Pierfrancesco the Elder

Who was Pierfrancesco the Elder?

Pierfrancesco de' Medici the Elder was an Italian banker and diplomat, a member of the House of Medici of Florence.

Born in Florence, he was the son of Lorenzo the Elder and Ginevra Cavalcanti, and thus nephew of Cosimo de' Medici and cousin to Piero the Gouty, de facto lords of the city from 1459.

Pierfrancesco was orphaned in 1440, and was raised by his uncle. He served the Republic of Florence as ambassador and as Priore delle Arti. After Cosimo's death, Pierfrancesco was initially a supporter of Piero, but later sided against him, being amongst the conspirators who participated in Luca Pitti's failed coup in 1466. Forgiven by Piero, he thenceforth took care of the family bank.

From his marriage with Laudomia di Agnolo Acciaioli he had two sons: Lorenzo and Giovanni, who were later fierce oppositors of Cosimo's line of the Medici.

Pierfrancesco died in 1476. His sons were adopted by their cousin Lorenzo il Magnifico.