Story Highlights
- Historical event:
- 11 August 1667
- Despite being the legitimate heir of the Medici family, Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici received only part of that family’s inheritance. Namely, she received the family’s money and huge art collection, but the state of Tuscany was handed over to another family.
This day in 1667 marked the birth of Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, the last living member of the famed Italian Medici family.
Her death in 1743 meant the final extinction of that great family. Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici was born in Florence, the city which housed the family’s headquarters for many centuries.
Her father was the Tuscan grand duke Cosimo III de’ Medici, while her mother was a member of the French Bourbon royal dynasty.
This means that Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici was a descendant of King Henry IV, who was her great-grandfather.
Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici married one of the wealthiest German rulers, Elector Palatine Johann Wilhelm.
Since her brother Gian Gastone de’ Medici, the last Grand Duke of Tuscany, died without an heir, the question of who would rule Tuscany arose.
This was decided by the European great powers, but Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, still received a part of the inheritance.
Namely, she received the family’s money and huge art collection, but the state of Tuscany was handed over to another family.
Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici left her wealth to Tuscany in her will.
