Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici

Piero de' Medici (February 15, 1472 – December 28, 1503), called Piero the Unfortunate, was the Gran maestro of Florence from 1492 until his exile in 1494.

Biography

Born in Florence, Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici was the oldest son of Lorenzo de' Medici (the Magnificent) and Clarice Orsini, and older brother of Pope Leo X.

He was educated to succeed his father as lord of Florence under notable figures such as Angelo Poliziano. However, his feeble, arrogant and undisciplined character was to prove unsuited to such a role.

Piero took over as leader of Florence in 1492. Two years later (1494), Charles VIII of France entered Italy with a large army, laying claim to the throne of Naples. Charles had been lured to Italy by Ludovico Sforza, "il Moro", ex-Regent of Milan, as a way to eject his nephew Gian Galeazzo Sforza and replace him as Duke.

After settling matters in Milan, Charles moved towards Naples. He needed to pass through Tuscany, as well as leave troops there, securing his lines of communication with Milan. Piero attempted to stay neutral, but this was unacceptable to Charles, who intended the invasion Tuscany. Piero attempted a resistance, but received little support from Florence. Florence was suffering from the influence of Girolamo Savonarola, even his cousins defected to Charles.

Piero quickly gave up as Charles's army neared Florence, giving Charles everything he demanded. Without making any attempt to negotiate better terms, the resultant fury in Florence led to the Medici family fleeing. The family "palazzo" was looted, the substance as well as the form of the Republic of Florence was re-established, and the family were formally exiled, to wander through the states of Italy and Europe.

In 1503, as the French and Spanish continued their struggle in Italy over the Kingdom of Naples, Piero was drowned in the Garigliano River while attempting to flee the aftermath of the battle, which the French (with whom he was allied) had lost.

Marriage and children

Piero married Alfonsina Orsini in 1488. She was a daughter of Roberto Orsini, Count of Tagliacozzo and Caterina Sanseverino. They had two children:
* Lorenzo II, Duke of Urbino (September 12, 1492 - May 4, 1519).
* Clarice de' Medici (1493 - May 3, 1528). She married Filippo Strozzi the Younger (1488 - 1538).