ALESSANDRO DE' MEDICI , POPE LEO XI

SELVI, Antonio: Italy, ca.1740, Bronze (cast), 87 mm
Obv: Bust (l)    LEO. XI. PONT. OPT. MAX
Rev: Prostrate lion on rock with a swarm of bees coming out of open mouth    DE. FORTI. DVLCEDO
Ref: from Serie Medicea, Vannel and Toderi 295; Johnson 184, Fig 198

Alessandro de' Medici (1535-1605) was born in Florence. He acted as Cosimo de' Medici's ambassador in Rome from 1569, was made bishop of Pistoia in 1573, archbishop of Florence in 1574, and cardinal in 1583. He was elected Pope Leo XI on April 1, 1605, succeeding Clement VIII, but died on April 27 of the same year, just 26 days after becoming Pope. While in his various offices, his sympathies were very pro-French.

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