Eleanor of Toledo - Knowledge

840: 319: 848: 526: 375: 418:. This showed the new Duke's policy of "creating an organic relationship between artists and the principality." The couple had a peaceful domestic life: surprisingly for the era, her husband was faithful throughout their long marriage. The ducal couple served as an example of a traditional couple, which served to strengthen Cosimo's various reforms and separate their association with the former Duke, who was assassinated by another member of the Medici family without leaving legitimate heirs and consolidating the dynasty's strength in Tuscany after years of politically damaging speculation about his excesses and sexual irregularities. He was reputed to have been the son of a black serving woman and 387:, illegitimate daughter of Charles V and Alessandro's widow, but she displayed enormous reluctance at the idea to serve her father's own plans for her. Not wanting to antagonize Cosimo though, the Emperor offered him one of the daughters of the rich Viceroy of Naples. The bride would provide the Medici with a powerful link to Spain, at that time ultimately in control of Florence, offering the opportunity to show sufficient loyalty and trust to Spain so that its troops would retire from the province. Remembering Eleanor, Cosimo firmly refused the Viceroy's first offer of his eldest and duller daughter, Isabella. Her father agreed and provided a large amount of money for Eleanor as dowry. 803: 782:

Roselli. Scholars are unsure if Eleanora created the recipe or if her name was merely attached to Roselli's product for marketing purposes. Nevertheless, attaching people of nobility to products became standard practice among producers. Scholars also argue that Eleanora could be responsible for the introduction of a perfume named 'The Queen of Naples's Angel Water' to the Medici court. All perfumes at this time were meant to protect and strengthen the brain from malignant humors, but this one was also good for the heart because it contained myrtle and

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transnational and international economy of Italy and Europe. Holding this position allowed her to receive and exchange new pharmaceuticals making their way through Europe alongside other luxury goods. The inclusion of new medicinals amongst diplomatic gifts helped transform them into forms of political currency, as some medicinals and pharmaceuticals were more difficult to obtain due to political conflict, price, or availability. For example, a medicinal clay known as

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the brim with satisfaction, and I want to assure of this." Riccio then added that when Eleanor received letters from her fiancé "she took pride in having understood them on her own, without anyone's help." She was quickly working on her reading knowledge of Italian, something she probably hadn't been interested in developing while living in a Spanish court. On 11 June 17 years-old Eleanor set sail from Naples, accompanied by her brother Garcia with seven

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families inaugurated another era of stability and strength in Tuscany. Their royal ancestors provided the Medici with the blue blood they had lacked and began the process of placing them on equal footing with other European sovereigns. The couple had eleven children, though only five sons and three daughters reached maturity:

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For centuries after her death, the myth pervaded that Garzia had murdered his brother Giovanni following a dispute in 1562. Cosimo was said to then have murdered Garzia with his own sword and the distraught Eleanor died a week later from grief. The truth, proven by modern-day exhumations and forensic

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Contemporary accounts of Eleanor give a different picture than her cold, stern portraits might lead people to assume. Much like her husband, the Duchess was realistic, practical, and determined, quietly but surely making important actions. Though Eleanor was sick for much of her adult life, suffering

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that eventually led to the first Jesuit school in Florence. Laínez eventually gained her affection, to the point that she became a constant intercessor to Cosimo on the order's behalf and founded many new churches in the city. However, she didn't completely embrace the entire Jesuit society nor their

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Eleanor's founding of Santissima Concezione contributed to her legacy since the convent's artistic commissions further reinforce the fact that she was the patron. They include "a bust of and the coat of arms of the Duke and Duchess painted on the communion window between the sisters and the altar".

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Although she didn't support the Spaniards gaining control of Florence, Eleanor showed pride in her birthplace and preferred to write in Spanish than Italian, which sometimes causes communication problems in letters with her husband. Jesuits sent Spanish priests to negotiate with the Duchess, as "she

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Eleanora made household medicine political by bartering healthcare for favors both within and outside the court, contributing to the long-established patronage system. How medicine was employed at the court reinforced a ranking system marked by status, but Eleanora also extended access to healthcare

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Although Florentines initially thought of her as a Spanish barbarian and enemy to her husband's homeland, Eleanor not only made solid donations to Florentine charities but to their policies. She financially supported Cosimo's policies to restore the duchy's independence from foreign lands and helped

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Eleanore and Cosimo were married by proxy on 29 March 1539. No sooner was the agreement reached than the couple began to correspond. In May, Florencian agent Jacobo de' Medici was in Naples and informed the ducal secretary, Pierfrancesco Riccio, that "The Lady Duchess says she is happy and filled to

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In May 1534, two years after her father's appointment as Viceroy of Naples, Eleanor, her mother, and siblings joined him in Italy. The children were brought up in the strict and closed surroundings of the Spanish viceregal court. 13-year-old Eleanor seems not to have attracted much attention, except

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court. Eleanora was instrumental in constructing a formal medical court denoted by a system of hierarchy. Her knowledge and rank often put her in regular contact with court physicians and allowed her to influence important medical decisions. In 1544, Eleanora adeptly instructed Andrea Pasquali, the

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Eleanor was remembered for her majestic facial features shown in portraits. She was very fashion-conscious and continually employed both gold and silver weavers for her clothes. On the other hand, this may not have been done out of simple vanity. Twenty-first century forensic examinations revealed

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An emphasis on domestic healthcare, largely spearheaded by women, was common practice during the early modern period until the nineteenth century. Women acquired both practical and technical medical knowledge through hands on experience and the oral tradition of passing down medical knowledge. Not

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manifested through skin lesions and abnormalities, clear skin increasingly became the standard of beauty. As a result, clear skin became tied to one's social and economic status or nobility. Eleanora's name is attached to a popular face tonic made and distributed by the court provisioner Stefano

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Since her death, historians have tended to overlook Eleanor's importance to Florentine history and today she is often thought of as just another consort. This is probably due to the numerous portraits painted of her extravagant dresses and the bad press she received from her Florentine subjects

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Before her marriage, the Medici line had been in danger of extinction. Both Eleanor and Cosimo heard reports of their children's progress and offered directions for their education, living arrangements, and clothing. The birth of male heirs and daughters who could be married into other ruling

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Similar to her mother-in-law, Eleanora demonstrated proficient pharmaceutical ability and knowledge, as a number of correspondences indicate her proclivity for ordering or instructing the creation of medicinal remedies and recipes. Due to her status as Duchess, Eleanora was exposed to the

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Eventually, Eleanor gained considerable influence in Florence through her involvement in politics, to the point that Cosimo often consulted with her. So great was his trust in her political skills that in his frequent absences, the Duke made his wife

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Eleanor's high profile in Florence as ducal consort was initially a public relations exercise promoted by her husband, who needed to reassure the public of the stability and respectability of not only his family, but the new reign. Her motto was

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of Florence during his frequent absences: Eleanor ruled during Cosimo's military campaigns in Genoa in 1541 and 1543, his illness from 1544 to 1545, and again at times during the war for the conquest of Siena (1551–1554). She founded many

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Part of Eleanor's final will and testament was the creation and funding of the prestigious but exclusive convent Santissima Concezione, the daughter house of one of her favorite convents, Le Murate. It was built around the

688:. It is thought that the redecorations were a concerted effort on the middle age Eleanor's part to reshape her public persona away from fecundity and towards other her virtues – wisdom, valour, and prudence. 382:

Three years later, Cosimo, now Duke of Florence, was searching for a wife who could help strengthen his political position since the Medici were still new to their ducal status. He initially asked to marry

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by Agnolo Bronzino, 1545. It is considered the first state portrait to depict a ruler's wife with his heir. The picture was intended to demonstrate the wealth, domesticity, and continuity of the Medici.

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made it difficult to produce and procure throughout Europe. Her possession of the valuable clay solidified her status as a noblewoman with the power to influence wider medicinal networks of exchange.

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for many relatives, visitors, and courtiers. The early Medici court held an account at the Canto del Giglio apothecary for the benefit of its courtiers, which helped secure future political support.

911:. The palazzo is now the largest museum complex in Florence as later generations amassed paintings, jewelry, and luxurious possessions. Her iconic dress is today in the care of Pitti's 831:

she had a significant calcium deficiency, a consequence of constant pregnancies. This medical condition may have caused her much ill health, dental pain, and a poor overall appearance.

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Knowledgeable in daily care routines and rituals, standard medical practices, and newer medicines originating in Asia, Eleanora could be found at the center of medicine in the early

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COX-REARICK, JANET. "Power-Dressing at the Courts of Cosimo De' Medici and François I: The 'Moda Alla Spagnola' of Spanish Consorts Eléonore D'Autriche and Eleonora Di Toledo".

871:, Eleanor died after on 17 December, in the presence of her disconsolate husband and a Jesuit confessor. Her funeral was held in 28 December, before she was buried in the 707:, which possess an openness and expansive view unconventional for its time. The gardens were very lavish and no access was allowed to anyone outside the immediate Medici. 907:

The rebuilding of the Pitti Palace was only partially completed at the time of Eleanor's death, but eventually became the principal residence of the grand rulers of

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after she received a gash on her head while playing. Using substances like human fat for medical remedies was common practice in Iberia and utilized by the

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Barker, Sheila (2016). "The Contributions of Medici Women to Medicine in Grand Ducal Tuscany and Beyond". In Assonitis, Alessio; Sandberg, Brian (eds.).

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was gifted to Eleanora from Istanbul in 1553. The clay could be used as an antidote for poison and cure for general maladies. However, conflict with the

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Landini, Roberta Orsi and Niccola Bruna, "Moda a Firenze 1540-1580: Lo stile di Eleonora di Toledo e la sua influenza", Mauro Pagliai, Italy (2005).

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Konrad Eisenbichler (2004). The Cultural World of Eleonora di Toledo: Duchess of Florence and Siena. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing.

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river in 1549 as a summer retreat for the Medici. In 1550, she commissioned and supervised Tribolo to create the Pitti's famous

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Siena, Kevin; Reinarz, Jonathan (2013). "Scratching the Surface: An Introduction". In Reinarz, Jonathan; Siena, Kevin (eds.).

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and halfway through, met Cosimo. After a short stay in Pisa, the couple left for Florence, stopping for a few days at the

2222: 2182: 2177: 2172: 1036: 747: 525: 442: 374: 338:, Viceroy of Naples, and Maria Osorio y Pimentel, 2nd Marquise of Villafranca. Her father was the lieutenant-governor of 472: 17: 2009: 1990: 1976: 1957: 1871: 1718: 1693: 1668: 1640: 1561: 1509: 1475: 468: 407: 346:. On her paternal side, Eleanor was the third cousin of the Emperor since their great-grandmothers were daughters of 176: 427: 676:

in her apartments about famous women whose actions, in his words, have equalled or surpassed men, such as Queen

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science, was that Eleanor and her sons, as the Medici family had always claimed, died together from malaria.

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Like her husband, Eleanor was a notable patron to many of the most artists of the age like Agnolo Bronzino,

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while travelling to Pisa in 1562. Her sons died before her and within weeks of each other. Weakened by her

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Her proximity to medicine and pharmaceuticals extended to the developing field of cosmetics and beauty. As

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In the earlier part of her marriage, the Medici family lived in Florence's Via Larga at what is now the

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played an influential role in court medicine, bringing family recipes to the courts they married into.

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A pious woman, Eleanor made donations to and visited several convents. In 1547, Juan Polanco, sent by

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court physician, to formulate and administer a salve made out of distilled human fat to her daughter

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in 1541 and 1543, his illness from 1544 to 1545, and again at times when the war for the conquest of

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40-year-old Eleanor and two of her sons, 19-year-old Giovanni and 15-year-old Garzia, got sick from

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Eleanor was very keen and interested in business, especially regarding agriculture. She owned great

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and later at the Palazzo Vecchio. Raised in the luxurious courts of Naples, Eleanor purchased the

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provided festive decor, the first instance for artistic renewal in Florence after the disastrous

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to create and distribute more perfumes throughout the Florentine and other Renaissance courts.

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following. They arrived at Livorno on the morning of 22 June. That same morning, she left for

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This article is about the wife of Cosimo I de' Medici. For the wife of Pietro de' Medici, see

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were shipped as far as Spain. The Duchess managed and sold her goods wisely, which helped to

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farming. An additional business she took part in was mining. Her harvests were plentiful and

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in its composition. Scholars believe it was the introduction of this perfume that inspired

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29 June 1539 marked Eleanor and Cosimo's grandiose entrance from the Porta al Prato to the

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in their colonies, highlighting the wide breadth of medical knowledge Eleanora possessed.

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confined to the common household however, noblewomen like Eleanora and her mother-in-law

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with the Duke realize that through the Duchess their causes could at least be pleaded.

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was decorated by Bronzino. From 1559 to 1564, she commissioned Vasari to make a new

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Marburg, Germany: Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, vol. 3. pt. 3, 1985, tables 532b–533.

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Nuns’ Chronicles and Convent Culture in Renaissance and Counter-Reformation Italy,

503:(30 July 1549 – 17 February 1609): Succeeded his brother as Grand Duke of Tuscany. 787: 763: 742: 716: 669: 455:(25 March 1541 – 19 October 1587): Succeeded his father as Grand Duke of Tuscany. 411: 400: 254: 54: 617: 541:(meaning "happy fruitfulness with chastity"), making reference to the plentiful 2105: 872: 751: 735: 704: 658: 616:

college. She refused Polanco's petition, but later undertook negotiations with

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Katherine Turner, "Il Monastero Nuovo: Cloistered Women of the Medici Court,”

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of the vast Medici estates. Through her charitable interests, the lot of the

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Pietro (10 August 1546 – 10 June 1547): Known as "Pedricco". Died in infancy.

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Forgotten healers women and the pursuit of health in Late Renaissance Italy

1759: 696: 642: 638: 290: 281:; 11 January 1522 – 17 December 1562) was a Spanish noblewoman who became 2019:

Eleonora di Toledo - Renaissance and Reformation - Oxford Bibliographies

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The Cultural World of Eleonora di Toledo: Duchess of Florence and Sienna

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