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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ferdinando II de' Medici (14 July 1610 – 23 May 1670) reigned as Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1621 until 1670. His reign of 49 years witnessed the first stages of Tuscany's decline as a European power and the collapse of its economy. He tried to rule well, but lacked the strength of will to effect reform.
Ferdinando II | |
---|---|
Reign | 28 February 1621 – 23 May 1670 |
Predecessor | Cosimo II de' Medici |
Successor | Cosimo III de' Medici |
Consort | Vittoria della Rovere |
Issue | Cosimo III de' Medici Cardinal Francesco Maria de' Medici |
House | House of Medici |
Father | Cosimo II de' Medici |
Mother | Maria Maddalena of Austria |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
The eldest child of Grand Duke Cosimo II and Maria Maddalena of Austria, Ferdinando married, at the instigation of his grandmother-regent, Christina of Lorraine, Vittoria della Rovere, his first cousin and the heiress of the Duchy of Urbino. She bore him two children to surivive to adulthood, Cosimo, Ferdinano's successor as Grand Duke, and Francesco Maria, a Prince of the Church.
Having a marked interest in science, Ferdinando patronised Galileo Galilei, his father's tutor, and collected scientific instruments, like hygrometers, barometers, thermometers, and telescopes. With his brother Cardinal Leopoldo, Ferdinando foudned the Accademia del Cimento. This was one the first scientific academies in Europe.