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The Pazzi Conspiracy: The Assassination Of Lorenzo De Medici

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The Pazzi Conspiracy: The Assassination Of Lorenzo De Medici
The Pazzi Conspiracy: The cause and effects of the attempted assassination of Lorenzo de Medici.

“The Pazzi conspiracy,” is the name given to the attempted assassination of Lorenzo de Medici by the rival Pazzi family. On Sunday April 26, 1478, members of the Pazzi family, along with fellow conspirators, set out to kill Lorenzo de Medici and his brother, Guiliano. In order to understand the motivation of the attack one must understand the tension between the Medici and Pazzi families as well as Lorenzo’s control during the time period. Upon understanding such things, one can draw conclusion about the reasons behind the attacks, the motives of those involved, and the feelings of the citizens regarding the two families.
Lorenzo the Magnificent
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Consequently, he was known as Lorenzo the Magnificent, even during his time in Florence. He ruled Florence, by way of the powerful Medici family, from 1469 until his death in 1492. During the first twelve years of his rule, he worked with his younger brother, Giuliano (1453–78), at his side. Lorenzo displayed the desire to run the family early in life. He took control of the family at the age of twenty. However, Lorenzo began to work diplomatically on the family’s behalf at an even younger age. Quoting Harold Acton:
During his adolescence Lorenzo was often sent on diplomatic missions – to Pisa to meet Federigo, the cultured younger son of King Ferrante of Naples; to Milan to represent his father at the marriage of Ferrante’s eldest son to Francesco Sforza’s clever daughter Ippolita, later to prove a loyal friend in need; to Bologna, Venice, Ferrara, Naples, and to Rome to congratulate Pope Paul II on his accession in
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Picture from: Lorenzo de’ Medici. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 09 Dec. 2008: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/372332/Lorenzo-de-Medici
[ 2 ]. Lorenzo de’ Medici. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 09 Dec. 2008: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/372332/Lorenzo-de-Medici
[ 3 ]. Acton, H. (1979). The Pazzi Conspiracy: The Plot against the Medici. Southampton, Hampshire: The Camelot Press p. 13.
[ 4 ]. Parks, T. (2005). Medici Money. New York: W.W. Norton & Company pp. 183-184
[ 5 ]. Lorenzo de’ Medici. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. 09 Dec. 2008: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/372332/Lorenzo-de-Medici
[ 6 ]. Knox, D. E. (n.d.). Pazzi Conspiracy. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from Europe in the Late Middle Ages: http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/latemiddleages/pazzi/
[ 7 ]. Picture From: Knox, D. E. (n.d.). Pazzi Conspiracy. Retrieved November 30, 2008, from Europe in the Late Middle Ages: http://www.boisestate.edu/courses/latemiddleages/pazzi/
[ 8 ]. Parks, T. (2005). Medici Money p. 87
[ 9 ]. Parks, T. (2005). Medici Money p.

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