Franz's Personal Universe
Florence
House of Medici, the Florentine family that acted as a leading commercial family in 15th century Europe, became the de facto rulers of the Republic of Florence and the later Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Their patronage to European artists and their leading role in European trades were invaluable in history.
This family, however, went into extinction in 1737, after the death of Gian Gastone, the last Grand Duke of Tuscany. This article is about the events in 1737 that led to the takeover of Tuscany by the Habsburgs.
1737, Florence, capital city of Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
Gian Gastone de’Medici lied in his bed, he was dangerously ill. Being the Archduke of Tuscany with no off-springs, Gian had to think of his heir to the throne.
“Our family still has male heirs, doesn’t it?” Gian asked his official historian.
“No, no more baby boy is born now.” Answered the historian with a low voice.
“But I believe that my elder sister, the electress of the Palatinate, has a cute boy named John? He could be the heir!”
“No, my majesty. John was the illegitimate child, he is not capable to be the successor.”
“So, there are no more children born?”
“For sure.”
Hearing the tragic reality, Gian fell on the brink of collapse. Being such a glorious royal family, House of Medici had a three-hundred-year domination of Republic of Florence, Duchy of Florence and Grand Duchy of Tuscany. A miserable ending is that, this family had no offsprings, finally.
“Well, what about other branches of the family. Oh, I got it! Maybe prince of Ottajano could succeed the throne.”
Prince of Ottajano was a vassal state of kingdom of Naples, established by Bernadetto de’Medici in 1567. At that time, the prince of Ottajano was seemed to have the ability to succeed the position of Gian because they were in the same dynasty.
“No, they are too distant from the main line of your family, so they could not be the heir.”
“Terrible, I just say! Completely terrible! So, no one could succeed my throne except some other families?”
“True. House of Habsburg is going to take over the Grand duchy.”
“Who? Who will take over the Grand duchy?” Shouted Gian surprisedly.
“Francis III Stephen, duke of Lorraine. He would gave up his former territory, to succeed Tuscany.”
Habsburg’s troops had come into Florence. Francis Stephen declared the martial law throughout the city. The palace was guarded by the well-organised soldiers, to ensure that no one could get into it.
“Perhaps, this is the end of our glorious age.” Gian sighed deeply. His body could not even move, only the official historian stayed with him.
Few days later, Gian died a sudden death, passing away at the age of 65, which led to the end of Medici’s domination of Florence and the whole Tuscany for 300 years.
One of the most famous and richest imperial family in the world reached its end. Even though, House of Medici still brought many cultural treasures and crystallization of wisdom to Italian people and even the whole world.