Medici

Med·i·ci  (md-ch, md-)

Italian noble family that produced three popes (Leo X, Clement VII, and Leo XI) and two queens of France (Catherine de Médicis and Marie de Médicis). Cosimo "the Elder" (1389-1464) was the first of the family to rule Florence. Lorenzo "the Magnificent" (1449-1492) was an outstanding patron of learning and the arts, whose clients included Michelangelo and Botticelli.

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Medi·cean (-chn, -s-) adj.

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Medici [ˈmɛdɪtʃɪ məˈdiːtʃɪ (Italian) ˈmɛːditʃi]

n

1. (Biography 15th) an Italian family of bankers, merchants, and rulers of Florence and Tuscany, prominent in Italian political and cultural history in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, including

2. (Biographies) Catherine de' (kaˈtriːn de). See Catherine de' Medici

3. (Biographies / Medici, Cosimo I (1519-1574) M, Italian, POLITICS: hereditary ruler) Cosimo I (ˈkɔːzimo), known as Cosimo the Great. 1519-74, duke of Florence and first grand duke of Tuscany (1569-74)

4. (Biographies / Medici, Cosimo de' (1389-1464) M, Italian, BUSINESS: banker, POLITICS: statesman, ARTS AND CRAFTS: patron) Cosimo de', known as Cosimo the Elder. 1389-1464, Italian banker, statesman, and patron of arts, who established the political power of the family in Florence (1434)

5. (Biographies) Giovanni de', (dʒoˈvanni de). See Leo X

6. (Biographies) Giulio de' (ˈdʒuːljo de). See Clement VII

7. (Biographies / Medici, Lorenzo de' (1449-1492) M, Italian, POLITICS: statesman, WRITING: poet, MISC: scholar, ARTS AND CRAFTS: patron) Lorenzo de' (loˈrɛntso de), known as Lorenzo the Magnificent. 1449-92, Italian statesman, poet, and scholar; ruler of Florence (1469-92) and first patron of Michelangelo

8. (Biographies) Maria de' (maˈriːa de). See Maria de' Medici French name Médicis [medisis]

Medicean  [ˌmɛdɪˈsiːən -ˈtʃiː-] adj

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

Medici - aristocratic Italian family of powerful merchants and bankers who ruled Florence in the 15th century house - aristocratic family line; "the House of York"