The straw that broke the proverbial camel's back came when Ugo was ordered to take away the woman pregnant with Lorenzo's child to a home for unwed mothers where she and the baby ended up perishing.
====Characters====
[[File:1200px-Florence Duomo from Michelangelo hill.jpg|thumb|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. 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>
Giovanni di Bicci de' Medic (1360-1429): He was the chief founder of the Medici Bank that ultimately gave power and wealth to the Medici family. Much of the business acumen that Cosimo learns comes from Giovanni, which is likely true given Giovanni's great success in establishing the bank and making the family perhaps the wealthiest in Florence by his death. The first episode suggests Givoanni was murdered, but there is no historical data to support this. Furthermore, the series depicts his death in a warmer season, but he died in winter.<ref>For more on Giovanni, see: Hibbert, C. (1974).<i> The rise and fall of the house of Medici</i>. London: Lane. </ref>
Marco Bello: In the series, he is an important associate of the Medici family. He leads the investigation of the murder of Cosimo's father. However, he later leaves Florence because of the false accusations against him by Lorenzo and Cosimo in their father's murder. Nevertheless, he retained loyalty to the Medici family by helping to uncover the Pazzi plot. There are no historical documents about his existence.
====Historical Accuracy====
