The Plight of the Medicis

Prestigious families throughout the ages have endured hardships, but none have felt sorrow quite as acutely as the Medicis. Oh, they had their happy times, of course. They ruled Florence politically and financially for the better part of two centuries, and that must have been fun. Several of the Medicis were popes, and the respect that this garnered surely produced at least a few really awesome presents around the holidays. They were even associated with the likes of Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Galileo, which undoubtably allowed them to throw some wild parties. Political, religious, and cultural influence aside, their vast wealth alone could have ensured a pretty lavish lifestyle. However, all of these unbelievably wonderful life perks seem like curses in view of the bitter anguish the Medicis were forced to suffer. Prepare yourselves for something quite dreadful.

You see, the Medicis had a penchant for attracting angry mobs. People are, of course, easily provoked to jealousy, and there were many envious people who assaulted the poor Medicis under the guise of political reform. At times, the mobs controlled themselves and did no harm. At other times, the mobs became so enraged that they formed conspiracies, and the conspiracies necessitated gangs, and the gangs had to find leaders, and the leaders became assassinators of poor, unsuspecting Medicis. Because of all these violent uprisings, the downtrodden Medicis were forced to retreat. They were forced to remain prisoners in their own homes, never again to frolic unencumbered in the fields of Florence. Consider a group of frail rabbits hiding deep in a small, dank burrow to remain hidden from a malicious fox. Such was the life of the Medici family.

Fortunately, they got to "hide" in beautiful mansions like this one. This is an example of the measly shacks in which they were imprisoned. Some may even call it a hovel. Just imagine... they had to eat their meals in this place. Envision the lovely morsels that their servants brought to them on silver platters. Just picture the stale bread and cheese that they had as their only source of nourishment! Also, imagine how they must have felt knowing that their enemies could lay siege to their hovel at any moment. So unsafe, so vulnerable, so frightened...

So completely protected by reinforced steel gates and 24-hour armed guards. So forlorn!

It is difficult to imagine how pale and sickly the Medicis must have been after being confined indoors for so long. How they must have longed to see the beauty of nature! How they must have dreamed of hearing the sound of running water!

Luckily, they had elaborate fountains and lakes within their estate walls...

And woodland trails to meander along with their famous pals. It is truly a wonder that the Medicis survived this long, torturous incarceration with nothing to soothe their nature-starved souls.

Oh, the unequaled hardships of the Medici dynasty!