The Tree of EuropeHistorical and genealogical atlas
ESEN
The Tree of Europe · Person

Cosimo de’ Medici

«the Elder»

A banker and political leader who established Medici supremacy in fifteenth-century Florence. His patronage laid the cultural and financial foundations of the family’s power.

1389 – 1464Banker and de facto ruler of FlorenceMedici · ES
Explore this family · Spanish AtlasBack to people

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 1389 Pending review

Death: 1464 Pending review

Role: Banker and de facto ruler of Florence

Other recorded names: Cosimo the Elder · Cosimo di Giovanni de’ Medici

Dynasty: Medici · ES

Territories: Florence (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns
Ruler · Florence · Government Pending review1434–1464Effective rule
Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents
Partners
Children

Evidence for this profile

6 recorded claims · 6 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (0/2 with a precise source)
  • BirthPending review

    1389

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
  • DeathPending review

    1464

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
Family and relationships (0/3 with a precise source)
  • FatherPending review

    Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
  • MotherPending review

    Piccarda Bueri

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
  • Marriage or partnershipPending review

    Contessina de’ Bardi

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
Governments (0/1 with a precise source)
  • GovernmentPending review

    Ruler · Florence · 1434–1464

    A precise source has not yet been added.
    No individual review recorded ·
Editorial history
  • 2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
  • 2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
  • 2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

Keep exploring

More paths from Cosimo de’ Medici