Medici, Ferdinand II de'
Medici, Ferdinand II de',
1610–70, grand duke of Tuscany (1620–70); son and successor of Cosimo II de' MediciMedici, Cosimo II de',1590–1621, grand duke of Tuscany (1609–21); son and successor of Ferdinand I de' Medici. Although Cosimo played a role in the War of the Mantuan Succession, he generally avoided intervention in foreign affairs; in domestic policy he was less
..... Click the link for more information. . A pupil of Galileo, he founded (1657) the Accademia del Cimento, the first European academy of natural sciences. As a ruler, Ferdinand was weak, and his lavish expenses drained the family fortune. His son, Cosimo III de' MediciMedici, Cosimo III de',
1642–1723, grand duke of Tuscany (1670–1723); son and successor of Ferdinand II de' Medici. During his long reign the government of Tuscany degenerated into bigoted and corrupt despotism.
..... Click the link for more information. , succeeded him.