# Bianca de' Medici

Bianca Maria di Piero de' Medici (10 September 1445 - 20 July 1505) was a member of the de' Medici family, de facto rulers of Florence in the late fifteenth century. She was the daughter of [Piero di Cosimo de' Medici](https://www.edgepedia.org/piero-di-cosimo-de-medici), who ruled the Florentine Republic in practice, and of Lucrezia Tornabuoni, and the sister of [Lorenzo de' Medici](https://www.edgepedia.org/lorenzo-de-medici), who succeeded their father.

She was also a trained musician. In 1460 she played the organ for [Pope Pius II](https://www.edgepedia.org/pope-pius-ii) during his return from the Council of Mantua and, at his request, gave a second performance for Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, the future [Pope Alexander VI](https://www.edgepedia.org/pope-alexander-vi).<sup>[1](https://thisdayinhistory.ai/event/birth-of-bianca-de-medici.475997)</sup>

| Key facts | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Full name | Bianca Maria di Piero de' Medici; also known as Bianca dei Pazzi after her marriage<sup>[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/medici-bianca-de-fl-late-1400s)</sup> |
| Born | 10 September 1445, daughter of Piero di Cosimo de' Medici and Lucrezia Tornabuoni<sup>[3](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1089049)</sup> |
| Family roles | Sister of Lorenzo de' Medici; mother of Cosimo de' Pazzi, Archbishop of Florence from 1508<sup>[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/medici-bianca-de-fl-late-1400s)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://kleio.org/en/history/famtree/vip/640ba/)</sup> |

## Family and Marriage

Bianca was born into the senior branch of the Medici family at the height of its influence. Her father [Piero di Cosimo](https://www.edgepedia.org/piero-di-cosimo) held effective power over the Florentine Republic until his death in 1469, when her brother Lorenzo, later known as Lorenzo the Magnificent, succeeded him.<sup>[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/medici-bianca-de-fl-late-1400s)</sup>

The Medici and the Pazzi were rival banking dynasties, and the marriage was intended to ease the animosity between them.

## The Pazzi Conspiracy

In 1478 members of the Pazzi family, with outside backing, attempted to overthrow the Medici by assassinating Lorenzo and his brother Giuliano in [Florence Cathedral](https://www.edgepedia.org/florence-cathedral).

Guglielmo de' Pazzi did not take part in the conspiracy.

## Property and Household

Bianca was a landowner in her own right. In 1475 she asked her mother to purchase farmland from other relatives, since Lucrezia had more influence within the family to negotiate the transaction.

## Children

Several reached prominent positions in Florentine public and church life.

- Antonio de' Pazzi (born 1460), died as an infant
- Giovanna de' Pazzi, married Tommaso Monaldi
- Contessina de' Pazzi, married Giuliano Salviati
- Antonio de' Pazzi (1462-1528), ambassador and politician, Gonfaloniere di Giustizia in 1521, second Lord of Civitella
- Alessandra de' Pazzi (born 1465), married Bartolomeo Buondelmonti in 1486
- Cosimo de' Pazzi (9 December 1466 - 9 April 1513), Archbishop of Florence from 1508 until his death
- Piero de' Pazzi (born 1468), died as an infant
- Lorenzo Alessandro de' Pazzi (1470-1535), merchant, patron of the arts, and Latinist
- Cosa de' Pazzi, married Francesco di Luca Capponi
- Renato de' Pazzi, goldsmith merchant
- Lorenzo de' Pazzi, politician and ambassador
- Luigia de' Pazzi, married Folco di Edoardo Portinari in 1494
- Maddalena de' Pazzi, married Ormanozzo Deti in 1497
- Alessandro de' Pazzi (1483-1530), ambassador, literate, and a Greekist
- Lucrezia de' Pazzi, married Cattani di Diacceto, and then a member of the Martelli family (1500)
- Giuliano de' Pazzi (10 June 1486 - November 1517), doctor of law, abbot and canon of the Metropolitan of Florence

<sup>[4](https://kleio.org/en/history/famtree/vip/640ba/)</sup>


## References

1. [Birth of Bianca de' Medici - September 10, 1445 | This Day in History](https://thisdayinhistory.ai/event/birth-of-bianca-de-medici.475997)
2. [Medici, Bianca de (fl. late 1400s) | Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/medici-bianca-de-fl-late-1400s)
3. [Bianca de' Medici - Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1089049)
4. [Bianca Maria de' Medici (1445-1488) - kleio.org](https://kleio.org/en/history/famtree/vip/640ba/)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › History and archaeology › European history › Western Europe › Renaissance*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license