Members of Florence’s Medici family had risen…
1400 CE
Members of Florence’s Medici family had risen to some prominence in the early fourteenth century in the wool trade, especially with France and Spain.
Despite the presence of some Medicis in the city's government institutions, they are still far less notable than outstanding families such as the Albizzi or the Strozzi.
One Salvestro de' Medici had been speaker of the woolmakers' guild during the Ciompi revolt, and one Antonio had been sentenced to death in 1396.
The involvement in another plot in 1400 causes all branches of the family to be banned from Florence's politics for twenty years, with the exception of two: from one of the latter, that of Averardo (Bicci) de' Medici, will originate the Medici dynasty.
Averardo's son, Giovani di Bicci, will increase the wealth of the family through his creation, in 1397, of the Medici Bank, and become one of the richest men in the city.
Although he is never to hold any political charge, he will gain a strong popular support to the family when he supports the introduction of a proportional taxing system.