Lorenzo the Elder

Who was Lorenzo the Elder?

Lorenzo the Elder was an Italian banker of the House of Medici of Florence, the younger brother of Cosimo de' Medici the Elder and the founder of the so-called dei Popolani line of the family.

Lorenzo was the son of Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici and Piccarda Bueri, and was educated by Carlo Marsuppini. In 1416 he married Ginevra Cavalcanti, from whom he had two sons: Francesco, who was childless, and Pierfrancesco, who originated the Popolani line. Ginevra Cavalcanti was an aunt of the wife of Giovanni Arnolfini.

Lorenzo followed his brother Cosimo in his moves at Ferrara, Verona and Vicenza. In 1433 he tried to muster an army to free Cosimo when the latter was arrested under the charge of tyranny. Later he joined him at Venice and returned with him in Florence triumphantly after Cosimo's rehabilitation.

Though dedicating himself much to banking activity, Lorenzo held several charges in the Florentine Republic, and was ambassador to Pope Eugene IV and the Republic of Venice. In 1435 he moved to Rome to oversee the affairs of the Medici Bank at the Papal court.

He died in 1440 in the Villa of Careggi and was buried in the Basilica of San Lorenzo.