Don Giovanni de' Medici

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Don Giovanni de' Medici (May 13, 1563 – July 19, 1621) was an Italian military commander and diplomat.

Born in Florence, he was the illegitimate son of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, and Eleonora degli Albrizzi. Giovanni was later legitimated by his father.

He moved to Spain where he began the military career. In 1598 he was a Great of Spain and Florentine ambassador in Madrid. In 1600 he was Master of the Field for the Imperial army, but his most important appointment was as Commander-in-Chief of the army of the Republic of Venice (1616-1617).

He married to Livia Bernazza, from whom he had two sons, Gianfrancesco Maria (1619-1689) and another (posthumous) who died infant.

Giovanni was also a painter and an architect, and collaborated with Matteo Nigetti in the design of the Principi Chapel for the church of San Lorenzo in Florence.

He died at Murano in 1621.