Giuliano de Medici had ruled Florence until…
May 1527 CE
Giuliano de Medici had ruled Florence until his death in 1516, and was succeeded by Lorenzo I de’ Medici, Duke of Urbino, who died from syphilis in 1519, just after the birth of his only child, Catherine de' Medici.
The Medici channel all their energy on the Papacy, which Leo X had held from 1513–1521.
Upon Leo's death, the Papacy had passed to Adrian VI, who ruled until 1523; Cardinal Giulio de' Medici had then been elected Pope Clement VII.
Florence at this time is being ruled by Ippolito de' Medici and Alessandro de' Medici, under the guardianship of Cardinal Passerini.
Ippolito is the son of Giuliano de Medici and Alessandro, the alleged son of Clement VII.
Alessandro, born in Florence, is recognized as the only son of Lorenzo II de' Medici (grandson of Lorenzo de' Medici, the Magnificent), but many scholars today believe him to be in fact the illegitimate son of Giulio de' Medici (later Pope Clement VII), nephew of Lorenzo de' Medici, the Magnificent.
Historians (such as Christopher Hibbert) believe he had been born to a servant of African descent who was working in the Medici household, identified in documents as Simonetta da Collevecchio.
The nickname il Moro is said to derive from his features.
When Emperor Charles V sacks Rome in May 1527, the Florentines of the anti-Medici faction, upon learning of the Papal States' defeat, take advantage of the turmoil in Italy to reinstall the Republic, Both Alessandro and Ippolito flee, along with the rest of the Medici and their main supporters, including the Pope's regent, Cardinal Silvio Passerini, with the exception of the eight-year-old Catherine de' Medici, who is left behind.
Michelangelo, at this time occupied in creating a funerary chapel for the Medici, initially takes charge of building fortifications around Florence in support of the Republic; he later temporarily flees the city.
Guicciardini returns to Florence shortly after the Sack of Rome, but the Medici have been expelled from the city, and a republic has been reestablished by the extreme anti-Medici Arrabiati faction.
Because of his close ties to the Medici, Guicciardini is held suspect in his native city.
A new wave of Puritanism swept over Florence.
Jesus Christ is appointed "King of Florence".
Many new restricting fundamentalist laws are passed.