Giuliano de Medici Timeline 1453-1478

Giuliano de Medici was born to Piero de Medici and his wife Lucrezia Tornabuoni in Florence. He was the couple’s fifth child, his brother Lorenzo and sisters Maria, Bianca and Lucrezia were born earlier.

Giuliano was educated by private tutors and received a humanist education.

The artist, Benozzo Gozzoli began work on a mural ‘Journey of the Magi’ in the Magi Chapel of the Palazzo Medici showing the three wise men making their way to see the infant Jesus. Many members of the Medici family, including Giuliano, his brother Lorenzo and his father Piero are depicted in the painting which took two years to complete.

Giuliano’s grandfather, Cosimo de Medici, died at his country house at Careggi. He was buried in the Church of San Lorenzo. Lorenzo’s father became head of the Medici family.

Piero de Medici examined the accounts of the Medici bank and called in many loans. This unpopular move alienated many people and increased the numbers opposed to the power of the Medici.

Opponents of the Medici family, led by Luca Pitti, conspired to stage an armed coup, remove Piero from power and restore democracy. However, the plot was uncovered and the attempted coup failed.

Piero de Medici had given support to Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan. This upset the state of Venice who declared war on Florence.

Battle of Molinella
This was a battle fought between the forces of Venice, supported by Florentine opponents to the Medici and the forces of Florence supported by Milan, Aragon and Bologna. The battle was inconclusive.

Giuliano’s father, Piero de Medici, died of gout and lung disease. Lorenzo became head of the Medici family and Giuliano supported him in his rule of Florence.

Lorenzo had become the most important person in Florence. However, he had mostly attained the position through bribes and strategic marriages. Lorenzo’s methods meant that he also made enemies of those noble families who despised his position.

The Pazzi bank gained control of the Papal accounts after helping the Pope to acquire the town of Imola.

Giuliano won a jousting competition held in the Piazza Santa Croce in Florence. He dedicated his win to the joust’s Queen of Beauty – Simonetta Vespucci, the recently married wife of Marco Vespucci. The humanist poet, Angelo Poliziano wrote a poem of the event – ‘The joust of Giuliano de Medici’. Sources suggest that Giuliano and Simonetta had a close relationship but their relationship was more likely based on courtly love than an extra-marital affair.

The artist Sandro Botticelli completed ‘The Adoration of the Magi’ a work featuring portraits of Cosimo, Piero, Giovanni, Lorenzo and Giuliano de Medici.

Simonetta Vespucci died of tuberculosis.

Pazzi Conspiracy
Members of the Pazzi family, supported by Francesco Salviati, Archbishop of Pisa and indirectly by Pope Sixtus IV, planned to simultaneously murder Lorenzo and Giuliano de Medici. Francesco Salviati would overthrow the Signoria (government of Florence) paving the way for the Pazzi family to take control of Florence. They initially planned to lure Lorenzo to Rome where he would be killed while at the same time Giuliano would be killed in Florence. When Lorenzo declined an invitation to Rome it was decided that the murders would be done at a banquet held by Lorenzo. However, Giuliano did not attend the banquet and sent apologies that he was ill. The conspirators decided that they had no choice but to commit the deed in the Cathedral during the Easter Service.

Pazzi Conspiracy
During the Easter service Lorenzo and Giuliano were attacked by Members of the Pazzi family. Lorenzo was injured but managed to get to the safety of the sacristy. Giuliano died after being struck on the head by Bernardo Bandini dei Baroncelli and stabbed 19 times by Francesco de Pazzi.

Giuliano de Medici was buried in the Church of San Lorenzo.

Giuliano’s illegitimate son, Giulio di Giuliano de Medici was born to Fioretta Gorini. He was raised by his godfather Antonio da Sangallo and later taken in by Lorenzo de Medici.