Pierfrancesco di Lorenzo de' Medici

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Pierfrancesco di Lorenzo de' Medici (also Pierfrancesco the Elder; 1431 - March 28, 1469) was an Italian banker and diplomat, a member of the House of Medici of Florence.

Born in Florence, he was the son of Lorenzo the Elder and Ginevra Cavalcanti, and thus nephew of Cosimo de' Medici and cousin on Piero the Gouty, de facto lords of the city from 1459.

Pierfrancesco was orphaned in 1440, and was raised by his uncle. He acted as ambassador (to the Pope in 1458 and to Mantua in 1463) of the Republic of Florence and of Priore delle Arti (1459). After Cosimo's death (1464), Pierfrancesco was initially a supporter of Piero, but later sided against him, being amongst the conjurers who participated to Luca Pitti's failed coup in 1466. Graced by Piero, he thenceforth took care the family bank.

From his marriage with Laudomia Acciaioli he had two sons: Lorenzo (1463-1503) and Giovanni (1467-1498), who were later fierce oppositors of Cosimo's line of the Medici.

Pierfrancesco died in 1469. His sons were adopted by their cousin Lorenzo il Magnifico.

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