Medici, Piero di Cosimo

Pierrot was the eldest son of Cosimo de Medici and Contessina de Bardi . He remained in the shadow of his father for a long time, although he had occupied a significant post of gonfalonier of justice since 1461 . After Cosimo’s death, real power in Florence fell into Pierrot’s hands. Politically, he continued the alliance with the King of France, Louis XI , Pope Paul II and the Dukes of Milan, Francesco Sforza , and then Galeazzo Maria Sforza .

Cosimo had high hopes for Giovanni, the younger brother of Pierrot, but he died while Cosimo was still alive. As a result, in 1464, a person in poor health and not too great abilities was in power. Diotisalvi Nerooni , a skilled businessman, once blessed Cosimo, secretly wanting to take away the influence and power from the Medici clan, in the guise of friendly care, began to give Pierrot advice, which soon aroused the hatred of many Florentines regarding the Medici .

The plot against the Medici

Cosimo Medici during his reign gave many influential Florentines loans, the payment of which did not require. Nero advised Pierrot to demand payment of all debts; it was done in a hurry and in a rather harsh manner. As a result, many had serious difficulties, and some bank houses were even threatened with bankruptcy. The influence of the Medici on public affairs was shaken. Now the former monolithic Medici party broke up into two hostile camps: one wanted to restore the freedom of the Republic , the other, of course, supported the rule of Pierrot. Medici had plenty of “friends”; many influential people belonged to the first camp, however, they had different goals, and they trusted each other little. Nevertheless, most were preoccupied with the only overthrow of Piero Medici; a conspiracy was drawn up, in particular by Luca Pitti , Niccolo Soderini and Agnolo Acciojuoli , whose main spring was Diotisalvi Neroñi.

Although the conspirators had different motives (Soderini tried to restore the freedom of citizens, Luca Pitti sought to improve the situation of his financial affairs, taking the place of Pierrot, and Agnolo Acciuoli acted solely out of personal enmity), they talked about only one thing: the desire for the Republic to be governed elected bodies, and not the whim of several powerful citizens. Another reason for dissatisfaction was the negotiations that Pierrot led about the marriage of his first-born Lorenzo with Clarice Orsini, daughter of the Roman prince Orsini . The fact that the girl was not a native of Florence turned out to be an excellent reason for slander: Pierrot was accused of wanting to become the ruler of his native city, "for he who does not want to be related to his fellow citizens, he seeks to turn them into his slaves." Those who spread these rumors believed that victory was in their hands, since a significant part of the citizens supported them. The conspirators even collected many signatures confirming the sympathy of the townspeople for their plan.

However, the conspirators were given out by Niccolo Fedini, who was then the secretary. Considering that betrayal would be more profitable than participating in the Medici murder, Niccolo revealed to Pierrot this plot, showing a list of conspirators and all who gave them their signature.

Meanwhile, the adversaries of the Medici decided to act. They agreed to revolt in Florence and put Pierrot to death. Persuasion and money called on the side of the conspirators of the Marquis of Ferrara and some condottieres , who promised to bring their troops to Florence. The cunning Nero often visited the patient with gout Pierrot, who by that time was in the country palace of Kareji . Nero tried his best to convince him that Florence was calm, that peace and order reigned in the city, but Pierrot was well aware of the plans of the conspirators and, despite his illness, was the first to strike the opponents.

The defeat of the conspirators

On August 27, 1466, Pierrot returned to Florence under the protection of mercenaries and called on his adherents to arms. The adversaries of the Medici were taken by surprise. When an armed skirmish seemed already inevitable, the signoria intervened in order to reconcile the opponents. She insisted that the Medici were the first to take up arms, and it was they who were to blame for the rioting. But Pierrot convinced everyone that he took up arms because he was confronted with the need to defend himself, that he himself only wanted to live in peace and peace and protect the law.

Thus, the case was decided in favor of Pierrot Medici. Roberto Lioni, a supporter of the Medici, became a gonfalonier, all government posts were also held by his supporters. And the opponents - Neroni, Achchayuoli, Soderini - fled, and were declared enemies of the fatherland; part of their supporters expelled.

The exiles prompted the Venetians to start a war with Florence, but the Florentines, with the support of the Duke of Milan, easily repelled the attack, which further strengthened the rule of the Medici family. Supporters of Pierrot hardly openly pursued opponents, and those who were not an unconditional supporter of the Medici were harassed and persecuted.

End of life

In June 1469, the son of Piero Lorenzo married the daughter of the Roman prince Orsini. And six months later, in the fifty-third year of his life, on December 2, 1469, Pierrot died. Those few years that he ruled Florence passed among civil strife and conspiracy. Pierrot was buried in the church of San Lorenzo next to his father; his sarcophagus was decorated with Verrocchio . He left two sons, Lorenzo and Giuliano , already promising, but still very young.

Since 1444, he was married to Lucretia Tornabuoni ( 1425 - 1482 ), from whom he had seven children, of which five reached adulthood:

• Mary ( 1445 - 1474 )
• Bianca ( 1445 - 1488 )
• Lucretia ( 1448 - 1493 )
• Lorenzo I the Magnificent ( 1449 - 1492 )
• Giuliano ( 1453 - 1478 ).

• Family of Pierrot di Cosimo Medici
• Ostapenko P.V. History of the secret war in the Middle Ages. Byzantium and Western Europe. - M .: AST, 2008 .-- 384 p.