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Historical Background:
Florence, 1382. After the failure of the workers' rebellion, its mentor Selvestro di Medici has been exiled, and the family's fortunes are in decline. A young relation from the poor branch of the family, Giovanni di Bicci, begins his apprenticeship in his cousin's bank.
By the end of the century, Giovanni will take command of the family business and re-establish the Medici as one of the richest and most influential families in Europe. In thirty more years, his son Cosimo will emerge as the undisputed leader of Florence, having skillfully outmaneuvered the rival Albizzi family. He will patronize some of the greatest artists and architects in history, including Donatello, Botticelli, and Brunelleschi. At his death in 1464 he will be honored with the title Pater Patriae, Father of the Fatherland.
The Medici will remain the first family in Florence for three hundred years. Cosimo's grandson Lorenzo will narrowly survive an assassination attempt to become one of the city's most beloved leaders. He will continue the family tradition of patronage, sponsoring perhaps the greatest sculptor of all time, Michelangelo. Lorenzo's son Giovanni will attain the single most powerful office in Europe - the papacy.
As Vasari will later write, the Medici reign in Florence spurred the cultural rebirth of the western world, which he will dub "rinascimento" : the Renaissance.
The Game:
You are the head of the Medici clan. You begin with control of a modest banking business with clients in Rome, Venice, Florence and Milan. You must increase your family's wealth and power through trade, patronage, diplomacy and maybe an assassination or two.
Objectives:
* Control the cities of Firenze, Roma, Pisa, Lucca, and the Vatican
Strategy:
* Establish banking interests [trade routes] in major cities to increase your family's wealth
* Destroy the Albizzi clan
* Sponsor artists to build great works [wonders] in your honor
* Remember that last year's rival may be next year's ally
* Use bribery and extortion to extend your influence in the church
* As always, money talks
TRIBES:
Medici (Fiesole)
Albizzi (Firenze)
Della Rovere (Roma) [?]
Visconti/Sforza (Milano)
Aragona (Napoli)
... (Venezia)
Possibilities for seventh tribe: Rep. of Genoa; Amalgam of smaller territories such as Pisa, Siena, Lucca, Modena, Bologna; France (to invade ca. 1494)
Barbarians = Savonarola's fanatic followers?
Florence, 1382. After the failure of the workers' rebellion, its mentor Selvestro di Medici has been exiled, and the family's fortunes are in decline. A young relation from the poor branch of the family, Giovanni di Bicci, begins his apprenticeship in his cousin's bank.
By the end of the century, Giovanni will take command of the family business and re-establish the Medici as one of the richest and most influential families in Europe. In thirty more years, his son Cosimo will emerge as the undisputed leader of Florence, having skillfully outmaneuvered the rival Albizzi family. He will patronize some of the greatest artists and architects in history, including Donatello, Botticelli, and Brunelleschi. At his death in 1464 he will be honored with the title Pater Patriae, Father of the Fatherland.
The Medici will remain the first family in Florence for three hundred years. Cosimo's grandson Lorenzo will narrowly survive an assassination attempt to become one of the city's most beloved leaders. He will continue the family tradition of patronage, sponsoring perhaps the greatest sculptor of all time, Michelangelo. Lorenzo's son Giovanni will attain the single most powerful office in Europe - the papacy.
As Vasari will later write, the Medici reign in Florence spurred the cultural rebirth of the western world, which he will dub "rinascimento" : the Renaissance.
The Game:
You are the head of the Medici clan. You begin with control of a modest banking business with clients in Rome, Venice, Florence and Milan. You must increase your family's wealth and power through trade, patronage, diplomacy and maybe an assassination or two.
Objectives:
* Control the cities of Firenze, Roma, Pisa, Lucca, and the Vatican
Strategy:
* Establish banking interests [trade routes] in major cities to increase your family's wealth
* Destroy the Albizzi clan
* Sponsor artists to build great works [wonders] in your honor
* Remember that last year's rival may be next year's ally
* Use bribery and extortion to extend your influence in the church
* As always, money talks
TRIBES:
Medici (Fiesole)
Albizzi (Firenze)
Della Rovere (Roma) [?]
Visconti/Sforza (Milano)
Aragona (Napoli)
... (Venezia)
Possibilities for seventh tribe: Rep. of Genoa; Amalgam of smaller territories such as Pisa, Siena, Lucca, Modena, Bologna; France (to invade ca. 1494)
Barbarians = Savonarola's fanatic followers?
And don't listen to anyone else.
(although tot still won't launch on my machine but i think i know how to fix it now
)
), I might have a suggestion (but I didn't look at your map yet...).
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