Database: Firenze (Identity)

Founded by Julius Caesar in 59 B.C.E, Florentia (as it was called by the Romans) quickly became a centre of commerce.
After the of Roma in the 5th Century, the took over. Under their rule, the city was constantly under attack from the Byzantines; who sent the population levels down to below 1,000. The came to power in the 6th Century, ending the Byzantine assults.
The family became the de facto rules after the . Worried about the rise of the Medici family (who were newly rich bankers rapidly gaining influence in Firenze), Maso and Rinaldo Albizzi imprisoned Cosimo de' Medici; and exiled him in 1433. But Cosimo gained influence behind the scenes and rose to power in 1434. This caused the exiling of the entire Albizzi family except for Luca; who had been loyal to Cosimo. Luca Albizzi joined the Signoria (the ruling body of Firenze) as Gonfaloniere, suceeding Cosimo's old friend Ilario Auditore in 1442.
Under the Medici, they built impressive public buildings and supported such luminaries as Michelangelo, Leonardo and Botticelli, The Renaissance period began with Firenze securely at its centre.
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