Cosimo Pater Patriae
1389-1464

Cosimo de Medici was the first of his family to govern Florence. He was a patron of scholars and the arts. The title “Pater Patriae” was given to him by Florence after his death. To capture the scope of the Medici influence on world history in a few words is not possible. There is a four-part PBS series on the Medici: (1) “Birth of a Dynasty”(2) Magnificent Medici (3) Medici Popes and (4) Power vs. Truth. The series is an excellent introduction to the Medici family and their legacies to the world.

Related Websites

Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance
Birth of a Dynasty

Wikipedia