# List of heads of state of Florence

The first de facto Lord (Italian: Signore) in the history of the Republic of Florence was Cosimo de' Medici. Thanks to his moderate policy, Cosimo managed to maintain power for over thirty years until his death, ruling the state silently through his trusted men and thus allowing the consolidation of his family, the Medici, in the government of Florence.
In 1532, to reinforce and formalize the Medici rule in Florence, Pope Clement VII, himself a Medici, created the title of Duke of the Florentine Republic to Alessandro de' Medici. With the creation of the new title it abolished the age-old signoria (elective government) and the office of gonfaloniere (titular head-of-state elected for a two-month term) and replaced it with three institutions: the consigliere, the Senate and the Council of Two Hundred.

## Background

From its creation in the 12th century until the first decades of the 15th century, the city-state of Florence was ruled by a series of democratic governments, such as the Consul, Podestà and most notably by a council known as the Signoria of Florence. The signoria was chosen by the gonfaloniere (titular ruler of the city), who was elected every two months by Florentine guild members. Not having until that moment fallen into the hands of powerful dynasties as happened in several other Italian states. This situation completely changed with the rise of the Medici family, in that period owners of the largest European bank, and the wealthiest family of that era, which made the dynasty accumulate immense influence in the city, even without holding public offices.

## Medici lords of Florence, 1434–1494

| Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession |
| Cosimo de' Medici | 27 September 1389 – 1 August 1464 | 6 October 1434 – 1 August 1464 | Contessina de' Bardi c. 1415 2 sons | First de facto Lord of Florence |
| Piero I the Gouty | 1414 – 2 December 1469 | 1 August 1464 – 3 December 1469 | Lucrezia Tornabuoni 3 June 1444 5 children | Son of Cosimo |
| Lorenzo I the Magnificent | 1 January 1449 – 8 April 1492 | 2 December 1469 – 8 April 1492 | Clarice Orsini 4 June 1469 10 children | Son of Piero |
| Giuliano I de' Medici | 25 October 1453 – 26 April 1478 | 2 December 1469 – 26 April 1478 | Fioretta Gorini Never married 1 son | Son of Piero and co-ruler with Lorenzo |
| Piero II the Unfortunate | 15 February 1471 – 28 December 1503 | 9 April 1492 – 9 November 1494 | Alfonsina Orsini February 1488 Rome 2 children | Son of Lorenzo, was deposed and exiled |

## Republic of Florence, 1494–1512

| Portrait | Name | From | To | Note |
| | Girolamo Savonarola | 1494 | 1498 | Inspired reform around Florence, was condemned a heretic and was simultaneously hanged and burned at the stake in the middle of the piazza. |
| | Piero Soderini | 1498 | 1512 | was declared Gonfaloniere of Justice ("Standard Bearer") for life, fled Florence after the Medici conquest |

## Medici lords of Florence, 1512–1532

| Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession |
| Cardinal Giovanni de' Medici | 11 December 1475 – 1 December 1521 | 31 August 1512 – 9 March 1513 | Never married | Son of Lorenzo, later became Pope Leo X |
| Giuliano II de' Medici | 12 March 1479 – 17 March 1516 | 9 March 1513 – 17 March 1516 | Filiberta of Savoy 22 February 1515 Paris no issue 1 illegitimate son | Son of Lorenzo |
| Lorenzo de' Medici | 12 September 1492 – 4 May 1519 | 17 March 1516 – 4 May 1519 | Madeleine de La Tour d'Auvergne 5 May 1518 Château d'Amboise, Amboise 1 daughter 1 illegitimate son | Son of Piero the Unfortunate |
| Cardinal Giulio de' Medici | 26 May 1478 – 25 September 1534 | 4 May 1519 – 19 November 1523 | Never married | Son of Giuliano de Medici, later became Pope Clement VII |
| Ippolito de' Medici | 1511 – 10 August 1535 | 19 November 1523 – 16 May 1527 | Never married | Illegitimate son of Giuliano II de Medici |
| Alessandro de' Medici | 22 July 1510 – 6 January 1537 | 16 May 1527 – 1530 | Margaret of Parma 13 June 1536 Florence no issue 3 illegitimate children | Illegitimate son of Lorenzo II de Medici |
After the Sack of Rome, Florence overthrew the Medicis once more and became a republic until Pope Clement VII signed a peace treaty with Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor who then invaded Florence and restored the Medicis.
| Portrait | Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession |
| | Alessandro de' Medici | 22 July 1510 – 6 January 1537 | 5 July 1531 – 1 May 1532 | Margaret of Parma 13 June 1536 Florence no issue 3 illegitimate children | Illegitimate son of Lorenzo II de Medici |

## Medici dukes of Florence, 1532–1569

| Portrait | Name | Lifespan | Reign | Consorts | Succession |
| | Alessandro de' Medici | 22 July 1510 – 6 January 1537 | 1 May 1532 – 6 January 1537 | Margaret of Parma 13 June 1536 Florence no issue 3 illegitimate children | Illegitimate son of Lorenzo II de Medici |
| | Cosimo I de' Medici | 12 June 1519 – 21 April 1574 | 6 January 1537 – 21 August 1569 | (1) Eleanor of Toledo 29 June 1539 Florence 11 children (2) Camilla Martelli 1570 1 daughter | Son of Giovanni dalle Bande Nere, later became the first Grand Duke of Tuscany. |