Eleonora of the Albizzi
Eleonora was the daughter of an ancient Florentine family of moderate means. Her parents were Luigi degli Albizzi and Nannina Soderini. With the consent of her father, by 1565, at the age of about 23–24 years, she became the mistress of the Cosimo I, who had been a widower since the death of Eleonora of Toledo in 1562. In 1566, Albizzi bore the duke a daughter who soon died as an infant. In 1567, she bore him a son, Giovanni.
Rumors began to circulate that Cosimo wished to legitimize his union to Eleonora. Tradition holds that his long-time chamberlain Sforza Almeni of Perugia shared the duke's desires with Francesco I, the legitimate heir who was increasingly the dominant force in the government. Francesco, likely worried about the entry of potential heirs and a step-mother, scolded his father about those plans. Thereupon, seized by rage because his secret desires had been revealed, on May 22, 1566, the grand duke is said to have personally stabbed his chamberlain to death. This event, along with others such as the rumored murder of Filippo Strozzi the Younger, reinforced a perception that Cosimo was possessed of an excessively passionate, if not bloodthirsty, ruthlessness.
The love affair between Cosimo and Eleonora quickly cooled, and by 1567 she was forced to marry the dishonored nobleman Carlo Panciatichi. Cosimo meanwhile began an affair with another young woman, Camilla Martelli. Panchiato had faced execution for rebellion and was herewith pardoned and granted a reward of 10 thousand scudi for taking on Eleonora. It is unclear what role Cosimo's legitimate children played in arranging to remove the Albizzi family from the grand duke's orbit.
Eleonora had three children with Carlo. However, in 1578, she was accused of adultery and confined to the Monastery of Fuligno. She lived at the monastery for the last 56 years of her life.
Rumors began to circulate that Cosimo wished to legitimize his union to Eleonora. Tradition holds that his long-time chamberlain Sforza Almeni of Perugia shared the duke's desires with Francesco I, the legitimate heir who was increasingly the dominant force in the government. Francesco, likely worried about the entry of potential heirs and a step-mother, scolded his father about those plans. Thereupon, seized by rage because his secret desires had been revealed, on May 22, 1566, the grand duke is said to have personally stabbed his chamberlain to death. This event, along with others such as the rumored murder of Filippo Strozzi the Younger, reinforced a perception that Cosimo was possessed of an excessively passionate, if not bloodthirsty, ruthlessness.
The love affair between Cosimo and Eleonora quickly cooled, and by 1567 she was forced to marry the dishonored nobleman Carlo Panciatichi. Cosimo meanwhile began an affair with another young woman, Camilla Martelli. Panchiato had faced execution for rebellion and was herewith pardoned and granted a reward of 10 thousand scudi for taking on Eleonora. It is unclear what role Cosimo's legitimate children played in arranging to remove the Albizzi family from the grand duke's orbit.
Eleonora had three children with Carlo. However, in 1578, she was accused of adultery and confined to the Monastery of Fuligno. She lived at the monastery for the last 56 years of her life.