Cosimo de' Medici, Duke of Florence, afterwards Grand Duke of Tuscany

b. 1519; d. 1574

The son of Giovanni de' Medici. The elder branch of the house of Medici became extinct (1537) and Cosimo, who was descended from a collateral branch of the house, was proposed as successor and supported by the Emperor Charles V. Cosimo defeated his enemies at Montemurio and became absolute lord of Florence. He was a harsh and ruthless ruler, but succeeded in establishing the independence of Tuscany. In 1552 he added Piombino and the island of Elba to his estates, and in 1555 captured Siena. In this way he united Tuscany under one government, and in 1569 he received from Pius V the title of grand duke. Cosimo was a patron of art and literature, and founded the Florentine academy and the Accademia del Disegno, and restored the University of Pisa.

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