A Florentine family in crisis : the Strozzi in the fifteenth century
In 1434 the Strozzi lineage had held a leading position in Florentine society and government for at least one hundred and fifty years, and was one of the largest and wealthiest of the city's patrician lineages. The records of the catasto of 1427 and of the scrutiny of 1433 are used to give a profile of the dominant social, economic and political position of the Strozzi before the advent of Medicean dominance. Their record of electoral success, and the political and cultural leadership of influential and respected men such as Palla di Nofri and Matteo di Simone, with other factors, put the Strozzi amongst the greatest enemies of the victorious Medicean regime of late 1434. The effects of political opposition and exile on the lineage are examined both directly, through records of office-holding, and indirectly through such indicators as marriage alliances and household wealth. The two most prominent lines of the Strozzi were exiled after 1434. Palla di Nofri's life and preoccupations in his Paduan exile are examined, together with the lives of his sons; none of these Strozzi ever returned to Florence, pursued as they were by the enmity of the Medicean regime. The very different careers of Filippo di Matteo and
Gregory, Heather Jean
History
A Florentine family in crisis : the Strozzi in the fifteenth century. In 1434 the Strozzi lineage had held a leading position in Florentine society and government for at least one hundred and fifty years, and was one of the largest and wealthiest of the city's patrician lineages. The records of the catasto of 1427 and of the scrutiny of 1433 are used to give a profile of the dominant social, economic and political position of the Strozzi before the advent of Medicean dominance. Their record of electoral success, and the political and cultural leadership of influential and respected men such as Palla di Nofri and Matteo di Simone, with other factors, put the Strozzi amongst the greatest enemies of the victorious Medicean regime of late 1434. The effects of political opposition and exile on the lineage are examined both directly, through records of office-holding, and indirectly through such indicators as marriage alliances and household wealth. The two most prominent lines of the Strozzi were exiled after 1434. Palla di Nofri's life and preoccupations in his Paduan exile are examined, together with the lives of his sons; none of these Strozzi ever returned to Florence, pursued as they were by the enmity of the Medicean regime. The very different careers of Filippo di Matteo and
family crisis lineage hold leading position society government least_one hundred fifty year one_large wealthy city patrician lineage record scrutiny use give profile dominant social_economic_political position advent dominance record electoral success political_cultural leadership influential respect men factor put amongst great enemy victorious regime late effect political_opposition exile lineage examine directly record office_holding indirectly indicator marriage alliance household wealth prominent line exile life preoccupation exile examine together live son none ever return pursue regime different career