The Medici

by Mary Hollingsworth

Wealthy bankers, wise politicians, patrons of the arts, glittering dukes... so runs the traditional telling of the story of the Medici, the family that ruled Florence for two hundred years and inspired the birth of the Italian Renaissance.

In this definitive account of their rise and fall, Mary Hollingsworth argues that the idea that the Medici were wise rulers and enlightened fathers of the Renaissance is a fiction. In truth, she says, the Medici were as devious and immoral as the Borgias – tyrants loathed in the city they illegally made their own and which they beggared in their lust for power.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Italy, European History, Biography, Renaissance

665 pages, ebook

First published October 5, 2017

About the author

Mary Hollingsworth is a scholar of the Italian Renaissance, and author of The Cardinal's Hat, The Borgias: History's Most Notorious Dynasty and Patronage in Renaissance Italy: From 1400 to the Early Sixteenth Century.

Reviews

[Zakary · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really enjoyable read, history books can be a bit blah and dry sometimes however this is a very vivid telling. this one is written episodic across several hundred years of Tuscan history. the rise to downfall of the Medici dynasty. very fascinating. especially how Hollingsworths paints the family within the global and papal context of the period - giving an overview of Florence but also of the polit8cs surrounding Europe in this period affecting florence and the medici.

the fall of the family (ie the end of the book) feels a bit rushed, but maybe that's just because the real meat of its history is about halfway ish.

I bought this before going to Italy last year, but I'm actually glad that I didn't read it until after I got back because the places etc that the book mentions I can envision so clearly having been there.

[Cansu · Rating 3 out of 5]

It takes a special kind of contempt to write the medieval version of Keeping Up With The Kardashian’s in such a dry tone. I enjoyed the actual gasp worthy actions of the Medici’s, even though the lack of any relevant Renaissance artist engagement is very concerning.

[Martin Daenke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a good overview, but it does feel quite rushed when it gets to the later chapters.

[Cris]

no sé cómo calificar este libro pq es el primero de esta índole que leo. me parece que el recorrido por la historia de la familia y Florencia, que están íntimamente relacionadas durante 6 siglos, es bastante completo, y que hace un buen trabajo en su forma de enlazar lo general con lo específico y también en contextualizar a cada Medici no solo en ya relación con la ciudad sino dentro del panorama político y cultural europeo. por otro lado, la organización cronológica dentro de cada capítulo se me ha hecho un poco confusa al tener muchos saltos hacia adelante y hacia atrás en el tiempo. otra aspecto positivo que destaco es la integración de las imágenes de las obras de arte con el texto (me hizo mucha ilusión ver a mi perseo favorito); aunque, por otro lado, el libro no se centra mucho en la historia del arte, lo cual he echado de menos. esto es una apreciación subjetiva porque está claro que el foco es principalmente la familia y contexto político-social de Florencia. por último, me ha parecido poco sórdido para lo que yo tenía entendido que había sido un periodo más convulso lleno de intrigas y asesinatos y aspiraciones al poder; supongo que porque se centra rigurosamente en los hechos contrastados sin meterse en demasiadas elucubraciones. o porque igual para esa otra visión tendré que leerme la historia SECRETA de los Medici. we'll see.

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

a ''Brief'' overview of the most known and important medici family members such as beginning promincent members as Cosimo de Medici the Elder to the Medici popes Leo X and to their ascendance to nobility in the figures as Cosimo I. Overall its an ok book if you wish to understand the general history of the ascendance of the medici as powerful banker families and eventually noble families who manipulated politics through family relations and patronage. At times she goes a bit too fast through certain events but this is why this book should be more considered as a overview so great for an introduction . Do not expect anything more from this book.

[rayan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable read, Hollingsworth is incredible at immersive storytelling and bringing the rich and fascinating Medici history to life. I was sympathising, rooting for, hating, and despising many of the Medici figures and was eager to turn every page.

I think it helps that this is the first instance that i've thoroughly read about this family, and discovering them in great detail was as dramatic as i'd hoped. It's definitely one of the best non-fiction books i've read. i'm looking forward to reading more of her work!

[Rick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this history of the Medici family. After visiting Florence last year, the book was even more meaningful for me. I think the book could have been even better if it had focused a little more on specific artistic commissions the Medici had paid for, but overall it was still good. It was really about how they gained power and maintained it for several hundred years. I definitely recommend the book for anyone interested in the Renaissance.

[Alison Orue · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Medici" by Mary Hollingsworth is a meticulously researched and captivating exploration of one of the most influential families in Renaissance Italy. Hollingsworth delves into the complexities of the Medici dynasty, tracing their rise from humble beginnings to becoming the preeminent power brokers of Florence.

One of the book's strengths lies in its ability to bring the Medici family to life through vivid descriptions and engaging storytelling. Hollingsworth skilfully navigates through the political intrigue, financial machinations, and cultural patronage that characterized the Medici rule. She provides insightful analysis into the personalities of key figures such as Cosimo de' Medici, Lorenzo the Magnificent, and Catherine de' Medici, shedding light on their motivations and actions.

Moreover, Hollingsworth explores the broader impact of the Medici on Renaissance art, architecture, science, and politics. By examining their patronage of artists like Michelangelo, Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci, she highlights the Medici's pivotal role in fostering the cultural flourishing of the era.

However, while the book offers a comprehensive overview of the Medici dynasty, some readers may find the narrative dense and occasionally overwhelming, particularly due to the multitude of names, dates, and events. Additionally, while Hollingsworth provides valuable insights into the Medici's achievements, she does not shy away from addressing their flaws and controversies, including their ruthless pursuit of power and the scandals that tarnished their reputation.

Overall, "The Medici" is a compelling read that offers a nuanced understanding of one of history's most influential families. Whether you're a scholar of Renaissance history or a casual reader interested in the dramas of power and wealth, Mary Hollingsworth's book provides a rich tapestry of intrigue, ambition, and cultural innovation that defined the Medici era.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can you tell I studied abroad in Italy?

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book in 2023, couldn't finish it, and came back again earlier this year. I made a good decision to pospone so I didn't rush it. It's a really fun book to get to know The Medici. As this book covered 100+ years, the author naturally has to fast-forward some events (eg: the corruption of Renaissance Popes), but this book manages to cover many aspects.

The book starts to get fun when Cosimo (father of Lorenzo the Magnificent) started to dominate Florence, and after that book goes on full speed with Piero, Lorenzo, and so forth until the dynasty was falling under Cosimo IIII.

The appearance of various political figures are very fun surprises indeed, including Galileo, various popes, Savonarola, Cathedine de Medici, and a few other influential European female royals.

The "best" of Medici (Cosimo, Lorenzo the Magnificent, and Cosimo I) show the qualities of good leaders: visionary, high-minded, smart, and pragmatic. I do need to add "" because while Cosimo I was admirable and brilliant in reforming the government, but his pragmatism to reach hos target (royal recognition) was almost Machiavellian by nature, even for the standards of his day.

I also sympathize with Cosimo II, Ferdinando II, and Leopold, who showed interest in arts and sciences. Ferdinando's attempt to defend Galileo was meritorious indeed. Although history eventually shows that his decision to let his son under her mother's religious education would be impactful to the descent of the Medici.

The aforementioned Medicis were just intelligent and politically astute. However, the lack of good advisors for the Medici really did lead to problems. The intelligent Electress Anna Maria Luisa's attempt to save the dynasty was worth mentioning as well. She might've done something more if had not been restricted by the tradition.

[Wafa Alobaidat · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Medici" by Mary Hollingworth is an intense, super technical, and deeply historical book. It offers a comprehensive overview of the Medici family, but it can be challenging to keep track of who is who. The author points out that many names are repetitive, and family members often take names from their ancestors, making it easy to get lost. The book is overwhelming and moves at the speed of light.

I almost wish the book had zoomed in on specific parts and connected with certain families more deeply, allowing readers to develop a relationship with the characters. There are repetitive themes such as strategic marriages to strengthen the Medici family's position in Tuscany, as well as recurring instances of princesses and people blowing through budgets. Very rarely do we see rulers who genuinely strengthen the Medici hold on things.

The volume of characters makes your head spin, and it was tough to read. I found myself struggling to keep up but was committed to finishing the book after the first 100 pages. While the author attempts to create more narration and storytelling, it remains a very dense and challenging read. At some point, I just wanted to finish the book. Nonetheless, it is undeniably a detailed historical account of the Medici family.

[Wallowing Hippo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have given this book an extra star for the glorious colour illustrations of works of art and architecture associated with the Medici and the period.

However, I found Hollingsworth's style rather dry and lacking a spark.

I very much liked how each section started with a quick reminder of who was who at the beginning of each new Medici's rule, as it was easy to lose track.

This a hefty volume, reflecting the amount of information that the reader has to absorb about the Medici, the changing political situation in Florence and Europe, the influence of the Catholic church and also Medici attempts to influence the Papacy.

And I'm not saying I didn't find it a worthwhile read or learn a great deal - I did both. I just felt a little lectured to and a little disconnected from Hollingsworth's writing.

[James King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a promising book, but only delivered on a part of its promise. It offers a good overview of the rise and fall of the dynasty, the political machinations of its members and the Republic/duchy's domestic and foreign policies - though a number of dates throughout the book are incorrect. It's claim that it argues against the idea that the medici were wise and enlightened rulers falls short. Where there are arguments to be made - especially against the early members of the dynasty - they are often not fully developed. Without the full development of these arguments, the opinions of, and at points insults towards, the subjects of the book feel lacklustre and less grounded in reality than they actually are.

[E.J. J Doble · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very accessible, very enjoyable read on the rise and fall of one of Italy's most famous Renaissance families. Well researched, charting interesting characters and anecdotal stories that didn't rely too heavily on quotes and superfluous detail. The rivalries and alliances between the Catholic Church and the power of the Medici cardinals was really intriguing, as well as their part in the power struggles between France, Spain and the HRE in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Overall, a really good narrative history book that I highly recommend!

[Dineshwary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story of family members from a village emigrated to a city and how they became the most powerful family with three popes and a queen of France. It's a fascinating history of the rise and fall of the Medici family. I started to read this book because Queen Catherine de Medici. I always believe there is an inner meaning in their circumstances and I want to know how they overcome it. Can be recommended for those who love time period histories.

[Val Ras · Rating 4 out of 5]

I understand how difficult it is to put into one book all the history of Medici family, whose family tree is so intertwined and convoluted while European history of those eras is maddeningly complex with alliances constantly being agreed on and broken. The author did a reasonably good job. I wish it would be not as a dry though since it reads more like a textbook.

[Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn’t do nearly as well at telling the story of the Medici as Paul Strathern’s book on the same subject. A ton of dates and characters, some of whom are not central to the overall narrative of the family. I was surprised by the number of typos with incorrect dates in several places, usually a hundred years wrong exactly.

[rox ⋆☕︎ ˖ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 - that was soooo amazing and easy to read
I bought it during my trip in Firenze, started it there & felt soooooo immersed in the story. Mary Hollingsworth made all those characters so alive, so unique that you merely succeed in your gigantic task of not getting EVERYBODY HAVING THE F*CKG SAME NAME DOWN HERE mixed up!!!! I will definitely read more from her. I enjoyed every word of it

[Joey · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has visited Florence many times, I found this book to be a welcome addition to my knowledge. Although it covers a lot of information, it does so in a way that ensures it never becomes boring. The book also includes pictures at three points, each depicting works mentioned in the text.

[Rianne Werring · Rating 4 out of 5]

A comprehensive guide to the lives of the Medici family, from its humble ancestors to its decadent final members. Extremely interesting, well wrought and sometimes even funny. I duly recommend this work to anyone who wishes to know more about the Medici family and the history of Florence.

[Floriane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot and really enjoyed it and would recommend it for anyone interested in an introduction to the Medici history, provided that they are used to reading historical non fiction, because I'd say that this is not strictly beginner friendly!

[Nowal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read if your into the Medici dynasty

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and the author does particularly well at helping the reader keep track of who's who.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt it fell a little short on some of the details. But a pretty good over view of the Medici dynasty.

[Mark Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follows the family through it’s entire history. Very interesting but I had hoped for more colour on the dealings with the great artists etc.

[Gustė Trakytė · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much historical so not the easiest read, but it’s the Medici!!! The first Medici ruler couldn’t have predicted how their dynasty would go - and neither could I

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this to accompany a trip to Tuscany, and it's a pretty solid history of the Medici clan and their rather remarkable rise - rooted in the birth of modern capitalism in renaissance Italy - from Florentine loan sharks, to bankers, to aristocracy, to (in some cases) royalty. It's hard to keep all the ins- and outs- of civic, Italian, and papal politics in your head and to navigate all of the Cosimos, Giovannis, and Guilios - particularly on the Kindle version where it's trickier to refer to a family tree easily. But I'd say the book does a pretty good job of giving you a sense of events and of how the family survived as rulers of Florence for most of 300 years - sometimes due to their abilities, sometimes in spite of them. I notice other reviews criticise the book both for skating over the surface too much and for being too detailed, so I suspect (as I felt) that this means it gets it about right. If you get the chance, I'd also recommend combining this read with a visit to sites like San Lorenzo in Florence where most of the dynasty are buried.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't understand why this is not listed as a separate edition but I can't be bothered to complain so I reproduce my original review below:

I really wanted to give this book no stars because I was so disappointed by it - I read it because I enjoyed and was very impressed by Ms. Hollingsworth's 'The Cardinals Hat' and I hoped that she would bring not simply the original research of that book but the ability to draw new insights and inspirational revelations from the dry documentary record that she displayed in 'The Cardinal's Hat' to her work on the Medici family. She didn't and, to be frank, I ended up feeling there was an unconscious (to be charitable) homophobic undertone to the book - she manages to mention plenty of 'female' extra marital affairs' by the various Medici Princes' and Grand Dukes' but doesn't breath a word about the queer goings on of such Medicis' as Pope Leo X (for a delightful fictional account of his habits read David Marsden's 'Memoirs of a Gnostic Dwarf'), Grand Duke Fernando II (who when his wife presented him with a list of Florence's most notorious sodomites added his own name asked her what she wanted him to do with it. She replied 'burn them' so he threw the list in the fire) or Gian Gaston (the last Medici Grand Duke whose palace was filled with street boys called ruspanti after the small change he paid them with) considering the use she makes of Harold Acton's 'The Last Medici' were all these and other juicy tales were first published in English (there are plenty of Italian Histories of their goings on) one can't help that the omission is deliberate and a choice which doesn't reflect well on her as a historian or lead one to trust her veracity. It also makes the book much duller. Maybe it was beneath her interest - but it is a history of a family she presents and, as I say, heterosexual shenanigans are given plenty of coverage. I am afraid my opinion of and chances of reading any of her other books has now shot down to zero.