Luca Pitti 1398-1472

Luca Pitti (1398 - 1472) was a Florentine banker during the period of the republic presided over by Cosimo de' Medici. He was loyal friend and servant to the Medici and the republic. he was awarded a knighthood, and received lavish presents from both the Signory of Firenze and the Medici family as reward for helping maintain the government during the last years of Cosimo's rule when Cosimo was too old and feeble to maintain power alone. Image File history File links Lucca Pitti. ... Image File history File links Lucca Pitti. ... Events Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland destroyed. ... Events February 20 - The Orkneys and Shetlands are annexed to the crown of Scotland Discovery of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia by João Vaz Corte-Real. ... Events Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland destroyed. ... Events February 20 - The Orkneys and Shetlands are annexed to the crown of Scotland Discovery of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia by João Vaz Corte-Real. ... Founded 59 BC as Florentia Region Tuscany Mayor Leonardo Domenici (Democratici di Sinistra) Area  - City Proper  102 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 356,000 almost 500,000 3,453/km² Time zone CET, UTC+1 Latitude Longitude 43°47 N 11°15 E www. ... For other uses, see Bank (disambiguation). ... Jacopo Pontormo: Cosimo de Medici, 1518-1519 Cosimo di Giovanni de Medici (September 27, 1389, Florence – August 1, 1464, Careggi), was the first of the Medici political dynasty, rulers of Florence during most of the Italian Renaissance; also known as Cosimo the Elder and Cosimo Pater Patriae. ... A statue of an armoured knight of the Middle Ages For the chess piece, see knight (chess). ... The Medici family was a powerful and influential Florentine family from the 13th to 17th century. ...

As the head magistrate of Florence, known as "The Gonfalonier of Justice" he wielded great power and influence. In August, 1458, he staged a coupe to seize control of Florentine government in the name of its existing ruler the elderly and now frail Cosimo de' Medici. In effect he wished to strengthen the existing government, as a result many leading citizens were banished, and many other citizens were driven from power. The newly formed government was to last eight years with Cosimo as its figurehead, the reality being he was to frail to maintain power alone. Pitti's chief opponent at this time was Girolamo Machiavelli who was banished. However, he travelled the neighbouring principalities whipping up opposition to the new Florentine government. He was consequently declared a rebel, betrayed and returned to Florence where he mysteriously died in prison. A magistrate is a judicial officer with limited authority to administer and enforce the law. ... The Gonfaloniere was a highly prestigious communal post in medieval and Renaissance Italy, notably in Florence. ... Events January 24 - Hungary Foundation of Magdalen College, University of Oxford George of Podebrady becomes king of Bohemia Pope Pius II becomes pope Turks sack the Acropolis Births Jacopo Sannazaro, Italian poet Deaths June 27 - Alfonso V of Aragon August 6 - Pope Callixtus III Marques de Santillana, Spanish poet Categories... 1995 Buick Riviera coupe A coupé (from the French for cut) or coupe is a two or four-seater car with a fixed roof and two doors. ...

Pitti was now ennobled and very wealthy indeed, Niccolò Machiavelli in his "History of Florence" estimates no less a sum than twenty thousand ducats was presented to him. He thus was able to maintain his power and influence, in reality he not Cosimo was the ruler of Florence. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ...

It is now that he sought to rival the glory, if not power, of the Medici and began construction of the Palazzo Pitti intended to rival the palazzo of the Medici. He also began work on a villa at Ruciano. For the Palazzo Pitti legend has it he "decided to employ the most brilliant architect of the times, whom he ordered to make the windows as big as the doors of the Medici residence and create an internal courtyard that was large enough to contain the whole of the Medici's palace on the Via Larga". This is almost certainly apocryphal as the architect Brunelleschi often credited with the design had been dead twelve years, the true architect often thought to be Luca Francelli was less well known at the time, and the new palazzo while awe inspiring was not a true rival to the magnificence of the Medici residences. Machiavelli also states that Pitti would give sanctuary to any criminal within his walls if they could be of use in their building or decoration. Machiavelli also hints that Pitti's wealth was further increased by bribes and presents in return for favours. These allegations may or may not be true, one should remember that Machiavelli was not only opposed to the Medici himself, but also a kinsman of Pitti's arch enemy Girolamo Machiavelli who had been most likely murdered by the government which in effect Pitti controlled. The Pitti Palace (Palazzo Pitti in Italian) in Florence was for several centuries the home of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, from the time of the Medicis. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Roman villa. ... Filippo Brunelleschi, 1377 - 1446, was the first great Florentine architect of the Italian Renaissance. ... The English surname Kinsman is occupational in origin, being one of those names based on the type of work a man once did or the profession he pursued. ...

It has been said that Pitti wished to become first citizen and dictator himself, but history and his actions do not support this theory. After the death of Cosimo in 1464, although he supported a return to strict and stronger form of republicanism, he later supported Piero di Cosimo de' Medici who ruled Florence from 1464 to 1469. Dictator was the title of a magistrate in ancient Rome appointed by the Senate to rule the state in times of emergency. ... Events February - Norway who was also serving as King of Sweden is declared deposed from the later throne. ... Piero de Medici (the Gouty) (1416-1469) (Italian: Piero il Gottoso), ruler of Florence from 1464 to 1469, during the Italian Renaissance, and father of Lorenzo de Medici (the Magnificent). ...

Pitti's prosperity declined from 1464, following the death of Cosimo, his patron. Pitti died in 1472, work on his grand palazzo had stopped in 1465, and he was not to see it completed. However the family survived the upheaval following the overthrow of the Medici's power in 1494, and the tyrannical and puritanical rule of Girolamo Savonarola. Retaining some limited power and influence the family continued to reside at the Palazzo Pitti until finally in 1549 failing fortunes compelled Pitti's descendent Buonaccorso Pitti to sell the palazzo to the Grand Duchess of Tuscany, wife of Grand Duke Cosimo I who re-enforced, the restored but hitherto wavering, power of the Medici in Florence in 1537. Girolamo Savonarola by Fra Bartolomeo, ca 1498 Girolamo Savonarola (Ferrara, September 21, 1452 – Florence, May 23, 1498), also translated as Jerome Savonarola or Hieronymous Savonarola, was a Dominican priest and, briefly, ruler of Florence, who was known for religious reformation and anti-Renaissance preaching and his book burning and destruction... Cosimo I de Medici in Armour by Agnolo Bronzino Cosimo I de Medici (June 12, 1519 – April 21, 1574) was the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling from 1537 to 1574, during the waning days of the Renaissance. ...