Alfonsina Orsini
Alfonsina Orsini (1472 – 7 February 1520) was a Regent of Florence. She governed the Republic of Florence during the absences of her son in the period of 1515–1519. Her rule was feared as a sign of the end of republican government there. She was born from a noble family and raised in the royal court of Naples. She was the spouse of Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici from 1488 and the mother of Lorenzo II de' Medici. She helped restore the Medicis to power after they had been exiled. She worked to secure a French royal marriage for her son, and was also influential at the court of Pope Leo X, her brother-in-law.
Alfonsina Orsini | |
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Portrait of a woman considered to be Alfonsina Orsini, attributed to Sandro Botticelli | |
| Born | 1472 |
| Died | 7 February 1520 (aged 48) Rome |
| Buried | Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo |
| Noble family | Orsini family |
| Spouse(s) | Piero di Lorenzo de' Medici |
| Issue | Clarice de' Medici Lorenzo de' Medici, Duke of Urbino Luisa de' Medici |
| Father | Roberto Orsini, Conte of Pacentro |
| Mother | Caterina Sanseverino |
Throughout her life, she used her wealth, position, and connections to help the poor and underrepresented. She also used them to further her family's power and wealth. She was a patron of the arts and architecture, both in Florence and in Rome. This included renovation of religious buildings as well as construction of palaces for the family.