| Cosimo II | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cosimo II afterJustus Sustermans | |||||
| Grand Duke of Tuscany | |||||
| Reign | 17 February 1609 –28 February 1621 | ||||
| Predecessor | Ferdinando I | ||||
| Successor | Ferdinando II | ||||
| Born | (1590-05-12)12 May 1590 Palazzo Pitti,Florence,Grand Duchy of Tuscany | ||||
| Died | 28 February 1621(1621-02-28) (aged 30) Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue Detail | Maria Cristina Ferdinando II, Grand Duke of Tuscany Cardinal Gian Carlo Margherita, Duchess of Parma Mattias, Governor of Siena Francesco Anna, Archduchess of Austria Cardinal Leopoldo | ||||
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| House | House of Medici | ||||
| Father | Ferdinando I | ||||
| Mother | Christina of Lorraine | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
Cosimo II de' Medici (12 May 1590 – 28 February 1621) wasGrand Duke of Tuscany from 1609 until his death. He was the elder son ofFerdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, andChristina of Lorraine.
For the majority of his 12-year reign, he delegated the administration of Tuscany to his ministers. He is best remembered as the patron ofGalileo Galilei, his childhood tutor.[1]
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Cosimo's father Ferdinando I took care to provide him with a modern education. Indeed, Galileo Galilei was Cosimo's tutor between 1605 and 1608. Ferdinando arranged for him to marryArchduchess Maria Maddalena of Austria, daughter of ArchdukeCharles II, in 1608. Their marriage was celebrated with an elaborate display on theArno, which included a performance of theArgonautica, in whichJason sailed around an artificial island and presented Maria Maddalena with six red apples, alluding to the Medici family symbolic balls, or palle.[2] Cosimo and Maria Maddalena had eight children in just eight years; among them was Cosimo's eventual successor,Ferdinando II, an Archduchess ofInner Austria, a Duchess of Parma and two cardinals.
Ferdinando I died in 1609. Due to his precarious health, Cosimo did not actively participate in governing his realm, but he was a great patron of science and letters. Just over a year after Cosimo's accession, Galileo dedicated hisSidereus Nuncius, an account of his telescopic discoveries, to the grand duke.[3]
Cosimo extended thePalazzo Pitti, and he reconstructed theVilla del Poggio Imperiale.[2]
In spite of his lack of interest in governance, the grand duke did assiduously enlarge the navy.
He died on 28 February 1621 from tuberculosis and was succeeded by his elder son, Ferdinando II, still a minor at the time of his father's death. The regency for the new grand duke was bestowed upon Cosimo II's wife and mother, as per his wishes.
Galileo Galilei was named court mathematician to Cosimo in 1610, a post that freed Galileo from the constraints of teaching mathematics at universities. As court mathematician, Galileo was free to challenge the distinction between disciplines and advance theories ofNicolaus Copernicus by using mathematics to address questions of physics.[4] The already famous Galileo had used his telescopic accomplishments in his bid for patronage. Once appointed, Galileo moved to the Florence court and found a resource rich environment where he worked as philosopher, mathematician[5] and astronomer.[6] Galileo was actively involved in court life and supported the dynastic rhetoric of the Medici family. Aside from producing intellectual spectacles, Galileo used the Medici court to advance his theoretical claims and discoveries. The four moons ofJupiter he had discovered were namedMedicean Stars in reference to Cosimo and his three brothers. Tuscan ambassadors were used to advance scientific debate in Europe. Ambassadors in Prague, Paris, London and Madrid received copies of Galileo'sSidereus Nuncius and were sent telescopes constructed by Galileo, paid for by the court treasury.[7]
Notable artistJacques Callot worked at the court of Grand Duke Cosimo II till the death of his patron in 1621. Callot visually documented feasts and carnivals in Florence.
| Ancestors of Cosimo II de' Medici |
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Media related toCosimo II, Grand Duke of Tuscany at Wikimedia CommonsCosimo II de' Medici Born: 12 May 1590 Died: 28 February 1621 | ||
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| Preceded by | Grand Duke of Tuscany 1609–1621 | Succeeded by |
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