Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

Gian Gastone de' Medici (24 May 1671 – 9 July 1737) was the last Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany. He was the second son of Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Marguerite Louise d'Orléans. His sister, Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, the Electress Palatine, married him to Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg in 1697. The two remained childless and it was common knowledge that Gian Gastone was homosexual. Gian Gastone succeeded his father as Grand Duke in 1723.

Gian Gastone
Grand Duke of Tuscany
Reign	31 October 1723 – 9 July 1737
Predecessor	Cosimo III de' Medici
Successor	Francis Stephen of Lorraine
Born	24 May 1671 Pitti Palace, Florence, Tuscany
Died	9 July 1737(1737-07-09) (aged 66) Pitti Palace, Florence, Tuscany
Burial	Basilica of San Lorenzo
Consort	Anna Maria Franziska of Saxe-Lauenburg
Full name Giovanni Battista Gastone de' Medici
House	House of Medici
Father	Grand Duke Cosimo III de' Medici
Mother	Marguerite Louise d'Orléans
Religion	Roman Catholicism

In his reign he reversed all his father's laws and stopped taxes for poorer people, repealed (got rid of) the anti-Jewish laws and stopped public executions. His father, Cosimo III, wanted the his sister to succeed him but Spain, Great Britain, Austria and the Dutch Republic disregarded and made Charles III of Spain his heir. Charles changed his claim to Francis III of Lorraine. Francis then became the Grand Duke on 9 July 1737 ending almost 300 years of Medici rule over Florence.

Titles and styles

• 24 May 1671 - 30 October 1713: His Highness Prince Gian Gastone
• 30 October 1713 - 31 October 1723: His Royal Highness The Grand Prince [of Tuscany]
• 31 October 1723 - 9 July 1737: His Royal Highness The Most Serene Grand Duke [of Tuscany]