Duchy of Florence

This article is about the specific polity Duchy of Florence and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.

If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here:All Statistics

Was a medieval state that controlled northern Tuscany. It was elevated to a duchy after the restoration of the House of Medici in 1532.

Establishment

May 1532: Florence had been under informal Medici control since the early XV century. In 1532, Pope Clement VII, who was born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, appointed Alessandro de' Medici as duke over the Republic of Florence. The Duchy of Florence was thus established.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. Conquests of Cosimo I

Expansion during the rule of Cosimo I in the Duchy of Florence .

January 1549: Since 1548, Cosimo had also been in occupation of the Lordship of Piombino (including Elba).

March 1549: The emperor granted the feud to Pietro Francesco and Leonardo de Nocetis, who in turn sold it to Cosimo I de' Medici. According to other sources, the transfer took place by contract from the Marquis Bernabò Manfredi to Cosimo I on March 17, 1549 reserving feudal rights.

January 1555: The Florentines occupied the northern part of the Republic of Siena.

April 1555: The city of Siena surrenders to the Florentine army. The nobility of Siena flees to Montalcino.

August 1569: Olivola Marquisate entered the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.

2. Italian Wars

Were a series of conflicts covering the period between 1494 to 1559, fought mostly in the Italian peninsula, but later expanding into Flanders, the Rhineland and the Mediterranean Sea. The primary belligerents were the Valois kings of France, and their Habsburg opponents in the Holy Roman Empire and Spain.

2.1.Italian War of 1551-1559

Was one of the so-called Italian Wars.

2.1.1.Peace of Cateau-Cambrésis

Was the treaty that ended the Italian War of 1551-1559, the last of the Italian Wars (1494-1559).

April 1559: The Duchy of Florence absorbed the Republic of Siena (allied with France).

2.2.Siena War

Was a war of the Duchy of Florence (which controlled northern Tuscany), supported by Spanish and Imperial forces, against the Republic of Siena (which controlled southern Tuscany). The Republic of Siena was invaded and annexed by Florence.

March 1553: Spanish general García de Toledo invaded the Republic of Siena, conquering Lucignano, Montefollonico and Pienza for Florence.

July 1553: The imperial troops that were aiding the Republic of Florence, left part of the territories conquered from Siena because they had to go fighting with the Ottomans that had started an invasion of southern Italy.

January 1554: At the end of January 1554, Siena was placed under siege.

April 1554: The Val di Chiana was put to fire and sword. Sinalunga and Torrita were taken by Florence.

April 1555: The enemies who entered Siena victorious on April 17, 1555, the date of the stipulation of the capitulation after the surrender of the city due to hunger.

June 1555: The Take of Porto Ercole took place between May 25 and June 18 1555.

3. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)

July 1557: The Sienese fortresses, castles, ports, places and farmland of, namely, Porto Ercole, Orbetello, Talamone, Monte Argentario and Porto Santo Stefano" (a territory of about 287 square km) enter the State of the Presidi.

August 1569: Cosimo I de' Medici was a powerful ruler who expanded his control over Tuscany. Pope Pius V recognized his achievements by granting him the title of Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1569, solidifying his authority in the region.