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Medici Money: Banking, metaphysics and art in fifteenth-century Florence

The remarkable story of the Renaissance's preeminent financiers. "A swift and brilliant synthesis of finance, politics, and history."—Ben Sisario, New York Times Book Review.Their name is a byword for immense wealth and power, but before their renown as art patrons and noblemen the Medicis built their fortune on banking—specifically, on lending money at interest. Banking in the fifteenth century, even at the height of the Renaissance, meant running afoul of the Catholic Church's prohibition against usury. It required more than merely financial skills to make a profit, and the legendary Medicis—most famously Cosimo and Lorenzo ("the Magnificent")—were masterly in wielding the political, diplomatic, military, and even metaphysical tools that were needed to maintain their family's position.In this brisk and witty narrative, Tim Parks uncovers the intrigues, dodges, and moral qualities that gave the Medicis their edge. Vividly evoking the richness of the Florentine Renaissance and the Medicis' glittering circle, replete with artists, popes, and kings, Medici Money is a brilliant look into the origins of modern banking and its troubled relationship with art and religion. 14 illustrations.

Тим Паркс

Культурология18+

Tim Parks

Medici Money: Banking, metaphysics and art in fifteenth-century Florence

Medici Family Tree

Chronology

1348

The plague kills more than a third of the population of Florence

1378

The revolt of the ciompi (woolworkers’ rebellion)

1389

Birth of Cosimo de’ Medici

1397

Cosimo’s father, Giovanni di Bicci, founds the Medici bank in Florence with a branch in Rome

1400

Branch of the Medici bank opens in Naples

1402

Branch of the Medici bank opens in Venice A Medici wool factory opens in Florence

1406

Florence conquers Pisa

1408

A second Medici wool factory opens in Florence

1410

Baldassarre Cossa elected Pope Giovanni XXIII

1416

Birth of Piero de’ Medici (the Gouty)

1420

Death of Baldassarre Cossa; his tomb is commissioned by Cosimo de’ Medici

Giovanni di Bicci retires, leaving the bank to his son Cosimo

1424

Milanese army routs the Florentines at Zagonara

1426

Branch of the Medici bank opens in Geneva, later transferred to Lyon

1427

Introduction of the catasto, a form of direct taxation

1429

Death of Giovanni di Bicci

War with Milan over Lucca

1433

Branch of the Medici bank opens in Basle

Medici silk factory opens in Florence

September 7, Cosimo de’ Medici arrested and exiled

1434

September 29, Cosimo recalled to Florence

1435

Giovanni Benci becomes director of the Medici holding

1436

Branch of the Medici bank opens in Ancona

Dome of the Florence Duomo completed

1436–43

Restoration of the Monastery of San Marco financed and directed by Cosimo de’ Medici

1437

Christians in Florence banned from all moneylending practices

1438

Ecumenical conference between leaders of the Byzantine and Roman churches, in Florence

1439

Branch of the Medici bank opens in Bruges

1440

Death of Cosimo’s brother, Lorenzo

1442

Branch of the Medici bank opens in Pisa

1443

Closure of the Ancona and Basle branches of the Medici bank

1446

Branches of the Medici bank open in Avignon and London

1449

Birth of Lorenzo de’ Medici (the Magnificent)

1450

Francesco Sforza conquers Milan with the help of Cosimo de’ Medici

1452

Branch of the Medici bank opens in Milan

1453

Fall of Constantinople

1455

Giovanni Benci, director of the Medici holding, dies and the holding is wound up

1458

Government crisis leads to calling of a parlamento and reinforcement of Medici power

1464

Death of Cosimo

Giovanni Tornabuoni becomes director of the Rome branch of the Medici bank

1465

Tommaso Portinari becomes director of the Bruges branch of the Medici bank

Closure of one Medici wool factory

1466

Piero de’ Medici calls a parlamento and again consolidates Medici power; his son Lorenzo signs a deal with Pope Paul II that gives the bank a monopoly in the alum trade

1469

Death of Piero; his son Lorenzo marries the nobleborn Clarice Orsini; Francesco Sassetti becomes sole director of the Medici bank

1471

Florentine army sacks Volterra

1472

Birth of Piero de’ Medici (the Fatuous)

1476

Assassination of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, duke of Milan, major client of the Medici bank

1477

Death in battle of Charles, duke of Burgundy (le Téméraire), major client of the Medici bank

1478

The conspiracy of the Pazzi. Giuliano de’ Medici, Lorenzo’s younger brother, assassinated; Lorenzo survives; war with Rome and Naples ensues