Ritratto di Francesco I de' Medici (1541-1587)
Francesco I de' Medici(1541-1587)
Francesco I was the second Grand Duke of Tuscany, ruling from 1574 until his death in 1587, a member of the House of Medici.
Born in Florence, he was the son of Cosimo I de' Medici, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Eleanor of Toledo. Like his father, Francesco was often despotic, but while Cosimo had known how to maintain Florentine independence, Francesco acted more like a vassal of the Habsburgs of Austria and Spain, heavily taxing his subjects to pay large sums to the empire.
He had an avid interest in manufacturing and sciences, founding porcelain and stoneware manufacture. He continued his father's patronage of the arts, supporting artists and building the Medici Theater as well as founding the Accademia della Crusca.
Born in Florence, he was the son of Cosimo I de' Medici, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Eleanor of Toledo. Like his father, Francesco was often despotic, but while Cosimo had known how to maintain Florentine independence, Francesco acted more like a vassal of the Habsburgs of Austria and Spain, heavily taxing his subjects to pay large sums to the empire.
He had an avid interest in manufacturing and sciences, founding porcelain and stoneware manufacture. He continued his father's patronage of the arts, supporting artists and building the Medici Theater as well as founding the Accademia della Crusca.
Francesco I de' Medici adapted from Wikipedia and licensed by The Cultural Me under CC BY SA 3.0