The Black Medici Prince of Florence

Not Just the Tudors

History Hit

History

4.8 • 3K Ratings

🗓️ 28 December 2023

⏱️ 47 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the cut-throat world of Renaissance Florence, Alessandro - the illegitimate son of a Duke and a mixed-race servant - attempts to reassert the Medicis’ faltering grip on the city state. But after just six years in power, Alessandro is murdered by his cousin while anticipating an adulterous liaison.

In this edition of Not Just the Tudors, first released in August 2021, Professor Suzannah Lipscomb talks to Professor Catherine Fletcher, author of The Black Prince of Florence, about one man's spectacular rise to power against the odds, and his violent demise.

This episode was produced by Rob Weinberg.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Today's story is one of terror, murder,
0:07.0	today's story is one of terror, murder, bloodshed, slavery, and the seeds of racism.
0:17.0	It was the year 1537 on the eve of Epiphany.
0:21.7	We are in the home of Dante, Botachelli, Michelangelo and the Medici, Florence. That night,
0:29.1	Alessandro de Medici Duke of Florence had gone to the house of his cousin,
0:34.2	Lorenzino, hoping for an assignation with the beautiful, though married,
0:38.8	Katerina de Janeiro, awaiting her in Lorenzino's chamber.
0:45.0	Alessandro had made himself comfortable, taken off his sword, and then,
0:49.1	logged by the warm fire, fallen asleep. But when the door burst open it was not the fair
0:55.6	Katerina. It had all been a ruse. Instead, Lorenzino and his companion
1:02.4	SkoronkConcalo, had tricked and trapped the Duke.
1:07.8	My guest today, Professor Catherine Fletcher describes in her book The Black Prince of Florence what happened next.
1:15.0	My lord are you asleep?
1:18.0	Scrunkonkolo asked and he plunged his sword into Alessandro's stomach.
1:22.0	Alessandro's stomach.
1:23.0	Alessandro lurched up from the bed and made a dash for the door, seizing a stool to use as a shield,
1:28.0	but Scorancongolo pulled a knife, slashing down from the left temple he sliced open Duke's left cheek.
1:35.0	Loranzino pushed Alessandro onto the bed.
1:38.5	He used the weight of his own body to force the Duke down.
1:41.5	He tried to cover Alessandro's mouth so he couldn't scream, but the Duke
1:45.3	bit so angrily into his thumb that Lonzino collapsed beside him. As the pair grappled,
1:51.4	Skoronkunklo drew his sword. Fearful of cutting Lorenzino, he managed only to slash the mattress.
	...

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