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{{Character Infobox
[[File:220px-Cosimo_di_Medici_(Bronzino).jpg|thumb|Cosimo de' Medici.]]
|name = Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici
'''Cosimo de' Medici''' (1389–1464) was an Italian statesman, ruler of the [[Florence|Florentine Republic]] during the Italian Renaissance and head of the [[House of Medici]]. He was a close friend of [[Ilario Auditore]], who served as Gonfaloniere to Cosimo during his reign, and grandfather to [[Lorenzo de' Medici]]. He also founded the Medici Bank.
|native =
|image = Wiki noimage.jpg
|birth = 10 April 1389<br>[[Florence]], [[Republic of Florence]]
|death = 1 August 1464 {{c|aged 75}}<br>{{Wiki|Villa Medici at Careggi}}, Republic of Florence
|active =
|species = [[Human]]
|database =
|affiliates = [[House of Medici]]
}}
'''Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici''' (1389 – 1464) was an [[Italy|Italian]] statesman, ruler of the [[Florence|Florentine Republic]] during the Italian [[Renaissance]], and head of the [[House of Medici|Medici family]]. He was a close friend of [[Ilario Auditore]], who served as ''Gonfaloniere'' to Cosimo during his reign. Cosimo was also the grandfather of [[Lorenzo de' Medici]].


{{DEFAULTSORT:Medici, Cosimo de'}}Born in Florence, Cosimo inherited both his wealth and his expertise in business from his father,[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovanni_di_Bicci_de%27_Medici Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici]. In 1415 he accompanied the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipope_John_XXIII Antipope John XXIII] at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Constance council of Constance], and in the same year he was named Priore of the Republic. Later he acted frequently as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambassador ambassador], showing a prudence for which he became renowned.
==Biography==
===Life and career===
In 1397,<ref>{{WP|Medici Bank}}</ref> Cosimo founded the Medici Bank.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Database: Lorenzo de' Medici]]</ref> Worried about his rising influence, the {{Wiki|Albizzi}}, a rival Florintine banking family led by [[Maso degli Albizzi|Maso]] and then his son [[Rinaldo degli Albizzi|Rinaldo]],<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Database: Firenze (Assassin's Creed II)]]</ref><ref name="ACID">''[[Assassin's Creed: Identity]]'' – [[Database: Firenze (Identity)]]</ref> had him imprisoned in the [[Palazzo della Signoria]].<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' – [[Database: Palazzo della Signoria]]</ref> By gaining influence behind the scenes, Cosimo rose to power in 1434, whereupon he exiled the entire Albizzi family except for [[Luca di Maso degli Albizzi|Luca]], who had been loyal to him.<ref name="AC2" /><ref name="ACID" />


His power over Florence stemmed from his wealth, which he used to control votes. As Florence was proud of its '[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy democracy]', he pretended to have little political ambition, and did not often hold public office. Aeneas Sylvius, Bishop of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siena Siena] and later [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Pius_II Pope Pius II], said: "Political questions are settled in [Cosimo's] house. The man he chooses holds office...He it is who decides peace and war...He is king in all but name." ''Quoted by C.Hibbert in'' The Rise and Fall of the House of Medici'', 1974.''<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0" style="line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; ">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosimo_de'_Medici#cite_note-0 [1]]</sup>
===Legacy===
In 2012, he was included in a [[Mnemonic sets|mnemonic set]] in [[Abstergo Industries]]' [[Project Legacy]].<ref name="ACPL">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>


In 1433 Cosimo's power over Florence, which he exerted without occupying public office, began to look like a menace to the anti-Medici party, led by figures such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palla_Strozzi Palla Strozzi] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rinaldo_degli_Albizzi Rinaldo degli Albizzi]: in September of that year he was imprisoned, accused for the failure of the conquest of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucca Lucca], but he managed to turn the jail term into one of exile. He went to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padua Padua] and then to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice Venice], taking his bank along with him. Prompted by his influence and his money, others followed him: within a year, the flight of capital from Florence was so great that the ban of exile had to be lifted. Cosimo returned a year later in 1434, to greatly influence the government of Florence (especially through the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luca_Pitti Pitti] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piero_Soderini Soderini] families) and to lead by example for the rest of his long life.
==Appearances==
[[Category:Characters]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' {{Mdat}}
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Characters]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' {{c|mnemonic set only}}
[[Category:Historical Characters]]
*''[[Assassin's Creed: Identity]]'' {{Mdat}}
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Medici, Cosimo de'}}
[[Category:1389 births]]
[[Category:1464 deaths]]
[[Category:Individuals]]
[[Category:Italians]]
[[Category:Florentines]]
[[Category:Bankers]]
[[Category:Politicians]]
[[Category:Rulers of Florence]]
[[Category:House of Medici|Cosimo de' Medici]]

Latest revision as of 16:53, 6 May 2026

Cosimo di Giovanni de' Medici (1389 – 1464) was an Italian statesman, ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance, and head of the Medici family. He was a close friend of Ilario Auditore, who served as Gonfaloniere to Cosimo during his reign. Cosimo was also the grandfather of Lorenzo de' Medici.

Biography[edit | edit source]

Life and career[edit | edit source]

In 1397,[1] Cosimo founded the Medici Bank.[2] Worried about his rising influence, the Albizzi, a rival Florintine banking family led by Maso and then his son Rinaldo,[3][4] had him imprisoned in the Palazzo della Signoria.[5] By gaining influence behind the scenes, Cosimo rose to power in 1434, whereupon he exiled the entire Albizzi family except for Luca, who had been loyal to him.[3][4]

Legacy[edit | edit source]

In 2012, he was included in a mnemonic set in Abstergo Industries' Project Legacy.[6]

Appearances[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Medici Bank on Wikipedia
  2. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Database: Lorenzo de' Medici
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Assassin's Creed II – Database: Firenze (Assassin's Creed II)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Assassin's Creed: Identity – Database: Firenze (Identity)
  5. ↑ Assassin's Creed II – Database: Palazzo della Signoria
  6. ↑ Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy
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