#i have no love for Jacopo Pazzi

[all-that-is-gold-is-now-gone]

SCREAMS

HE LOVED HIS BROTHER

YOU CAN'T TELL ME HE DIDN'T

He’s my blood. If Guglielmo is not a Pazzi, then nor am I.

[therepublicofletters]

Hi! I've just discovered your lovely blog and needed to ask: I recently watched "Medici" season 2 (yes, I went straight to that one cause Pinterest kept throwing at me beautiful pictures of Francesco de' Pazzi 😂) and was wondering: was Lorenzo truly that magnanimous? Up until his brother's murder he seems too good to be true. And the Pazzis seem to be too bad to be true, almost like a Marvel/Disney villain (except perhaps Francesco, they give him more character background); did they have "better" motives other than just pure hatred towards the Medici to conspire against them? Sorry, this is probably too long for a question 😂

Ohhh I love this question and am very happy to answer (and talk about the Medici/Pazzi whenever).

The short answer is: yes, Lorenzo was quite magnanimous—he is historically remembered (and referred to in modern scholarship) as "The Magnificent"—but he was also quite an ass. No, the Pazzi were not simply evil, and a lot of what we "know" about them now is drawn straight from Medici-sponsored propaganda that swelled in the immediate aftermath of the Conspiracy and has overwhelmed the narrative ever since.

The longer answers are: Lorenzo was raised to be a prince, and he filled the role perfectly. On one hand, he acted very graciously and generously. He was a patron both socially and artistically—ie. he did favours and created an expansive network that came to encompass all of Florence and even extended outside (continuing what his father and grandfather had begun in the decades before). However, he was not willing to face competition. Some scholars suggest that this is the inevitable end to decades and centuries of the Florentine patronage system: instead of multiple smaller networks with large families that did favours, it became one ginormous network at which Lorenzo was at the very top.

People found him attractive in many ways. He was a compelling figure, he was gripping, he had flare. Whenever I read about Lorenzo I'm reminded of the quote from The Talented Mr. Ripley where Marge describes that when Dickie Greenleaf pays attention to you, "it's like the sun shines on you, and it's glorious. And then he forgets you and it's very, very cold." Lorenzo could very quickly turn a cold shoulder, and if you got on his bad side, that was it. One time he gave the silent treatment to a Milanese (I think?) ambassador for over a week. He also absolutely prevented his brother from participating in public life. Make of that what you will. F.W. Kent's work on Lorenzo touches on a lot of this very well.

As for the Pazzi, I think that a lot of the "evil" stuff that gets cast against them came not from them themselves, but from the other conspirators, who were largely based in Rome. I do think the Pazzi became somewhat jealous of the Medici, but it wasn't so much that they were anti-Medici so much as that they had a different conception of what Florence should be, and the Medici did not fit with that. However, the two families had been very closely tied for some fifty years by 1478, which makes it quite sticky. Many of the Pazzi were not "good" people, just like many of the Medici weren't; but they did positive things, too too. Jacopo, for example, was very diligent in giving alms and doing public works. Guglielmo was a public servant through the 1510s, and his son Cosimo became Archbishop of Florence in 1508 and was famous for being incredibly pious and good spirited.

I don't think that we can say that Lorenzo or any of the Pazzi were "better" as people than one another. I tend to judge Lorenzo quite harshly and give the Pazzi the benefit of the doubt, in part because of what happened after the Conspiracy. They were all compelling characters, though, perhaps because of their grey moral compasses. I think that's part of what makes this moment in history so gripping.

[littlweirdostuffwritesworld]

The golden sun

Summary: Many things have happened to the marriage of Francesco de Pazzi and Andrea Sabini, the speech of Jacopo de Pazzi and the appearance of the most talked about woman in Florence, Tamara D'Amato cousin of the bride.

"I can't believe Francesco de Pazzi is getting married," Giuliano said

"So it's true that a good woman can change you," Botticelli joked

"Apparently" Lorenzo took a sip of the wine looking at the new couple, you could see that they were in love.

"Our poor Lorenzo is jealous," Giuliano said

"What? Jealous of Francesco? Never, I'm just happy that he's no longer influenced by Jacopo Pazzi"

"Of course, it's not the fact that you feel a little lonely"

"Not at all, if I want to marry someone I can choose any lady" he laughed

"Sure, what about the woman mother introduced you?"

"Clarice Orsini, Carlo was unable to pessuader her and she became a nun" her brother looked at him for a moment and it seemed that he was about to explode with laughter.

"Don't try to laugh, and let's talk about you instead"

"There is nothing to talk about, because you are doing the same thing" Lorenzo was about to reply when their sister arrived.

"Bianca where were you?"

"With the bride's cousin Lucia D'Amato" she explained and pointed at the young woman

"Do you think the d'Adamato will show up?" Botticelli asked

"If they show up this will be the most remembered wedding in Florence" Giuliano commented, across the hall The Pazzi brothers were talking.

"Congratulations brother" Gugliemo Pazzi was really proud of his brother, even if he did not want to say it, he did not expect Francesco to fall in love, and he had gotten into oace with the obsession of the Medici

"Thank you but if it wasn't for you I don't think I'd be here to toast"

"You did the same thing with me and Bianca, you are my brother this is the least" it seemed that the Pazzi family was going through a period of rebirth and prosperity.

While everyone was celebrating Jacopo Pazzi entered it seemed that he had drunk too much he was drunk.

"Congratulations to my nephew Francesco" he applauded

"How come you are all silent, I thought this was a wedding" he sobbed

"And it is, Messer Pazzi you can stay as long as you want" Andrea said approaching the man

"No more titles we are family now" he smiled, a trail of chills rose on the back of the groom.

"Do you think he has something in mind?" Guglielmo whispered

"I'm going to see" he no longer needed to muster up the courage to talk to his uncle.

"Uncle I'm glad you came"

"I would never miss my brother's son's wedding"

and the man goes away and approached other nobles.

"My love are you okay?" he said

" Yes why?"

"Jacopo Pazzi is never happy for anyone, and now that his most precious pawn is dispossessed he is afraid that I will be against him"

"Honey don't worry, the only thing I can tell you is to follow your mind and your heart, and if you don't know what to do, talk to your brother and your wife" she advised.

"Yes" the major domus interrupted the couple

"Madonna Pazzi, Tamara D'Amato has arrived" he announced

"Well thank you, honey you will meet my best friend"

"I can't believe it, Tamara D'Amato is not ashamed, she shows up here after having canceled her engagement" a noble woman said

"And with that scar on her face who will marry her?" they snickered

"I advise you to ceaseyour gossiping, Tamara D'Amato is still part of the D'Amato family if she wants your heads, she will have them, if you insult Tamara, you insult Venice and Florence" Lucrezia Donati said, and two women stopped talking

The most talked about woman in Florence entered the room and brought a stir and shock with her.

"Congratulations cousin, may you have a prosperous life together," she smiled

"Oh Tamara, your presence here is the best gift" Andrea hugged her

"I would never miss my cousin and best friend's wedding"

"So the rumors are true, she is really a beautiful woman" Bianca said, without taking her eyes off the woman, she had seen noble women but there was something about Tamara, maybe it was her red dress or the long braid that gathered her hair almost to the floor.

"It's not just a beautiful face, his father Leonardo D'Amato has always believed he was raising his children despite being a son or daughter, the woman excels in economics, Latin, Greek, Italian and helps her father" their mother Lucrezia said

"She seems to be a great woman" Giuliano commented

"A woman worthy of being a wife" the mother winked and left

"Mother will never change"

"If it weren't for that scar she could be the most beautiful woman in Florence …" Botticelli said

"A beautiful woman is always a beautiful woman" Lorenzo interrupted

"Are my eyes deceiving or Lorenzo is quite interested in Tamara D'Amato?" the painter teased

"No, but the D'Amato family is a powerful and rich family, our father and Leonardo were about to make an agreement for the sale of silk" he explained, he continued to look at her and it was clear that even with the "scandals" she was charismatic woman.

The woman was approaching the group, the closer she gets, the more Lorenzo looked at her, he had noticed that she had a mole near her left eye.

"Good evening family de Medici and Signor Botticelli" she greeted

"Lady D'Amato is a pleasure to meet you this evening" Bianca greeted shyly, respected the woman

"I'm sorry for your father's death, he was a good man, may he rest in peace"

"I knew that our fathers were friends, my father is getting old unfortunately things have left certain things pending"

"We, their children can continue what they were doing"

"Interesting, I hope we could" before leaving the music began

"Dama would you like to dance with me?" he offered himself and gives her a little grin and accepted her hand. The music started and everybody was ready to dance

"Messer Lorenzo"

" Yes?"

"If you wanted to talk about business, it was enough to talk to my brother Benedetto, there was no need to invite me to dance"

"I didn't invite you for business, I'm just a man who can't resist a beautiful woman" Tamara laughed

" Is this how the famous Lorenzo de Medici steals the hearts of the ladies of Florence?" she smiled

" Steal? No my lady a thief steal, I'm a keeper, the heart of the lady I will love is more precious than diamonds and gold" he whispered on her ear.

" So you are poet too?"

" I'm a man who loves the art, I heard your family supports many artists" he said

" Yes my family support artists, from painters,writers, poets and musicians. House D'Amato is not only selling tessile but we make clothes out of them" she explained, and with the last twirl the dance ended, but their hands was still intertwined.

" I would like to see you" he blurted out

" I mean I would like to see more of your family products" he corrected himself blushing

" Of course our shops are always open" she smiled, bowed and walked away. Leaving the young Lord following her with his blue eyes.

[oldmanpazzi]

Okay I’m sorry I gotta talk about the parallels between these two…

And these two…

Plus…

There are so many visual and narrative parallels between Cosimo and Rinaldo, and Lorenzo and Francesco. They’re both two sides of the same coin.

But the fundamental difference in their relationship arcs is that where Rinaldo blames Cosimo for his past deeds, Francesco believes that all events were out of their control, that it is fundamentally impossible for any reconciliation to occur, that a friendship between them is impossible.

Albizzi's grudge is fair and one he holds onto despite Cosimo's attempts to apologise and regain his friendship. Their relationship is very much defined by agency and conscious choices that are made at various points in their lives which lead to things unfolding the way they do. It is Albizzi's belief that Cosimo chose to betray him all those years ago. He even says that Cosimo was the one to sacrifice their friendship and that is ultimately why they remain in opposition — it is Rinaldo's choice to hold onto that grudge.

Even Cosimo sees it that way as he talks about how he made his choice many years ago at various points in the series. He knows that by choosing to obey his father (regardless of whether he could have actually done otherwise — see Giovanni’s death threat on his wedding day) meant he could not live the life he wanted. Their fallout is a key moment in understanding their dynamic throughout the series.

Francesco, however, has been constantly told throughout his life that the Medici are the enemy. When he tries to see beyond that, he is swiftly snatched back into these ingrained views. For him, fate keeps him and Lorenzo apart. They can't be together because Medici and Pazzi don't mix. It's all beyond their control.

They have no agency.

Lorenzo doesn’t even seem to see himself as playing any part in the breakdown of their relationship as he happily pins the entirety of the blame on Jacopo (who isn’t blameless by any stretch of the imagination). But Lorenzo still could have done more to show him that he wasn’t simply a pawn to him. He could’ve admitted that he originally invited Novella himself and thus removing anything to be used by Jacopo.

These two dynamics mirror one another so well, but their attitudes towards how that dynamic came to be couldn’t be more different. I love how this show explores these kinds of relationships in the show and how cleverly it crafts such interesting and complex dynamics.

[thesongofthegreens]

Heyy!! Who's your fav couple in medici? I loved giuliano and simonetta's story it's heartbreaking, it was not lust but true and pure love

I also liked Bianca and guglielmo but their story was kinda incomplete. In s3 we only see bianca but we don't know anything about him. I had a feeling he died. What did you feel? ( ik he outlived bianca in real life but the show is pretty messy with timeliness since bianca died before lorenzo but in the series its the opposite)

I just saw this but I would LOVE to answer. so i think i have to say either clarenzo (clarice and lorenzo) or francesco and novella! i know francesco and novella's relationship soured after a year or two, but i loved how sweet he always was with her, until he suspected her of an affair, that is. he always let himself show her affection, even when they were in front of the public, when it was such a rare side of him.

i always liked giuliano and simonetta, and how they fell in love, but i didn't like that i could see tragedy coming from a mile away. i also didn't know about giuliano's death until watching the show, but i already knew someone would die and then it ended up being both of them, which BROKE my heart.

bianca and guglielmo was never my favorite couple, but i liked that he sided with the medici's for her. he seemed to truly care about her and became more of a medici than a pazzi, but him burning the note... i wanted him dead, though i know he didn't die immediately. i think it's because the medici's were always the ones handing him things and making sure he always had what he needed and always supporting him after jacopo turned a blind eye to him. his betrayal, though small, always made me want to fight him. i also get the feeling he lived well in his exile, even though he was never really seen again, just so that the medici's could say that they were merciful rather than tyrants, despite the fact that lorenzo lowkey turned to being one in the end.

saying that i hate guglielmo also brings in the complication of me saying francesco being my favorite, as he betrayed the only ones who loved him, but we would be fools to think lorenzo wasn't also trying to use him in his own little ways. lorenzo cared for francesco, but lorenzo did keep asking francesco to lowkey betray the pazzi family/let things fall into ruin for them, all to help the medici's. i always felt that if lorenzo had learned from jacopo's mistakes, rather than thinking himself above them, he would have been able to keep francesco as a friend.

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

Marsilio Ficino to Giovanni Cavalcanti, his unique friend: In the book in praise of Philosophy, which I wrote this year for Bernardo Bembo, the Venetian ambassador, I tried with many arguments to show that Philosophy teaches all things. I ought to have made the one exception, that she does not teach us how to live with princes. For if she forbids this altogether, as indeed she does, she cannot teach us how. She altogether forbids it, it seems to be, since she commands the opposite; for in discovering the love of truth she surely requires a tranquil mind and a free life. However, truth does not dwell in the company of princes; only lies, spiteful criticism and fawning flattery, men pretending to be what they are not and pretending not to be what they are.

[emphasis mine]

Ficino out here just being utterly scathing in his fury and heartbreak about politicians being Like That.

This is basically a two-and-a-half page long screed about princes and their many, many faults - particularly focusing on princes who throw their former tutors under the bus.

It is worth considering those great philosophers whose memory we cherish who would have been far more successful than others in living with princes and kings if only Philosophy were able to teach men that [temperance, prudence etc.]. I shall not describe how the young Octavian, being ungrateful to the services of his friend, the distinguished philosopher Cicero, handed him over for no good reason to his unscrupulous enemies for execution. Nero condemned to death without cause his own teacher, the venerable philosopher Seneca. Alexander, king of Macedon, is said to have thrown his own teacher, the philosopher Callisthenes, to the lions, simply because he was often torn to shreds in argument.

Ficino goes on. The original ending of the letter to Giovanni is:

But allow me to return now to philosophers to conclude my discourse. Let no one be so ignorant of man's capacity as to believe that he can play the part of philosopher fitly and freely, and at the same time live with safety and serenity in the company of princes.

Like woooo boy was Marsilio on a RAMPAGE that day. Just tearing it up on the page. Telling, too, that he writes this letter to Giovanni and evidently trusts him enough to do it.** Sure, it was likely written in 1476, two years before the Pazzi conspiracy, but a) people keep letters and b) even in '76 it would have landed him in hot water.

[** this is me vague-ing an essay I read the other day where the author was like "yeah, it was one sided pathetic, desperate love on Ficino's side. nothing more." my dude, Marsilio was out here writing letters to Giovanni that could have got him hanging from a window next to Jacopo Bracciolini, Salviati and Francesco Pazzi. Pretty sure there was some mutual love and trust happening. I cannot over emphasize how careful Ficino was in his writing, especially his correspondence. Anyway.]

An interesting note is that after the Pazzi Plot occurred, the ending Marsilio included that is basically like: obviously the Medici are different, they're "something greater and more sacred [than princes]. For their singular virtues and great merit deserve more than any human title. They are father of their country in a free state."

That ending was removed because no one knew if the Medici were going to survive the political upheaval. It was likely scratched out by Salvini, Ficino's nephew/cousin(?) and secretary. I would say that the little "But Not the Medici" was likely a caveat on Ficino's part in case the letter escaped from Giovanni's hands. Ficino was smart like that. He did care for Lorenzo, no doubt, if in a complicated fashion. But that doesn't mean he was unaware or blind to Lorenzo's faults.

Ficino seemed to have not been in Florence when the Pazzi conspiracy went down, which was good for him given that he was partially implicated in it. Sort of. (As in, he was close friends with most of the main players and one of them was his major patron since Lorenzo was being stingy as-fuck with the money.)

(Lorenzo eventually cleared suspicion from Ficino - though they were always a bit cool after that. Not that I think they were ever very warm towards each other. But my thoughts on Ficino and Lorenzo's relationship are for another post. Basically, even if Ficino didn't know what was up for the conspiracy, he certainly knew, or guessed, enough to send strongly worded letters to literally everyone involved telling them to cool their fucking heels and not do stupid things in the pursuit of power/glory/worldliness etc. Also, convenient that he wasn't in the city... I just feel like someone gave him a tip-off...)

All of this is aside, basically I'm certain Ficino's original letter was 100% a massive fucking bitch-fest about Lorenzo not being a good patron to Ficino on multiple levels - all those references to princes who unjustly condemned their tutors when Ficino was one of Lorenzo's early tutors? He wasn't being subtle. And god help us, Ficino can be subtle as fuck when he wants to be.

Interestingly, Ficino includes a para' on poets getting the bad end of the stick from princes (Ovid, Lucan, Statius) which I think is him not necessarily warning Giovanni (who was a poet), since in 1476 there was no cause for worry over anything, but certainly alluding to poets who suffered when princes went foul. "It's not just me who needs to worry about mercurial nature of princes but you as well, babe."

anyway, not going anywhere particular with this nor am I likely saying anything that hasn't been said before about the letter, but just having some brain worms, as usual.

[all-that-is-gold-is-now-gone]

Okay so I am rewatching The Medici on Netflix cause I have no chill and apparently need no inner peace.

So be prepared for some incoming thoughts about the Medici fictional and historical and probably some head canons.

Off the top of my head, we have

Jacopo Pazzi fucking sucks and should never be in charge of anything especially small children!

&

Clarice and Lorenzo were beautiful. Imperfect but they loved each other and you can't change my mind!

[robin-in-the-library]

To put it shortly: please stop applying modern morals and political views to a story set in the late 1400s, contextualise.

Further rambles under here.

The two main arguments in that view are a general demonisation of politics and participation in politics and a negative view of Lorenzo de’ Medici which honestly seems to associate the man with ruthless politicians or Elon Musk-esque villains or a Renaissance-coded Karen.

In the end, it all comes down to me, begging on my knees to stop applying modern views and morals and concepts to people and situations that were set in the final decades of the 1400s.

Italy, as Europe in general in the Renaissance, was a deeply political world. Italy was fragmented in various states bound in ever-shifting alliances and politics permeated a huge part of life – religious people were involved in politics, bankers and merchants were necessarily involved in the politics of their cities either by being influenced by them or by being players in them, literates and scholars were bound in the nets of politics. Politics influenced art, trade, literature– it would be unthinkable to imagine the Brotherhood removed from it, and given the mission of the Assassins, completely illogical too. And, diplomacy was even less transparent than nowadays, to have influence in the chess match that was being played over Italy you’d need to be involved firsthand in the game. The Assassins being tied to politics and politicians makes sense.

Speaking specifically of the Medici and the Auditore, I think their goals aligned pretty often and the alliance was mutually beneficial. In general, the Medici are a family that is easy to link to the Brotherhood and their ideals, though the games do their portrayal a huge disservice with the fancy clothes (put that man in a lucco put that man in a lucco istg why does he look like a french king I will tear someone’s throat out) and the, Jacopo scene in the Congiura dei Pazzi sequence.

The Medici aren’t a noble family, first of all, they are a banking family which rose to prominence with Cosimo (Lorenzo’s grandfather) and used their influence and wealth to run the political life of Firenze. It is true that their wealth and influence was used to informally take control of the Republic and that, though Firenze remained a Republic through all of Lorenzo’s life in his later years paranoia or ambition or merely the changing times brought him to limit republican institutions and centralise power even more. But, do you think anyone else did it differently? No, I’m not saying this in a “he was the least bad” way. I am asking you to stop looking at a man who’s been dead for centuries like he’s one of the candidates for being mayor of your town and put him back where he belongs, in the historical-political context of his time. Before the Medici, Firenze was a Republic, yes. It wasn’t a Republic as we consider it today, it was run by the upper classes (nobles, bankers, merchants, mostly) and specifically before Cosimo’s time the leading family was that of the Albizi. Who had begun the process of centralisation of power, and who tended to favour their fellow upper-classmen. The Medici, uplifting literature in vulgar instead of Latin, partaking in generous charity and public works, took the side of the common people. And the common people loved them. Jacopo rallying Firenze against the Medici? It didn’t happen, man tried and was run off by an angry mob that started tearing the conspirators to pieces. On the day of the Congiura Lorenzo returned home to a mob with torn off limbs on pikes, and in the following days gifts and well-wishes piled up in the Palazzo Medici, the people only calming down once he showed himself as alive and well. It wasn’t the common people who hated the Medici, but part of the rest of the upper class, which didn’t mean to destroy them to “give the power back to the people” (because it had never belonged to them) but to take their place and be the ones leading the city. This is a world before the politicisation of the masses, this is a world where participation in politics isn’t the concern of the common man, and it might shock us, but that is the historical context we are working in.

So, the Medici weren’t some evil tyrants that murdered democracy in Firenze, and even keeping their personal lives out of the picture, their merely political views and actions aligned easily with the Brotherhood’s own interests and beliefs. Giovanni isn’t betraying anyone getting close to them and collaborating with them. 

Digging a little deeper into Lorenzo himself, I don’t understand why he gets portrayed as such an ass. He had a sharp political mind, he was ruthless when necessary, he went a little too hard with the vengeance thing (but honestly wouldn’t you hunt your brother’s murderers to the edge of the world? Which btw is the same thing Ezio does with his brothers’ murderers?), but we have extensive contemporary accounts and letters that show a more human side to a man that felt deeply – that sang for his travel companions, that enjoyed life and its pleasures, that grieved deeply, that cared about his children. He is a political figure, and one in the Renaissance, you cannot expect him to have never committed wrong, but that doesn’t mean he was awful. People of the past contained multitudes too. Maybe even more than us. Something that fandom seems to occasionally really get upset about when it comes to him is the treatment of the Pazzi post-congiura, too. Which, fair. To the modern reader punishing an entire family seems appalling, especially because the ability to separate yourself from your family is so important to us. So we save Vieri, we save Viola, we reassure them (and ourselves) that your parents don’t define you and don’t have to suffer for their mistakes. But the truth is, in the Renaissance, it would. Family was everything, it defined your life in good or bad, the family of a traitor was a family of traitors regardless of their participation (and, we know the Pazzi as a whole were at least somewhat aware of it all) also because those spared would be expected to take revenge themselves. And moreover, he didn't put all the men of the Pazzi family to the sword, but did your basic "traitors family sentence" and exiled most of them. (Exiles, why does nobody remember exiles in this game, they were so common and they are such a juicy sentence?). The heart of it is, I think, that yes, humans have always been humans, but people’s lives were led under different influences through different times in history. A general sense of humanity does not equal a monolith of morality. The mentality of the past was different from that of today, and not just in a sense of being “less” (advanced, free, etc…, on which, viewing history as progress is its own can of problematic worms). We can’t have a complete understanding of the inner lives of those long gone people, but being at least aware they had different virtues and vices, ideas of right and wrong, is important - maybe not to write fanfiction of a game where you do parkour in renaissance Firenze, but in general because oversimplifying history or revising it has real world consequences. And a little bit of awareness would do us all good.

I cannot understand why so often in the AC fandom the (awfully underutilised) alliance between the Auditore and the Medici is perceived as some sort of moral fault of Giovanni, which ultimately led to his and his son’s death, or even a sign of the corruption of the Brotherhood, instead of being treated as it should be – a logical choice in the historical context of the Italian Renaissance and of Firenze.

[markantonys]

who have you become, lorenzo?

[all-is-fair-in-love-and-war]

I will never forgive the Medici show for not allowing us to see Francesco as an uncle. Did he really really have to go back to Jacopo before that happened??? There is no way you could convince me that Francesco did not, and would not love that child with his whole heart. Like i need proud big brother and awesome uncle moments!!!

sorry…apparently I have many feelings about the Pazzi tonight. I will never forgive Jacopo for ruining both his nephews lives.

[shipcestuous]

[1] I think Medici is a great series for shippers who like brother/brother stuff and political intrigue in a period setting. The first season, Masters of Florence, had Cosimo and Lorenzo, the sensitive artist and the party boy full of hidden angst, always supporting and staying loyal to each other until the circumstances eventually led Cosimo to suspect Lorenzo had betrayed the family, and Lorenzo to fear that Cosimo valued him less than and would replace him with his best friend/right-hand man.

[2] Season two, The Magnificent, has a similar dynamic with Cosimo's grandsons, the idealistic but conflicted Lorenzo and the cynical hedonist with a secret romantic side Giuliano, raised by a less manipulative and strict father but still feeling all the pressure that comes from being born into one of the most important and controversial families in town. They also have a sister, Bianca, but she doesn't get many shippy moments with either...

[3] The main focus of Bianca's arc is a Romeo and Juliet -type affair with Guglielmo Pazzi. The Pazzi family are bankers like the Medici family, and they're also their bitterest rivals. Anyway, the interesting thing here is that Guglielmo has an older brother, Francesco, and in a way, they follow the same scheme as the Medici brothers. They were raised by their uncle Jacopo, a ruthless man who did everything he could to put them against the Medici family and fan the flames of hatred and spite.

[4] Jacopo even tore Francesco and Lorenzo apart when they made friends as children, punishing Francesco so harshly for it, that he actually turned into the Medici brothers' rival and showed them nothing but contempt for year. But while his older brother turned cynical and wary, Guglielmo remained idealistic and innocent despite their uncle's influence, genuinely falling in love with Bianca and wishing for reconciliation between their families to be able to marry her and live happily with her.

[5] When Guglielmo and Bianca secretly elope and Lorenzo finally gives in to his sister's wishes and tries to find a way to get Jacopo to agree to their marriage, Jacopo obviously disapproves, tries to drive the couple apart, and decides to cut all contacts with Guglielmo if he won't cave in. And here comes the good part... because Francesco, while not really on board with Guglielmo's affair and elopement, loves him too much to let Jacopo mistreat him and push him away. And he's ready to act.

[6] Francesco, the nephew who followed Jacopo's directives and bought into his rivalry thing for years, suddenly turns his back on him and decides to side with Lorenzo during a very important vote. All for Guglielmo, as he scornfully says to Lorenzo when the latter tries to thank him for it. But then he actually reconciles with his old friend later on, making his brother's wish for unity and peace come true (... albeit briefly, because then Drama starts happening again). It's really sweet.

Cracky addendum to all the Medici stuff: I love to think that Lorenzo was so open to reconciliation with Francesco not only because he was on his family's side during a very important event and because they used to be friends as children, but also because he thought something like, "well, we didn't have a good relationship in years, but he's clearly still worth being friends with because he, too, loves his dumb, reckless siblings - I have someone to talk about Bianca and Giuliano with!"

Thank you for writing this up about Medici. I have never seen the series but I have always been curious about it. (I'm sorry you had to wait three years for my reply!)

It's sounds like the brothers shipping is first rate!

Cosimo and Lorenzo did come up once before, here. It seems like a brother/brother relationship that would have a lot of shippers. 

I like the sound of Francesco and Guglielmo in particular, when Francesco turns and stands up for his brother despite taking more after their uncle. That sounds like a great arc.

[kitsunesongs]

Okay, looking at Giovanni chalking stuff up to teenage hormones and all that and ignoring all the red flags has me picturing him as the dog in the fire going 'this is fine' as the fire slowly ramps up.

And I LOVE the fact that for the Pazzi at least half of what they feel for the Auditore is jealousy over what the Medici have, and wanting to steal the Medici's toys, basically. Like, you know Francesco wants to, at least once, fuck Giovanni in front of Lorenzo. And you know he 'interrogated' Giovanni about if Lorenzo was fucking him, and what he liked to do to him, and where he had touched him. Wanting to know if there were any marks left so that he could put his own marks over on top.

Also, I kind of feel sorry for Jacopo in canon (he's all 'kids? maybe try not being insane? Also, raise your son, he wants you to love him?' and then he gets stabbed a bunch of times by Rodrigo and Barbarigo, and Ezio has to give him a mercy kill. I just feel kind of bad for him, and I think he should get to badtouch an Auditore or two before all that happens. Give him something!)

Also, am I the only one who can see Vieri ending up living in this verse, and standing off with Cesare about who is really Ezio's Nemesis because they're both EXTREMELY SIMILAR and Vieri is all 'well I SCARRED HIM for LIFE! Literally! I cut those beautiful lips! he will bear my mark forever!' and then Cesare presumably howls with rage and tries to kill him. Catfight!

Honestly, Lucrezia and Viola also catfight.

On the badtouch templar idea, just how bad is the Pazzi-Auditore rivalry pre- and post-Dec. 29, 1476?

Badtouch Templars AU! (main idea, the Auditores and the Borgias)

The Auditores’ relationship with the Pazzi could be summarized as ‘pulling the pigtails’ kind. Giovanni didn’t immediately think they were Templars because they were rival bankers and more of a nuisance than an actual threat to the Medici family.

Then Vieri and Ezio had a one night stand before becoming bitter rivals who may or may not kiss and hatefuck once in a while and Giovanni just chalked that up to teenage hormones.

So when he got evidence that the Pazzi were in on a very serious and dangerous plan to take out the Medici, he jailed Francesco out of caution. When Francescao started making comments of how Giovanni needed a firm hand to guide him, well… red flags are being raised by then but he still needs proof.

The Auditore arrest still happens though and Giovanni will never stop beating himself for simply dismissing the Pazzi’s previous actions as ‘meh’ instead of ‘Templars! Absolutely Templar badtouch!’ but, in his defense, the Pazzi’s badtouch didn’t really start amping to Templar level until they showed their true colors.

In a nutshell:

Vieri absolutely carries a torch for Ezio but, in this case, Ezio has an upper hand in their ‘relationship’. Also, Ezio has had a threesome with Vieri and his sister, Viola… the joke of Ezio fucking Viola once that enraged Vieri was because he was mad that Viola got to fuck Ezio without him.

Claudia hates Viola because she’s super clingy whenever they meet during noble gatherings and even in the streets. She assumes Viola is into Ezio and is trying to be close to Claudia to get to him. Viola wants Ezio AND Claudia. (She may or may not be a Templar BUT she’s definitely a Pazzi with the hots for the Auditores)

Francesco definitely wants Giovanni, half because, come on, it’s Giovanni, and half because he wants what Lorenzo has

Jacopo thinks Giovanni is a lost cause but his children, especially Federico and Ezio could still be ‘saved’.

[inprometheanfire]

CHARACTER SHEET

BASICS

NAME: francesco de’pazzi

NICKNAME: : n / a

ALIAS(S): n / a

GENDER: male

SIZE: 6′1

AGE: 30s

ZODIAC: aquarius

SPOKEN LANGUAGES: italian

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

HAIR COLOR: dark brown

EYE COLOR: brown

SKIN TONE: light

BODY TYPE: average

VOICE: deep

DOMINANT HAND: right

POSTURE: decent enough

SCARS: n / a

TATTOOS: n / a

BIRTHMARKS: I’m sure he’s got one or two

CHILDHOOD

PLACE OF BIRTH: Florence, Italy

HOMETOWN: Florence, Italy

SIBLINGS: one brother, Guglielmo

PARENTS: after both parents passed away, his uncle Jacopo became his guardian

ADULT LIFE

OCCUPATION: banker

CURRENT RESIDENCE(S): Palazzo Pazzi in Florence ; villas in other cities throughout Europe where Pazzi banks are established

CLOSE FRIENDS: a few close friends but a lot of other friends

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: separated

FINANCIAL STATUS: wealthy

DRIVER’S LICENSE: n / a

CRIMINAL RECORD: no, only because he’ll bribe his way out of it

VICES: greed, drinking, starting fights lol

SEX AND ROMANCE

SEXUAL ORIENTATION: het

PREFERRED EMOTIONAL ROLE: receiver: reserved, uncommunicative, always holding back

PREFERRED SEXUAL ROLE: giver: dominant, attentive to make up for lack of verbal communication and/or emotional reciprocation

TURN ONS: considerate, generous, thoughtful

TURN OFFS: dishonest, unfaithful, overly critical

LOVE LANGUAGE: words of affirmation, physical touch

RELATIONSHIP TENDENCIES: very affectionate, sentimental, attentive, protective, eager to please  //  withdrawn, distant, overcompensates, controlling, overly sensitive, reads between lines that aren’t there, constantly overthinking & suspicious

MISCELLANEOUS

CHARACTER’S THEME SONG: Oh Darlin’ What Have I Done? by The White Buffalo

MENTAL ILLNESSES: paranoid personality disorder, dependent personality disorder

PHOBIAS: fear of failure, fear of abandonment, fear of imperfection

SELF CONFIDENCE LEVEL: moderate to high

Tagged  ;  @caracarnn​

Tagging  ;  @ anyone who wants to do this !! 

[littlweirdostuffwritesworld]

The Golden Sun

Prologo: This is before re how our black reader met Lorenzo de Medici (her future zaddy) thanks to the man's ex nemesis and her cousin

Florence was celebrating Francesco de 'Pazzi was getting married, it was a sigh of relief for everyone from plebeians, knights, nobles and to the church. It was an event that no one expected, everyone knew that Guglielmo de 'Pazzi was the sentimental one, not Francesco.

But everything changed when he met Andrea Sabini's eyes, they met at a ball in Venice for the union of two nobles.

Right there Andrea distracted and euphoric did not look in front and collided with the man.

"My apologies Messer. I wasn't looking where I was going" he smiled

"No problem, but she's careful" she said with her typical look, and the woman walked down her street, but she turned around and asked

"Your name, Messer" he turned

"And why would he want to know?" he asked sceptically

"Please don't be offended, I shouldn't be so curious, I wish you a good evening" she said and went away, leaving Francesco to look down the corridor, realizing that her brother was calling him she went away.

He enjoyed the rest of the evening, talked with possible collaborators and clients and danced with many women, also had the good fortune to meet Ludovico Sabini, strangely obviously liked him with Lorenzo de 'Medici.

"You two seem like talented young men, if you use your mind you will be more than your fathers and your names will be remembered in the stars" he laughed proudly, a woman interrupted him.

"Andrea you feel better" he asked, Francesco recognized her.

"Yes father, I'm sorry I made you worry," she said sadly.

"Excuse me for the interruption," she said and went off to join other ladies, and Francesco didn't take his eyes off her.

"That's my daughter Andrea Sabini, the diamente of the family" Ludovico was proudly beating his cane on the ground.

"Andrea is a rather manly name" Lorenzo added

"When she was born she took my finger and I almost rupper it, she is worthy of that name, even if she looks like a young lady I taught her like my sons and she is always on my right, she is the only one in the family to convince to the royal family of Naples to invest and buy our silk "explained after a chat or two the old man left.

"Francesco it seems that you are infatuated with Andrea Sabini" Lorenzo teased him.

"Shut up Medici" the dances opened and Pazzi was really waiting to meet Andrea again, and finally he succeeded.

"Oh we meet again Messer" the woman said she took her hand and they danced.

"I have to offer you my sincere apologies," he apologized

"For what reason?" she was confused

"For answering you abruptly earlier"

"Don't worry, I just wanted to know who the bewitching-faced Messer was," he smiled

"I wonder if you say lp just to make me feel better or at all?" the dance was about to end

"I told you I'm not offended," they bowed and their eyes met

"And I only express myself this way to people who have caught my eye," she whispered

"I caught an eye on you '"

"I'm a lady, I can't answer this question in public, but come and know the question"

From that moment the two were under secret courtship, for the Sabines it could have been fine but for Jacopo Pazzi it would have been the loss of his best pawn. The relationship continued for months until the man's uncle was becoming suspicious and sent a spy to the French court where Francis was invited. Thanks to the letter from Lorenzo they discovered that their uncle and the whole of Florence had discovered him.

"You don't have to come with me, you can save your reputation" he tried to persuade her beloved but there was nothing to be done.

"My love, I will not leave you anywhere, if you are guilty of this foolishness I am too" she stroked his face and gave him a tender kiss on the cheek.

The carriage arrived in front of Villa Pazzi, they looked at each other for a moment and went out hand in hand, Lorenzo had already told them that there would be many Florentine noble families waiting. And so it was Jacopo de Pazzi really wanted to humiliate him, and his uncle was there and he was smiling.

"Francesco, would you like to introduce us to your beloved?" the man said

"I'm Andrea Sabini of the Sabini family, Messer Pazzi" she introduced herself making the nobles jump

"Do you know what crime he committed?"

"Love your nephew?" she said brazenly.

"Adultery and …..

"I have to stop you there Messer Pazzi but the two of us are under courting, my family knows it and I Pazzi know it" she replied, the nobles were really shocked by her "cheekiness".

"Messer Pazzi did not know about your scandalous ……." Niccolò Ardighelli tried to say

"But my brother knew it and since we have half the power of this family, the de 'Pazzi knew it," Francesco said.

"He really wants to be with a woman like her," a doonna whispered

and finally they could court each other in the sun.

" What are you saying?" Andrea asked while eating strawberries under the Tuscan sun.

"I'm thinking how you came into my life," he said, stroking her face

"Thanks to you I became a better man, I would have become like my uncle Jacopo"

"I didn't do any of that," she blushed

"I'd like to ask you something," she tugged at a ruby ring

" Francis…."

"Andrea, will you marry me?"

"Sure yes, yes" their lips joined

"Francesco I love you" she smiled

" I love you too"

And so they went back there hand in hand on their wedding day not knowing they would bring two people together.

[xradiant]

@inprometheanfire​

she comes here sometimes when her mother doesn’t know even though she’s almost certain that she would readily give her go ahead given Francesco’s wealth and status. the situation, however, was not ideal. it doesn’t seem like there’s an actual match in sight, does there, seeing Jacopo Pazzi was almost certainly dead set against the idea entirely. none of that made her ignore the feelings that threaded through her whenever she was near to him, whenever she heard the very timbre of his voice or set herself in his presence. it was ridiculous, childish even, how much she thought about him. but she had never met someone like him and she had never known someone that she had wanted to make happy so much before. he is melancholic in the sort of way that made Selma want to nurture the echoes of that out of him and she hopes that maybe she had. that in between gatherings where they stole a few words and stolen affection when no one was looking Selma wondered if maybe she had managed to accomplish at least some of it.

her eyes had been scanning the books on the shelf in the room, looking over the titles closely like she had never seen them before. today was a day that she felt a touch nervous being alone with him. that comes and goes sometimes, she wonders if that’s what the poets meant when they spoke of love. did she love him? she did, something told her that it wasn’t something that he believed. at times he accepted her entirely and at other times his eyes were always filled with some sort of suspicion that she had never been able to dispel. she wonders if they’ll ever step over the boundary of never marrying and - what? being used to spite his uncle? was she merely a tool then?

clasping her hands behind her back she turns around to face him, lets her eyes wash over the features of his face. the dark of his eyes, the fall of his hair, and she tries to study him further to see if anything softens when he looks at her. the question rings at the back of her head constantly. does he love me? “ have you read the book I sent you? “ she asks with a small waiting smile, stepping towards him even closer now. she can smell the scent of him and feel his warmth once she reaches her hand out to settle it against his chest. she toys with a loose thread there, she thinks she should lean up to him and press a kiss to his lips, even his neck to get his attention to the moment alone. “ or have you been far too busy? “

[thesongofthegreens]

FLORENCE, ITALY | IL DUOMO OF FLORENCE

Imola had been lost. More importantly, so had Francesco. He felt the latter's loss more, however surprising that might have been. Imola could be won again, despite the Pope's purchase of it, but he was not so sure that the same could be said of Francesco. What had Jacopo said for him to turn against them so quickly?

While Lorenzo could play as naive as he desired, he knew it was not only Jacopo's doing; his business dealings with the Pope and what truly been given to the Pazzi's had not entirely an innocent slight. Francesco had even questioned his motives then, but Lorenzo had never believed it would tear them apart. His own dismissal had only served to prove what lie Jacopo had fed his friend.

For the good of the Medici bank.

It echoed in his mind, when he would find a moment to rest, or when he believed he was more alone than he had ever been. With Giuliano mourning Simonetta, he had no one to bear the brunt of things. There once had been a time where his brother's absence would have nearly been missed, or even unnoticed. Not to say that he had not loved his brother, only that his own loneliness had been a shallow fountain then - it had become a sea.

With the Pope preparing an army to Imola, supposedly to set upon Florence, he knew he needed more than his family by his side. And for that, he would have to admit his sins and possibly those of his fathers before him, no matter how difficult it would be for him to do so. Republics could not be built without a cost.

As the carriage rode along the stones, there were bumps along the way, yet the carriage was never set off the track - it still persevered. I will become the carriage, if I must, he thought, though he was less sure that his path would be so easy.

He passed the many doors surrounding the cathedral, and the many people making their way to mass. There, in the many pews that were held there, they would still be separated by status, but God would see them as equals. They would dip their fingers into holy water and bless His name as equals. Such a small thing set a smile on his lips, for he wished the rest of Florence could be so.

Lorenzo dreamed for it to be so.

When he arrived, his coachmen knocked on the wood, pulling him from his daydreams and to the mouth of the cathedral. He found his brother there, waiting for him, as he exited the carriage. He spoke a few choice words to Bastiano, before encouraging his brother to believe in the good of othes, that words could bring peace before the sword.

As they turned and walked the steps, his heart grew heavy at the sight of his friend, a small smile set onto his face. In the months that had passed, Lorenzo had not seen such a sight, despite the many times he had seen the Florentine banker.

He found himself stopping, with Francesco met his gaze; there was regret there, but there was something else, something ready to take on a life of its own. Lorenzo felt it, in the very fiber of his being, that the mass service would change the tides, though he could not say whether it would be in any of their favors.

"I know our families have had their disagreements, but I hope from now on, we can bury that, start new, for all our sakes." The smile that touched his mouth was friendship, his arms held out for an embrace. It was one that had not been shared in many fortnights.

Lorenzo could not help but think of his grandmother, her wish to see their families at peace, for eternity. But it was not just her, but the shadow that had been hanging over both of them that reminded him to let the past live there, to make anew with what they could.

After a moment, he moved forward, his own arms wrapping around his friend, though he could not claim his heart remained entirely whole. For both of their sakes, he whispered, "I always meant for us to be friends, Francesco."

"We shall be again."

While Lorenzo would not admit it to his brother, to the many seeing them at the mouth of the cathedral, he had sunk right into the embrace at the promise, relief flooding through him. Whatever spat had risen from Jacopo, whatever unthinkable had been requested of the Florentine banker, Francesco had stood against him, one last time.

As they pulled away, to face one another again, Lorenzo touched the back of his neck, a smile being shared between them both - for a moment, all transgressions were forgotten.

"I am glad to hear it," he began, looking down to the ring he'd been given when he had removed his father from the Priori. He twisted it around his finger in thought, a sigh leaving him. "I don't want to simply begin another chapter of our friendship, Francesco. I would see our banks united, again." Brown eyes searched his, there was that secret in them again. "Truly united, not in word, but in deeds and parchment."

| closed roleplay with @all-that-is-gold-is-now-gone , sorry for the long starter, i wanted to set the scene! |