How Stable Was the Medici Regime in Florence Between 1434 and 1494 Essay

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Medici Regime

In the 15th century, the most prominent family in the developed world was probably the Medici, whose wealth, power, and political connections kept them in power for many decades and even centuries. When examining the stability of this regime, however, several factors, including war and their connections with ethically questionable persons like Cosimo, it becomes clear that there were significant storms within the regime, echoing the turbulence of war.

According to Kaborycha (111), for example, Cosimo became not only wealthy, but also a highly powerful figure in Florence due to his association with the Medici and other powerful political entities in the country. Specifically during the war effort, his status as money lender changed from a contributing role during the war to dictating political and military policy. Due to his many unethical actions in cultivating this status while also filling his own treasury, Cosimo's trouble began by being arrested for bribery, corruption, and purposely prolonging the war. He was imprisoned along with some members of the Medici family, who were accused of similar wrongdoing. Their sentence, after a month in prison, was exile from Florence.

Cosimo, however, was a resourceful man and would not let the circumstances dictate his actions for long. His enemies did not take account of the many social networks he established not only in Florence, but also in the wider European environment, including Venice, where he was exiled. Here, he was able to use his business and political connections to use by advocating for his return to Florence.

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In addition to a letter from the Venetian Republic to the Florentine republic, even the pope advocated on his behalf for his return to Florence.

Although the exiled Medici and Cosimo were allowed to return only a year after their exile, the year 1434 signalled the start of a significantly stable regime, all thanks to Cosimo's brilliant political manipulations. This stability would last until 1494.

Cosimo managed to reestablish his power first by exiling all those who conspired against him, numbering some 500 individuals. This was the largest number of exiled individuals at any one time for more than a century. Cosimo established financial stability by imposing crushing taxes and offering loans to individuals to help pay these. Politically, he established stability for the Medici family by appointing election officials to ensure that the Medici family's names were drawn whenever elections were held. This created the illusion of democracy while maintaining the regime of the Medici. This system helped the family remain in power until 1494.

Lorenzo, another powerful member of the Medici family, came into conflict with Pope Sixtus IV as a result of the semi-autonomous town Imola. Both Lorenzo and the pope wanted the strategic advantage of owning the town. Ironically, the pope turned to Lorenzo to lend him the money, which put Lorenzo in a conflict situation. His refusal to lend the pope the money, along with conspiracy to….....

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