Giovanni de' Medici (1567–1621)

Don Giovanni de' Medici.

Don Giovanni de' Medici (Florence, May 13, 1567 – Murano, July 19, 1621) was an Italian military commander and diplomat.

Born in Florence, he was the illegitimate son of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Eleonora degli Albizzi. Giovanni was later legitimated by his father.

He moved to Spain where he began his military career. In 1598 he was a Grandee of Spain and Florentine ambassador in Madrid. In 1600 he was Master of the Field for the Imperial army, but his most important appointment was as Commander-in-Chief of the army of the Republic of Venice (1616-1617).

He married Livia del Vernazza, with whom he had two sons, Gianfrancesco Maria (1619-1689) and another (posthumous) who died as an infant.

Giovanni was also a painter and an architect, and collaborated with Matteo Nigetti in the design of the Principi Chapel for the church of San Lorenzo in Florence.

He died at Murano in 1621.

Persondata
Name	Medici, Giovanni Don
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Date of birth	May 13, 1567
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Date of death	July 19, 1621
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