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Lorenzino de' Medici (March 23, 1514- February 26, 1548) was a member of the Medici family of Florence. He was the assassin of Alessandro, the first member of the family carrying the title of duke of Florence, and first hereditary ruler of Florence. Lorenzaccio ("nasty Lawrence") is another name that would be associated with him.

Biography

Born in Florence, Lorenzino was the son of one Pier Francesco from a young branch of the Medici. He became the friend of Alessandro and his partner in the most licentious excesses. They went together to brothels. They often showed themselves in public mounted on the same horse.

On the evening of January 5, 1537, Lorenzino led the Duke to his own lodging and left him there, promising shortly to return with his sister and the wife of Leonardo Ginori. Alessandro, worn out by the exertions of the day, fell asleep on the couch while awaiting Lorenzino's return. Before long the latter came, accompanied by one Scoronconcolo, who aided him in falling on the sleeper. Roused by their first thrusts, the Duke fought for his life and was only killed after a violent struggle. Then Lorenzino fled first to Bologna. After that he went to Turkey, to France, and finally to Venice, where he was murdered in 1548 by assassin, hired by Cosimo, the first Grand Duke of Tuscany, whose first royal act was to condemn Lorenzaccio for death.

Lorenzino wrote an Apologia, in which he defended himself with great skill and eloquence, saying that he had been urged to the deed solely by love of liberty. For this reason alone he had followed the example of Brutus and played the part of friend and courtier. The tone of this Apologia is straightforward, sometimes even eloquent and lofty, but his subsequent career completely gave the lie to his vaunted nobility of purpose. By Alessandro's death the elder branch of the Medici became extinct, and thus the appearance of the younger line, which would provide the Grand Dukes of Tuscany.