Mattias de' Medici

Mattias de' Medici (9 May 1613 – 11 October 1667) was the third son of Grand Duke Cosimo II de' Medici of Tuscany and Archduchess Maria Maddalena of Austria. He was governor of Siena, with interruptions, from 1629. He never married.

Mattias de' Medici
Portrait by Justus Sustermans, c. 1660
Governor of Siena
Predecessor	Leopoldo de' Medici
Successor	Francesco Maria de' Medici
Born	(1613-05-09)9 May 1613 Florence, Tuscany
Died	11 October 1667(1667-10-11) (aged 54) Siena, Tuscany
Burial	The Basilica of San Lorenzo
House	Medici
Father	Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Mother	Maria Maddalena of Austria
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Biography

Mattias pursued an ecclesiastical career, like his brother Gian Carlo, but found it was not to his liking. Instead, he embarked on a military career at the age of 16. His father, Cosimo II, died on 28 February 1621; he was succeeded by Ferdinando de' Medici, the elder son. On 29 May 1629, Grand Duke Ferdinando appointed Mattias governor of Siena, following the death of their aunt and the then governor, Caterina de' Medici.

He arrived in his domain on 27 August and took up residence in the Piazza del Duomo. Spending the bulk of his time in Siena, he was immensely popular among the Sienese. In 1631, he joined the Austrian belligerency in the Thirty Years' War. He took part in the famous battle of Lützen, in November 1632, where he met Sienese General Ottavio Piccolomini.

Upon his return to the grand duchy in 1641, he resumed the reins of Sienese government. He did not stay long, nevertheless, as the Wars of Castro broke out. Ferdinando II vested in him supreme authority over the grand duchy's military affairs, and thus he commanded the league of the Republic of Venice, the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, the Duchy of Parma and the Duchy of Modena and Reggio against the Barberini Pope, entrusting the government of Siena to his brother Cardinal Leopoldo de' Medici for the duration of his absence.

Mattias adored the arts, patronising Justus Sustermans, Volterrano and many other eminent artists. He also loved horse races and was particularly enthusiast of the famous Palio, which he promoted during its early history. While in Germany, he acquired scientific instruments, such as dials, astrolabes and compasses; all of which he later deposited in the Uffizi.

In later life, suffering from gout, he pondered re-assuming ecclesiastical garb; however, he fell ill and died in Siena on 11 October 1667 at 54 years of age. He was buried in the Medici tombs in San Lorenzo, Florence.

References

Another portrait of Mattias by Sustermans.

Bibliography

• Young, G.F.: The Medici: Volume II, John Murray, London, 1920

Ancestors

Ancestors of Mattias de' Medici

16. Giovanni dalle Bande Nere 8. Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany 17. Maria Salviati 4. Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany 18. Pedro Álvarez de Toledo 9. Eleonora di Toledo 19. Maria Osorio Pimentel, Marchioness of Villafranca del Bierzo 2. Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany 20. Francis I, Duke of Lorraine 10. Charles III, Duke of Lorraine 21. Christina of Denmark 5. Christina of Lorraine 22. Henry II of France 11. Claude of Valois 23. Catherine de' Medici 1. Mattias de' Medici 24. Philip I of Castile 12. Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor 25. Joanna of Castile 6. Charles II of Austria 26. Vladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary 13. Anna of Bohemia and Hungary 27. Anna of Foix-Candale 3. Maria Magdalena of Austria 28. William IV, Duke of Bavaria 14. Albert V, Duke of Bavaria 29. Marie of Baden-Sponheim 7. Maria Anna of Bavaria 30. Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor (= 12) 15. Anna of Austria 31. Anna of Bohemia and Hungary (= 13)

External links

• Online archive of documents on the Medici family