Buondelmonti (family)
The Buondelmonti were a noble Florentine family who became famous for their historical dispute with the Amidei family , from which the long battles between the Ghibellines and Guelphs in Florence can be derived.
Family history
The origins of the family can be found in Sichelmo (10th century), whose descendants ruled most of the valleys of Greve and Pesa . The family settled in Florence with the Uguccione and Rosso around 1137 after their Montebuoni castle was destroyed. This resulted in a line of respected leaders and politicians in the city.
A representative of the Buondelmonti, was the main actor in the clashes with the Amidei of 1216, who, according to Florentine chroniclers, were the origin of the civil conflict between the Guelphs and Ghibellines. A Buondelmonte was supposed to marry an Amidei, but he did not show up for the wedding because he was determined to marry a Donati . The offense was bloody in an ambush near the Ponte Vecchio , where Buondelmonte died. In 1239, a reparation marriage between a daughter of Rinieri Buondelmonti and the Ghibelline Neri Piccolino degli Uberti was of little use. Since then, the family has decidedly sided with the Guelfs, a political position that, after the final defeat of the Ghibelline side, laid the foundation for further fate. The family's first houses were in Borgo Santi Apostoli, where the Buondelmonti tower still stands today. At that time they joined the Acciaiuoli , whose houses were nearby.
In the centuries that followed, the Buondelmonti were always among the most prominent families in Florence, even if some branches became extinct, and received offices and recognition from both the Florentine Republic and the Medici . In the 15th century Jacopo was a successful merchant in Constantinople . He was one of the rare merchants in the family, while they usually drew their wealth from leases on their lands.
The famous leader Philippo Scolari was born Filippo Buondelmonti degli Scolari and became commander of the armies of Sigismund of Hungary , where he received the title of Count "Ispàn". He was depicted in a famous fresco by Andrea del Castagno .
Niccolò Machiavelli dedicated the Discorsi sopra la prima Deca di Tito Livio to Zanobi Buondelmonti . Both attended the Accademia neoplatonica degli Orti Oricellari and were ultimately involved in the anti-Medici conspiracy against Cardinal Giulio . Buondelmonti could only save himself by fleeing to France.
Peace with the Medici was promoted by other members of the family, such as: B. from Leonardo, who was a very wealthy merchant and was preferred by Clement VII. At the beginning of the 16th century he received permission to build a large aristocratic palace for the family, the Palazzo Buondelmonti , which still stands in Piazza Santa Trinita today. In 1531 Alessandro de 'Medici returned to Florence and Benedetto Buondelmonti was elected one of the twelve members of the Consiglio dei Dodici. The Consiglio had to draft a new constitution within a month. The institution of the Signoria and the Gonfaloniere were abolished and a hereditary duke was appointed with four councilors dependent on him.
The male line died out in 1774 with Francesco Caccolino, who lost two sons. His daughter Luisa Giuseppa married the Marquis Ubaldo Feroni and died in 1845. The heirs of Luisa Giuseppa were the three cousins Marianna, Emilia and Eleonora Rinuccini.
Places and Buildings
- Torre dei Buondelmonti
- Palazzo Buondelmonti
- Castello di Montefiridolfi
- Castello di Fabbrica
- Villa di Poggio Petroio
- Castello di Pergolato
- Bibbione Castle
coat of arms
The family coat of arms is originally a shield divided by blue and silver. It was later modified several times until it contained the old division on one side and a blue mountain on a silver background with a red cross on the summit, which alluded to the family's name.
literature
- Litta Pompeo: Buondelmonte di Firenze . In: Famiglie celebri italiane . tape 6 . Giusti, Milan 1850 (Italian).
- Marcello Vannucci: Le grandi famiglie di Firenze . Newton Compton Editori, 2006, ISBN 88-8289-531-9 (Italian).
- Emanuele Repetti: Dizionario Geografico Fisico Storico della Toscana . tape 1 . Florence 1833 (Italian, unisi.it [PDF]).
- Guido Carocci: Il Comune di San Casciano in Val di Pesa . Tipografia della Pia Casa di Patronato, Florence 1892 (Italian).
Individual evidence
- ↑ Alfred von Reumon: History of Tuscany since the end of Florentine Free State . tape 1 . Gotha 1876, p. 44 ( google.at ).
Web links
- Buondelmonti . siusa.archivi.beniculturali.it.