Lorenzino de' Medici

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Lorenzino de' Medici (March 23, 1514 - February 26, 1548) (also spelled Lorenzaccio de' Medici) was a writer remembered primarily as the assassin of Alessandro de' Medici, duke and ruler of Florence.

Lorenzino was born in Florence, Italy, into the powerful Medici family. He wrote the play Aridosio, and was admired for his ability. He and Alessandro de' Medici were close friends, and there were several public scandals involving their escapades.

Along with Scoronconcolo, Lorenzino murdered Alessandro on January 5, 1537. He fled to Bologna, and from there to Turkey, France, and then Venice. He wrote a public defense of his actions, claiming that dedication to human liberty had forced him to kill Alessandro. Cosimo I de' Medici became Grand Duke of Tuscany, and condemned Lorenzino to death. An assassin in Cosimo's pay killed Lorenzino in 1548.