jdfa14-+The+Pazzi+Conspiracy

__What Happened__

On Sunday April 26, 1469 in Florence, Italy conspirators of the Pazzi family came to two Medici family members (Lorenzo and Guiliano) before mass and attempted to take their lives. While successful at killing Guiliano, the Pazzi family was unable to assassinate Lorenzo. The Medici family were the one of the richest families in all of Europe and most certainly the family with the most money in Florence. They had gained their wealth from supporting a young pirate who sought to change his life and enter the church. The young pirate became a priest, than a cardinal, than finally became the Pope. The Medici Family Bank became the bank of the Papacy. The church at the time had many funds and was able to put much of it into the bank. The Pazzi family were also a family of bankers seeking for the same success that the Medici had reached. Only the Medici blocked their path to success. So the only way to get rid of the barrier was to kill the family. The conspirators attacked during mass at the Florence Cathedral, the group was not only made up of Pazzi family members but also included a man name Francesco Salviati an archbishop and Pope Girolamo Riario. The Pope had interests in taking territories that were around Florence and without a leader to look to the city would not be worried about outlying lands. Francesco tried to rally the people of Florence up against the Medici but failed as the people had a strong allegiance to their leader. Lorenzo, being the sole survivor of the attack, took swift vengeance against the Pazzi family by hanging the conspirators and making public examples of those who took his brother's life. Many of the conspirators met their fate by hanging in the local plaza.

__The Pazzi Perspective__

The Pazzi family was up and coming and was looking for a place with power and influence. Unfortunately for the Pazzi it was filled by the Medici family. They had a mob rule over the government, though not having a representative in it, the Medici family was a able to control laws, diplomacy, and foreign relations. They had control over everything that happened in the city. The Pazzi family wanted that power so they attempted to kill for it. __The Medici Perspective__

The Medici saw this a viscous attack against their honor and pride. That is why such has measures were taken so quickly against the conspirators. The Medici removed every single Pazzi coat of arms from the city and made it illegal to support the family. Men were hanged and dragged around the city to make an example to show that the Medici will not be hurt.

__Effects Today__

This event shows us how corrupt the government was at the time of the renaissance. When a family can dictate the choices of an entire city state without having someone in government the problems become obvious. It shows that this form of government does not work, because when there are multiple families seeking the same position violence and unrest comes along with it.

__Sources__

"History of Florence: Pazzi's Conspiracy." //About Florence, your tourist guide to Florence, Italy//. Web. 21 Jan. 2010. .

"Pazzi -." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Web. 21 Jan. 2010. .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Pazzi%27s_coat_of_arms.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lorenzo_de_Medici2.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Santa_Maria_del_Fiore.jpg