Once upon a time Medici family was just another royal family in the Italy , however with time they become biggest , richest and well respected family in Italy. Moreover they used this wealth to support science and art and they played a crucial role in changing an era.
Medici family is one of the main families that played role in Renassaince and they were one of the families that shaped that event. They were a humble merchant family in the 13th century , however according to source they got their name by trading medicine. Obviously family got lucky with the first bank formed by di Bicci de Medici and they managed to increase family wealth. After this point most of the medici members become really important influental people and Medici bank became a well respected multi national bank in Europe that funds the kings.
Founder of Medici Bank
The son of Giovanni , Cosimo started to get interested in politics and he became grand maestro in 1434 which means he became unofficial ruler of Florance. Florance becomes even more wealthy with his politic skills , he was the first one in the family that spend money to art and made the florance center of art at that era. He created Europe's biggest library by getting books from Constantilopolis and he encouraged artists like Donatello and Brunelleschi by funding them and they made the Duomo and sculpture of David. After his death people gave him the title of Pater Patriae which was only given to roman emperors.
However his son Lorenzo De ' Medici got greater importance in this story. He funded greatest artists like Leonardo da vinci , Michealangelo , Boticelli.
When he was ruling the Florance , Ottoman was rising fast and becoming a threat under the ruling period of Fatih Sultan Mehmed. Lorenzo was a clever man and he knows that fatih was planning to invade Italy , therefore he printed madallions with 2 faces in the one side there was Ottoman Sultan Fatih in the other side there was Lorenzos face , such a surprise. If Fatih lived enough to conquer Italy the ruling mission was going to stay in Medici family.
Lorenzo De Medici
After first Florance Duke Alessandro De ' Medici this ruling became monarchic and his son Cosimo i de ' Medici took the Toscana Granduke position. Cosimos wife bought the Palace De Pitti after Pitti family bankrupted and she also build the Uffizi Galery. The family maintained thair name untill its last Member Anna Maria Luise died in 1743.
Medici's always accepted as the protector art and positive sciences , however their motivation was probably something like this We Live this life only once , therefore we need to make everything to make our lifespan looks more beatiful. Obviously with this motivation they played a great role serving some marvellous piece of art to our world.
