Ferdinando II de' Medici ascended to the throne of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany at age ten, following the death of his father, Cosimo II. His reign spanned nearly five decades, from 1621 to 1670, coinciding with a period of persistent economic contraction in Florence and the wider Italian region.
Regency and Early Governance
Upon the death of Cosimo II, the young monarch remained under the guardianship of his mother, Maria Maddalena of Austria, and his grandmother, Christina of Lorraine. These regents managed state affairs, including an unsuccessful 1633 marriage arrangement with Vittoria della Rovere intended to secure the Duchy of Urbino. Political instability ultimately ceded that territory to the Papal States. Ferdinando embarked on an extensive European tour during his seventeenth year, visiting cities including Rome, Bologna, Venice, and Prague, before assuming personal control of the government after the passing of the dowager Grand Duchess Christina in 1636.
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The state faced severe domestic and fiscal challenges during his rule. A 1630 plague outbreak reduced the Florentine population by ten percent, a crisis during which the Grand Duke actively engaged in public relief efforts. Militarily, Tuscany engaged in the Wars of Castro, securing a victory against Pope Urban VIII in 1643. However, this success severely strained the treasury. The financial exhaustion forced the government to reduce interest rates on public bonds by 0.75 percent, and rural commerce increasingly shifted toward a barter-based system.
Scientific Patronage and Invention
Beyond his political duties, Ferdinando maintained a deep interest in experimental science and technology. Influenced by his association with Galileo Galilei, he installed various instruments, including barometers and telescopes, within the Palazzo Pitti. In 1654, he developed a sealed-glass thermometer, a device utilizing colored alcohol and marked with 360 divisions. His brother, Leopoldo de' Medici, subsequently established the Accademia del Cimento in 1657 to facilitate collaborative scientific study. Ferdinando also acted as a patron to Galileo, attempting to mitigate the interventions of the Roman Inquisition against the astronomer until his eventual conviction in 1633.
Family and Final Years
Ferdinando’s marriage to Vittoria della Rovere remained strained, particularly following an incident involving the Count Bruto della Molera. The couple produced two surviving heirs: Cosimo III, born in 1642, and Francesco Maria de' Medici, born in 1660. The Grand Duke suffered from apoplexy and dropsy toward the end of his life, passing away in 1670. He was buried within the New Sacristy of the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Florence.
Fast facts
- Born: 1610, Florence
- Died: 1670, Florence
- Reign: 1621-1670
- Spouse: Vittoria della Rovere
- Successor: Cosimo III de' Medici
- Notable invention: Sealed-glass thermometer
- Burial site: Basilica of San Lorenzo
- Award: Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Questions readers ask
What scientific invention is attributed to Ferdinando II?
He is credited with inventing the sealed-glass thermometer in 1654, which used colored alcohol and contained 360 degree-like divisions.
Did Ferdinando II have any heirs?
Yes, he had two sons with Vittoria della Rovere who reached adulthood: Cosimo III and Francesco Maria de' Medici.
Achievements
- Sovereign Military Order of Malta
