List of grand dukes of Tuscany

Last updated
Grand Duke of Tuscany
Coat of Arms of the Grand duchy of Tuscany.svg
Coat of arms (1569–1737)
Volterrano, Cosimo III de' Medici in grand ducal robes (Warsaw Royal Castle).jpg
Longest reigning
Cosimo III de' Medici

23 May 1670 – 31 October 1723
Details
First monarch Cosimo I de' Medici
Last monarch Leopold II (de jure)
Ferdinand IV (de facto/titular)
Formation27 August 1569
Abolition16 August 1859
Residence Palazzo Pitti

The title of Grand Duke of Tuscany was created on August 27, 1569 by a papal bull of Pope Pius V to Cosimo I de' Medici, member of the illustrious House of Medici. His coronation took place in Rome on March 5, 1570, by the hands of the Pope himself. [1]

Contents

Cosimo's family, the Medici dynasty, had been ruling the Florentine Republic, the predecessor of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, since 1434, first as Lords of Florence and later as Dukes. [2] The title of Grand Duke, was in fact the second title of recognition within the Tuscan politics given by a Pope to the Medici family, the first being that of Duke of the Florentine Republic, created by Pope Clement VII in 1532. [3] [4]

The official residence of the Grand Dukes was the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, bought by the Medici in 1549. [5]

Background

Margraves reigned in the 9th century when the region was part of the Margraviate of Tuscany. Beginning in the 11th century, the region was fully divided into several independent cities, which included Pisa, Florence, Siena, Lucca, Arezzo among others. However, with the territorial expansion of Florence, Tuscany began to "come together" again under one single leadership. This situation became even clearer with the creation of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany in 1569. Over the years, the Grand duchy managed to absorb practically the entire region of present-day Tuscany, until its own final annexation to the Kingdom of Italy. [6]

Medici grand dukes of Tuscany, 1569–1737

The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was the first period after centuries of political divisions, when most of the region was under the rule of a single leader. The Grand Duchy's territory comprised almost the entire region of present-day Tuscany, with the exception of the Republic of Lucca, the Principality of Piombino, the Duchy of Massa and Carrara and the State of the Presidi. [7]

PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccession
Ritratto di Cosimo I de' Medici.jpg Cosimo I de' Medici 12 June 1519 – 21 April 157421 August 1569 – 21 April 1574(1) Eleanor of Toledo
29 June 1539
Florence
11 children
(2) Camilla Martelli
1570
1 daughter
Son of Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, later became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany.
Francois Ier, grand-duc de Toscane en habit grand-ducal.png Francesco I de' Medici 25 March 1541 – 19 October 158721 April 1574 – 17 October 1587(1) Joanna of Austria
18 December 1565
Florence
8 children
(2) Bianca Cappello
10 June 1579
1 son
Son of Cosimo I
Ferdinand de Medicis, grand-duc de Toscane.png Ferdinando I de' Medici 30 July 1549 – 3 February 160919 October 1587 – 7 February 1609 Christina of Lorraine
1589
Florence
9 children
Son of Cosimo I
Portrait of Granduke Cosimo II de' Medici.jpg Cosimo II de' Medici 12 May 1590 – 28 February 162117 February 1609 – 28 February 1621 Maria Maddalena of Austria
1608
8 children
Son of Ferdinando I
Portrait of the Grand Duke Ferdinand II.jpg Ferdinando II de' Medici 14 July 1610 – 23 May 167028 February 1621 – 23 May 1670 Vittoria della Rovere
6 April 1637
4 children
Son of Cosimo II
Volterrano, Cosimo III de' Medici in grand ducal robes (Warsaw Royal Castle).jpg Cosimo III de' Medici 14 August 1642 – 31 October 172323 May 1670 – 31 October 1723 Marguerite Louise d'Orléans
17 April 1661
Louvre
3 children
Son of Ferdinando II
Gian-Gastone (2).jpg Gian Gastone de' Medici 24 May 1671 – 9 July 173731 October 1723 – 9 July 1737 Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg
2 July 1697
Düsseldorf
no issue
Son of Cosimo III

Habsburg-Lorraine grand dukes of Tuscany, 1737–1801

PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccession
Martin van Meytens 006.jpg Francesco II Stefano 8 December 1708 – 18 August 176512 July 1737 – 18 August 1765 Maria Theresa
12 February 1736
Vienna
16 children
Great-great-great-grandson of Francesco I, received Tuscany per the terms of the Treaty of Vienna
Mengs, Anton Raphael - Pietro Leopoldo d'Asburgo Lorena, granduca di Toscana - 1770 - Prado.jpg Leopoldo I 5 May 1747 – 1 March 179218 August 1765 – 22 July 1790 Maria Luisa of Spain
16 February 1764
Madrid
16 children
Second son of Francesco II Stefano
Joseph Dorffmeister - Grossherzog Ferdinand III. (1769-1824), Sohn von Leopold II., in seiner Bibliothek sitzend, Kniestuck.jpg Ferdinando III 6 May 1769 – 18 June 182422 July 1790 – 3 August 1801(1) Luisa of Naples and Sicily
19 September 1790
Vienna
6 children
(2) Maria Ferdinanda of Saxony
6 May 1821
Florence
no issue
Second son of Leopoldo I

Bourbon-Parma kings of Etruria, 1801–1807

Period that the Bourbon-Parma were placed as "Kings" by Napoleon in the Kingdom of Etruria. The Kingdom was a creation of Napoleon to replace the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, comprising a large part of modern Tuscany. [8]

PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccession
Luis de Etruria.jpg Ludovico I 5 July 1773 – 27 May 180321 March 1801 – 27 May 1803 Maria Luisa of Spain
25 August 1795
Madrid
2 children
Grandson of Francesco II Stefano
Carlo II di Parma.jpg Ludovico II 22 December 1799 – 16 April 188327 May 1803 – 10 December 1807 Maria Teresa of Savoy
5 September 1820
Lucca
2 children
Son of Ludovico I

Tuscany was annexed by France, 1807–1814. Napoleon's sister Elisa Bonaparte was given the honorary title of Grand Duchess of Tuscany, but did not actually rule over the region.


Habsburg-Lorraine grand dukes of Tuscany, 1814–1860

PortraitNameLifespanReignConsortsSuccession
Joseph Dorffmeister - Grossherzog Ferdinand III. (1769-1824), Sohn von Leopold II., in seiner Bibliothek sitzend, Kniestuck.jpg Ferdinando III 6 May 1769 – 18 June 182427 April 1814 – 18 June 1824(1) Luisa of Naples and Sicily
19 September 1790
Vienna
6 children
(2) Maria Ferdinanda of Saxony
6 May 1821
Florence
no issue
Restored
Leopold II of Tuscany.jpg Leopoldo II 3 October 1797 – 29 January 187018 June 1824 – 21 July 1859(1) Maria Anna of Saxony
28 October 1817
Dresden
4 children
(2) Maria Antonia of the Two Sicilies
7 June 1833
Naples
10 children
Son of Ferdinando III
FerdinandTuscany.jpg Ferdinando IV 10 June 1835 – 17 January 190821 July 1859 – 22 March 1860(1) Anna of Saxony
24 November 1856
Dresden
2 daughters
(2) Alice of Parma
11 January 1868
Frohsdorf
10 children
Son of Leopoldo II

Leopoldo II was driven from Tuscany by revolution from 21 February to 12 April 1849, and again on 27 April 1859. He abdicated in favor of his son, Ferdinando IV, on 21 July 1859, but Ferdinando IV was never recognized in Tuscany, and was deposed by the provisional government on 16 August. Tuscany was annexed by Piedmont-Sardinia on 22 March 1860. [9]


See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florence</span> Largest city in Tuscany, Italy

Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany. It is also the most populated city in Tuscany, with 360,930 inhabitants in 2023, and 984,991 in its metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Medici</span> Italian banking family and political dynasty

The House of Medici was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first consolidated power in the Republic of Florence under Cosimo de' Medici, during the first half of the 15th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of Tuscany, and prospered gradually until it was able to fund the Medici Bank. This bank was the largest in Europe during the 15th century and facilitated the Medicis' rise to political power in Florence, although they officially remained citizens rather than monarchs until the 16th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republic of Florence</span> City-state on the Apennine Peninsula between 1115 and 1569

The Republic of Florence, known officially as the Florentine Republic, was a medieval and early modern state that was centered on the Italian city of Florence in Tuscany, Italy. The republic originated in 1115, when the Florentine people rebelled against the Margraviate of Tuscany upon the death of Matilda of Tuscany, who controlled vast territories that included Florence. The Florentines formed a commune in her successors' place. The republic was ruled by a council known as the Signoria of Florence. The signoria was chosen by the gonfaloniere, who was elected every two months by Florentine guild members.

This article deals with the history of Tuscany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duchy of Parma and Piacenza</span> Former Italian state from 1545–1802 and 1814–1859

The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza was an Italian state created in 1545 and located in northern Italy, in the current region of Emilia-Romagna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Duchy of Tuscany</span> Former Italian state (1569–1801; 1815–1859)

The Grand Duchy of Tuscany was an Italian monarchy that existed, with interruptions, from 1569 to 1860, replacing the Republic of Florence. The grand duchy's capital was Florence. In the 19th century the population of the Grand Duchy was about 1,815,000 inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duke of the Florentine Republic</span>

The Duca della Repubblica Fiorentina, rendered in English as Duke of the Florentine Republic or Duke of the Republic of Florence, was a title created in 1532 by Pope Clement VII for the Medici family, which ruled the Republic of Florence. There were effectively only two dukes of the Republic of Florence, Alessandro de' Medici and Cosimo de' Medici, the second duke being elevated to Grand Duke of Tuscany, causing the Florentine title to become subordinate to the greater Tuscan title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Italy</span> Macroregion and statistical region of Italy

Central Italy is one of the five official statistical regions of Italy used by the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT), a first-level NUTS region, and a European Parliament constituency.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia de' Medici</span> Duchess consort of Modena and Reggio

Virginia de' Medici was an Italian princess, a member of the House of Medici and by marriage Duchess of Modena and Reggio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leopoldo de' Medici</span> Italian cardinal, scholar, patron of the arts and Governor of Siena

Leopoldo de' Medici was an Italian cardinal, scholar, patron of the arts and Governor of Siena. He was the brother of Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Duchy of Florence</span> Historical state in present-day Italy

The Duchy of Florence was an Italian principality that was centred on the city of Florence, in Tuscany, Italy. The duchy was founded after Pope Clement VII, himself a Medici, appointed his relative Alessandro de' Medici as Duke of the Florentine Republic, thereby transforming the Republic of Florence into a hereditary monarchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isabella de' Medici</span> Duchess of Bracciano

Isabella Romola de' Medici was a Tuscan noblewoman and the daughter of Cosimo I de' Medici, first Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Eleonora di Toledo. Beautiful, intelligent, witty and refined, she is often referred to as the Star of the House of Medici, in recognition of "her playfulness, vibrancy, often sarcastic sense of humour, sharpness and interest in a huge variety of topics - not to mention the great parties she held". She received a humanist education alongside her brother, Francesco de' Medici, who succeeded their father as the Grand Duke of Tuscany. To secure Tuscany's southern borders via a relationship with the powerful Roman Orsini family, Isabella's father arranged her marriage to Paolo Giordano I Orsini when she was 16. At her father's behest, she remained in Florence after her marriage, affording her an unprecedented level of independence for a woman of her era.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucrezia de' Medici, Duchess of Ferrara</span> Duchess consort of Ferrara

Lucrezia de' Medici was a member of the House of Medici and by marriage Duchess consort of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio from 1558 to 1561.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medici villas</span> World heritage site in Italy

The Medici villas are a series of rural building complexes in Tuscany which were owned by members of the Medici family between the 15th century and the 17th century. The villas served several functions: they were the country palaces of the Medici, scattered over the territory that they ruled, demonstrating their power and wealth. They were also recreational resorts for the leisure and pleasure of their owners; and, more prosaically, they were the centre of agricultural activities on the surrounding estates. In 2013, the Medici villas were added to UNESCO's World Heritage list.

The Grand Ducal Crown of Tuscany was a ducal crown created by the Medicean Grand Dukes of Tuscany.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flag of Tuscany</span> Flag of Italian region

The flag of Tuscany is the official flag of the region of Tuscany, Italy. The flag depicts a silver Pegasus rampant on a white field between two horizontal red bands. The flag first appeared as a gonfalon on 20 May 1975 along with accompanying text Regione Toscana above the Pegasus. It was officially adopted as the flag of Tuscany on 3 February 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Neoclassical architecture in Tuscany</span> Neoclassical architecture in Tuscany, Italy

Neoclassical architecture in Tuscany established itself between the second half of the eighteenth century and the first half of the nineteenth century within a historical-political framework substantially aligned with the one that affected the rest of the Italian peninsula, while nonetheless developing original features.

Jacopo Riguccio Galluzzi ) was an Italian writer and historian, mainly of the Medici dynasty and era in Florence.

References

  1. "COSIMO I de' Medici, duca di Firenze, granduca di Toscana in "Dizionario Biografico"". www.treccani.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  2. "Storia della famiglia Medici di Firenze". Skuola.net - Portale per Studenti: Materiali, Appunti e Notizie (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  3. "ALESSANDRO de' Medici, primo duca di Firenze in "Dizionario Biografico"". www.treccani.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  4. "La dinastia dei Medici: chi furono i signori di Firenze che governarono per centinaia di anni". www.visitflorence.com. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  5. Candidi, Vieri Tommasi (2019-08-29). "Palazzo Pitti: il più prestigioso edificio di Firenze dai Medici ai Savoia". TuscanyPeople (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  6. "Toscana in "Dizionario di Storia"". www.treccani.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-05-27.
  7. Diaz, Furio. Storia d'Italia. Il Granducato di Toscana. I Medici (in Italian). ISBN   8802024510.
  8. "Kingdom of Etruria | historical kingdom, Europe | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  9. Redazione (2014-09-19). "LA FINE DEL GRANDUCATO DI TOSCANA". PostPopuli. Retrieved 2023-06-30.