Medici Women as Cultural Mediators (1533-1743)

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Medici Women as Cultural Mediators (1533-1743) is written by Christina Strunck and published by . It's available with International Standard Book Number or ISBN identification 8836622380 (ISBN 10) and 9788836622382 (ISBN 13).

The vertiginous social ascent of the Florentine Medici dynasty was assisted and secured through prestigious marriage alliances. In the sixteenth century, when this family of bankers had only just managed to turn the Republic of Florence into a principate, foreign brides from noble families were not only potential political allies, but also important status symbols. Similarly, the conclusion of marriage matches between Medici women and rulers of European states reflected the new international standing of the dynasty. The numerous princesses who crossed the borders in this "elite traffic in women" imported the cultural traditions of their birthplace and amalgamated them with those of their new home countries in order to serve personal and cultural, political and dynastic interests. This book explores the ways in which Medici women contributed to the cultural exchange among the courts of Europe, including not only exchange in the visual arts, music and literature, but also economic, political and religious exchange.