Citizenship and inheritance law in Florence: Round two of the conflict between and Borromei and Pazzi

Abstract

In 2020 Renaissance Studies [34 (2020): 243–59] published an essay entitled “Lorenzo de' Medici and Inheritance Law in Florence,” discussing the use of legislation by Lorenzo de' Medici to advantage Carlo Borromei in inheritance from his uncle, to the disadvantage of his cousin, Beatrice, who was married to a Pazzi. The legislation removed legal uncertainty in Florentine inheritance law. Another consilium for the Pazzi has emerged, arising in the aftermath of the legislation, taking an entirely different path to try to deny Carlo Borromei full access to the estate, on the grounds he was not a Florentine citizen and so unable to enjoy the benefits of Florence's new statute. The author of the consilium was a Sienese. His arguments shift the grounds of discussion, while not entirely escaping the whiff of sour grapes by the Pazzi at having lost in the first round. Citizenship emerges as a performative matter, described in terms of things like residence and tax paying. But it was also a matter at the discretion of other citizens. The renewed legal assault on the Borromei offers insight into the many meanings and dimensions of citizenship, as well as the resolve, soon to become fatal, of the Pazzi.