Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

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Cosimo II de' Medici (12 May 1590 – 28 February 1621) was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1609 until 1621. He was the elder son of Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Christine of Lorraine. He married Maria Magdalena of Austria and had eight children. Galileo Galilei was his childhood tutor.

Cosimo II
Justus Sustermans 010.jpg
Cosimo II after Justus Sustermans
Grand Duke of Tuscany
17 February 1609 – 28 February 1621
PredecessorFerdinando I
SuccessorFerdinando II
Born12 May 1590
Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Tuscany
DiedFebruary 28, 1621(1621-02-28) (aged 30)
Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Tuscany
ConsortMaria Maddalena of Austria
IssueFerdinando II, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Cardinal Gian Carlo
Margherita, Duchess of Parma
Prince Mattias, Governor of Siena
Prince Francesco
Anna, Archduchess of Austria
Cardinal Leopoldo
Full name
Cosimo de' Medici
HouseHouse of Medici
FatherGrand Duke Ferdinando I of Tuscany
MotherChristine of Lorraine
ReligionRoman Catholicism

For the most of his eleven-year reign, he delegated the administration of Tuscany to his ministers. He is best remembered as the patron of Galileo Galilei, his childhood tutor.

He died of tuberculosis in 1621.

Family and children

Maria Magdalena and Cosimo had the following children:

  • Maria Cristina de' Medici (24 August 1609 – 9 August 1632) died unmarried.
  • Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany (14 July 1610 – 23 May 1670), who married Vittoria della Rovere (7 February 1622 – 6 March 1694) and had children.
  • Gian Carlo de' Medici (24 July 1611 – 23 January 1663) made Cardinal in 1644.
  • Margherita de' Medici (31 May 1612 – 6 February 1679) married Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma and had children.
  • Mattias de' Medici (9 May 1613 – 14 October, 1667) later made Governor of Siena.
  • Francesco de' Medici (16 October 1614 – 25 July 1634) died unmarried.
  • Anna de' Medici (21 July 1616 – 11 September 1676) who married Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Austria (1628-1662)
  • Leopoldo de' Medici (6 November 1617 – 10 November 1675) made Cardinal in 1667.

Titles and styles

  • 12 May 1590 - 17 February 1609 His Highness The Grand Prince of Tuscany.
  • 17 February 1609 - 28 February 1621 His Highness The Most Serene Grand Duke of Tuscany.