Republic of Florence

Refers to the city of Florence and surrounding territory that was briefly ruled as a republic in the late 15th and early 16th centuries. In 1494 Florence declared itself a republic, aided by the French under King Charles VIII and after the death of the powerful ruler Lorenzo de'Medici. Republican Florence was led briefly by the outspoken Dominican preacher, Girolamo Savonarola; his strict rule came to an end in 1498. The republic virtually ended when the Medici returned to Florence in triumph in 1512 behind the papal and Spanish armies, reasserting unambiguous power. Republicans again expelled the Medici from Florence from 1527-1530. In 1537 Charles V officially installed Cosimo I de' Medici as duke of Florence and, in 1569, as grand duke of Tuscany.