Ferdinand Ier de Médicis

Ferdinand Ier de Médicis Ferdinando I of Medici (Florence July 30th 1549 - February 17th 1609) was Large-duke of Tuscany of 1587 with 1609. It succeeded his older brother François I {{er}} of Médicis.

Biography

Ferdinand Ier de Médicis was the fourth wire of Cosme I {{er}} of Médicis and Éléonore de Tolède (1522-1562), girl of Gift Pedro Alvarez de Tolède, the Spanish viceroy of Naples. It was named Cardinal in 1562 at the 14 years age and succeeded his brother François Ier de Médicis, Large-duke of Tuscany, in 1587 at the 38 years age. With Rome, as a Cardinal, Ferdinand had already shown a skilful quality of administrator. It founded there the Villa Médicis, for which it will acquerra many works of art that it then reported to Florence during its rise to the throne of Large-duke of Tuscany. It kept its post of Cardinal, even after being become Large-duke, and this, until in 1589, where it married Christine of Lorraine for dynastic reasons. With its death, in 1609, Ferdinand Ier de Médicis had four wire, whose elder one, Cosme II of Médicis, inherited the crown of Large-duke at the 19 years age. Claudia (1604-1648), one as of his/her four daughters, married Federico Ubaldo, Duc of Urbin.

Its reign

With much of regards, Ferdinand Ier was the opposite of his/her brother, François Ier de Médicis, which preceded it. Accessible and generous, reigning in a soft way, it restored a system of justice and truly was concerned with the wellbeing of its subjects. Under its reign, the Toscane found the independence which his/her brother had given up.

Ferdinand Ier encouraged the trade and it accumulated a great fortune thanks to the banks of the Médicis, established through more the big cities of Europe. He proclaimed an edict of tolerance towards the Jews and the heretics, and Leghorn becomes an asylum for the Spanish Jews, expelled of Spain in 1492, like all the persecuted foreigners. It improved the port Cosimo and made build a channel called the " Naviglio " by deviating part of water of the Arno, which facilitated largely the trade between Florence and Pisa. It supported a project of irrigation in the Valley di Chiana, which made it possible to cultivate the grounds around Pisa and of Fucecchio and in the Valley di Nievole.

Its foreign politics tended to release Tuscany of the Spanish domination. After the assassination of Henri III of France in 1589, Ferdinand Ier supports Henry IV in his fight against the catholic league. It also lends money to the King and encourages it to convert with Catholicism. Ferdinand will play of its influence to force the Pope to accept the conversion of Henry IV.

Despite everything this solicitude, Henry IV forever rewarded the Large-duke for these services, and Ferdinand Ier was thus reconcentré on its so much liked independence. It nevertheless supported Philippe III of Spain in its countryside in Algérie and the Saint Germanic Roman Empire in its fight against the Turks. It as obtained the formal nomination of His, as his/her father had conquered and it strongly developed the Tuscan fleet, which obtained victories against pirates like over the Turkish fleet. Frescos recall its exploits in the Palais Pitti in Florence. With its death, in 1609, his/her oldest son succeeds to him.

External bonds

Biography of Médicis

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