Leo X (pope from 1513 to 1521) was a lavish patron of the arts but faced mounting religious tensions, including the beginning of the Protestant Reformation. His papacy funded many architectural projects in Rome but also led to massive debts.
Clement VII (pope 1523–1534), Leo’s cousin, witnessed the Sack of Rome in 1527 and struggled to maintain papal authority amid European conflicts. His political alliances shaped Italy’s fate during the tumultuous wars between France, Spain, and the Holy Roman Empire.
The Medici popes symbolized the intertwining of religious and political power, demonstrating how the family extended its reach far beyond Florence.
Cosimo I and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Another crucial figure was Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519–1574), who became Duke of Florence in 1537 and later the first Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1569. Under his leadership, the Medici family transformed Florence from a city-state into a powerful duchy, consolidating their rule with more centralized authority.
Cosimo I was a shrewd and sometimes ruthless ruler. He expanded the territory of Tuscany, improved the administration, and fostered economic growth. Cosimo’s court continued to support artists and intellectuals, including the famous sculptor Giambologna.
The establishment of the Grand Duchy marked the Medici’s transition from de facto rulers to hereditary sovereigns, recognized by the Holy Roman Emperor and the Pope. shutdown123