The descendants of Lorenzo Medici were remembered not only as a philanthropist, a fine art connoisseur, poet, humanist, but also as a sober, visionary politician. The man who became one of the titans of the Renaissance and during his lifetime received the title of "Magnificent."
Lorenzo di Piero de Medici was born on January 1, 1449, in a family of bankers who became famous since the XIV century. Parents of Lorenzo were Piero Medici and Lucretius Tornabuoni. The boy was born in times of change, during the Renaissance.
His grandfather Cosimo Medici was the wise ruler of the city-republic - Florence. He died when Lorenzo was 16 years old. The young man himself was educated during this period. He studied antiquity, poetry, knew Greek and Latin. Lorenzo Medici admired the works of ancient philosophers, as well as his grandfather at one time.
In his travels, he acquired knowledge important for a good ruler: flexibility, the ability to compromise, and vision. He made friends with various people of art and statesmen, visiting the courts of Venice, Milan, Naples and Bologna. In fact, during this period, Lorenzo met with people whose decisions and actions influenced the development of not only Italy, but the whole of Europe.
In 1469, he married Clarice Orsini, a girl of a noble Roman family. In the same year, his father dies and at the age of twenty Lorenzo Medici becomes the head of the Florentine republic. With the beginning of the reign of Lorenzo "Magnificent" begins the "golden age" in the history of Florence.
The young ruler was highly educated, kept the family traditions adopted by his grandfather, but was not afraid of innovations. During his reign, such famous artists as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Botticelli, Donatello and others received patronage at the court of Florence. The works of these artists were included in the collection of Lorenzo Medici, and later became the basis of the collection of the Uffizi gallery.
Lorenzo Medici founded the University of Florence. He expanded the collection of books of the library, founded by his grandfather, to tens of thousands of works. Now this library is called Laurenziano. He patronized the Kareji Academy, which became the center of Neoplatonism. It is with this educational institution that the names of such people as Pico della Mirandola, Ficino, Poliziano and others are associated.
Many accuse Lorenzo Medici of cruelty in suppressing conspiracies and rebellions. In one of these even his own younger brother Giuliano died. However, it is worth noting that all the actions of the ruler were aimed at the development and prosperity of Florence, for which he received his nickname from the townspeople - "Magnificent."
