- Piero Soderini
Piero di Tommaso Soderini, also known as Pier Soderini, (
May 18 ,1450 -June 13 ,1522 [Enciclopedia Italiana di scienze, lettere ed arti, Treccani] ), was an Italianstatesman of theRepublic of Florence .Biography
Soderini was born at
Florence to an old family who had become famous in medicine.In 1481 he was Prior of the city, and later became a favourite of
Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici , receiving from him, in 1493, the honour of being the Ambassador to theKingdom of France .He was elected "
gonfaloniere " for life in 1502 by the Florentines, who wished to give greater stability to their republican institutions, which had been restored after the expulsion of Piero de' Medici and the execution of Savonarola.His rule proved moderate and wise, although he had not the qualities of a great statesman. He introduced a system of national
militia in the place of foreignmercenaries , and during his government the long war withPisa was brought to a close with the capture of that city by the Florentines in 1509.Grateful to France, who had assisted him, he always took the French side in Italian politics. But in 1512 the Medici with the help of a Spanish army returned to Florence, deposed Soderini and drove him into exile.
He took refuge at
Orasac (Ragusa) inDalmatia , where he remained until the election ofPope Leo X , who summoned him toRome and conferred many favours on him. Soderini lived in Rome, working for the good of Florence, to which he was never allowed to return until his death.He died at Rome in 1522.
Niccoló Machiavelli, author of "
The Prince ", served under him as ambassador toCesare Borgia , Rome and France. Although he initially had much respect for him, his attitude was changed by the events that led to Soderini's fall. Another friend of Pier Soderini wasAmerigo Vespucci .References
*
Silvano Razzi , "Vita di Pier Soderini" (Padua, 1737)
*
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
