Piero Soderini
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Piero di Tommaso Soderini, also known as Pier Soderini, (May 18, 1450 - June 13, 1513), was a Florentine statesman.
[edit] Biography
Soderini was born at Florence to an old family who had become famous in medicine.
In 1481 he was Prior of the city, and later became a favourite of Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici, receiving from him, in 1493, the honour of being the Ambassador to the Kingdom of France.
He was elected gonfaloniere for life in 1502 by the Florentines, who wished to give greater stability to their republican institutions, which had been restored after the expulsion of Piero de' Medici and the martyrdom of Savonarola.
His rule proved moderate and wise, although he had not the qualities of a great statesman. He introduced a system of national militia in the place of foreign mercenaries, and during his government the long war with Pisa was brought to a close with the capture of that city by the Florentines in 1509.
Grateful to France, who had assisted him, he always took the French side in Italian politics. But in 1512 the Medici with the help of a Spanish army returned to Florence, deposed Soderini and drove him into exile.
He took refuge at Orasac (Ragusa) in Dalmatia, where he remained until the election of Pope Leo X, who summoned him to Rome and conferred many favours on him. Soderini lived in Rome, working for the good of Florence, to which he was never allowed to return until his death.
He died at Rome in 1513.
Niccoló Machiavelli, author of The Prince, served under him as ambassador to Cesare Borgia, Rome and France. Another friend of Pier Soderini was Amerigo Vespucci.
[edit] References
- Silvano Razzi, Vita di Pier Soderini (Padua, 1737)
- This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
