Maddalena de' Medici (1473–1528)

Maddalena de' Medici (1473 – 1519) was the daughter of Lorenzo de' Medici and Clarice Orsini.^[1]

Born in Florence, she was educated with her siblings to the humanistic cultures by figures such as Agnolo Poliziano.^[2] In February 1487 she was engaged to be married Franceschetto Cybo, son of Pope Innocent VIII.^[3] They were married January 1488, and she brought a dowry of 4000 ducats.^[3] This marriage brought closer connections for her family and the Vatican, helping her brother Giovanni get appointed as a Cardinal.^[3] She used her influence with her father, her brother Piero, and the Pope to help friends and poorer people get aid and positions within the church and governments.^[4]

In 1488, she bought a thermal bath resort in Stigliano.^[5] She had the property renovated and turned it into a profitable resort.^[5]

Maddalena lived in Rome after the election of her brother Giovanni as Pope Leo X in 1513.^[6] Shortly after his election, Pope Leo made her son Innocenzo a Cardinal.^[6] Maddalena received Roman citizenship and a pension from her brother in 1515.^[6] She worked to get all of her children married to noble families.^[6] She continued in her role of patron, negotiating with Pope Leo and her nephew, Lorenzo to getclients protection, funds, and release from prison and exile.^[7] She died in Rome, and was buried in St. Peter's Basilica by order of her cousin, Pope Clement VII.

Issue

Franceschetto and Maddalena had seven children:

1. Lucrezia Cybo (1489–1492)
2. Clarice Cybo (1490–1492) born deformed, died as a child
3. Innocenzo Cybo (1491–1550), Cardinal
4. Lorenzo Cybo (1500–1549) Duke of Ferentillo, married Ricciarda Malaspina and founded the Cybo Malaspina family
5. Caterina Cybo (1501–1557), married the Duke of Camerino
6. Ippolita Cybo (1503–1503)
7. Giovanni Battista Cybo (1505–1550)

Ancestry

Ancestors of Maddalena de' Medici (1473–1528)

16. Giovanni de' Medici               8. Cosimo de' Medici                       17. Piccarda Bueri               4. Piero the Gouty                             18. Alessandro de' Bardi               9. Contessina de' Bardi                       2. Lorenzo de' Medici                                   20. Simone Tornabuoni               10. Francesco di Simone Tornabuoni                       5. Lucrezia Tornabuoni                             22. Niccolo Guicciardini               11. Nanna di Niccolo di Luigi Guicciardini                       1. Maddalena de' Medici                                         24. Francesco Orsini, Lord of Monterotondo               12. Orso Orsini, Lord of Monterotondo                       25. Costanza Annibaldeschi               6. Jacopo Orsini, Lord of Monterotondo and Bracciano                             13. Lucrezia Conti                       3. Clarissa Orsini                                   28. Giovanni Orsini, Lord of Bracciano               14. Carlo Orsini, Lord of Bracciano                       29. Bartolomea Spinelli               7. Maddalena Orsini                             30. Giacomo Orsini, Count of Tagliacozzo               15. Paola Orsini                       31. Isabella Marzano

References

1. Tomas 2003, p. 7.
2. Tomas 2003, p. 24.
3. Tomas 2003, p. 20.
4. Tomas 2003, p. 62-63.
5. Tomas 2003, p. 90.
6. Tomas 2003, p. 129.
7. Tomas 2003, p. 135.

Sources

• Tomas, Natalie R. (2003). The Medici Women: Gender and Power in Renaissance Florence. Aldershot: Ashgate. ISBN 0754607771.