Medici
Syllabification: (Med·i·ci)
Pronunciation: /ˈmediCHē/
(also de' Medici /də/)
Definition of Medici
- a powerful Italian family of bankers and merchants whose members effectively ruled Florence for much of the 15th century and from 1569 were grand dukes of Tuscany. Cosimo and Lorenzo de‘ Medici were notable rulers and patrons of the arts in Florence; the family also provided four popes (including Leo X) and two queens of France ( Catherine de’ Medici and Marie de Médicis).