Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici (1360 – February 20/28, 1429) was an Italian banker, the first historically relevant member of Medici family of Florence, and the founder of the Medici bank. He was the father of Cosimo de' Medici (Pater Patriae), and great-grandfather of Lorenzo de Medici (the Magnificent).
Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici was born in Florence. He was the son of Averardo de' Medici. Though he is considered the founder of the rich Medici ...
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Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici (1360 – February 20/28, 1429) was an Italian banker, the first historically relevant member of Medici family of Florence, and the founder of the Medici bank. He was the father of Cosimo de' Medici (Pater Patriae), and great-grandfather of Lorenzo de Medici (the Magnificent).
Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici was born in Florence. He was the son of Averardo de' Medici. Though he is considered the founder of the rich Medici dynasty, he was not born into a rich family. The little money left by his father was divided between a widow and five sons, leaving Giovanni with little.
Giovanni was somewhat uninterested in politics, unless the issues pertained to him or his bank. Often when his name was put forward to participate in the Florentine government (reggimento), he chose to pay the fine rather than serve, although he did serve one term as Gonfaloniere.
Giovanni was the head of an early "multi-national" company, as the family bank, his main commercial interest, had...
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