Cosimo I de' Medici

Cosimo I
Portrait of Cosimo I de' Medici, c. 1545
Duke of Florence
Reign	6 January 1537 – 21 August 1569
Predecessor	Alessandro
Grand Duke of Tuscany
Reign	21 August 1569 – 21 April 1574
Successor	Francesco I
Born	12 June 1519 Florence, Republic of Florence
Died	21 April 1574(1574-04-21) (aged 54) Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Spouse	Eleanor of Toledo ​ ​ (m. 1539; died 1562)​ Camilla Martelli ​ ​ (m. 1570)​
Issue more...	Bia de' Medici Maria de' Medici Francesco I de' Medici Isabella, Duchess of Bracciano Cardinal Giovanni Lucrezia, Duchess of Modena Garzia Ferdinando I de' Medici Pietro Virginia, Duchess of Modena
Names Cosimo I de' Medici
House	Medici
Father	Giovanni delle Bande Nere
Mother	Maria Salviati
Religion	Catholicism
Signature

Cosimo I de' Medici (12 June 1519 – 21 April 1574) was the second and last duke of Florence from 1537 until 1569, when he became the first grand duke of Tuscany, a title he held until his death. Cosimo I succeeded his cousin to the duchy. He built the Uffizi (office) to organize his administration, and conquered Siena to consolidate Florence's rule in Tuscany. He expanded the Pitti Palace and most of the Boboli Gardens were also laid out during his reign.