Welcome to the Blog of Ciacomo Mocenigo of Florence
Who Am I?
Hello, there! My name is Giacomo Mocenigo, and I live in Florence. I’ll try to get my posts up here a bit earlier, but our eight-course dinner ran a little late tonight. I wanted to just give you a little background about my youth. I grew up in a fairly small, wealthy family of bankers, who lived here in Florence. We would go to Catholic Mass often, and I started my education very young. My parents have always believed that with a great education, a great future lies ahead. My mom started to teach me when I was little, about 3 or 4 years old. Our sessions were conducted in Latin, and she’d have me recite some passages from memory. In addition, we would study history, philosophy, music, science, arithmetic and Greek. I loved my early years of education; our discourse was actually quite lively! Since I wanted to stay in the family business of banking, I didn’t attend university, but rather, fulfilled an apprenticeship with my father. It’s because of my top-notch education with my mother and apprenticeship with my father that I am where I am today.
In terms of my family life, things are pretty standard. My father had arranged for my current wife, Antonietta, to come from overseas to marry me, as her family proved to be a vital client for our business. Antonietta gave birth to five children, but unfortunately, our fourth child died shortly after birth, so we have but four today. Nevertheless, our villa is still quite full! Even though it’s just our immediate family living here, we have 32 servants to tend to our every need. During the day, while I go to work, Antonietta stays home to teach the children. Though I can’t say that our relationship was a match made in heaven, it certainly works out logistically. I manage the taxes and my business, and she manages the villa. Speaking of our house, we live in a spacious stone villa, on a hill, overlooking our beautiful city of Florence. We even have an outside garden! The interior looks just as sophisticated; there is lots of classic furniture, and our dining room table is marked with tasteful ceramic plates.
Florence was one of the first cities in Italy to experience a “rebirth” of the liberal arts. At the top of the pecking order, in terms of social class, are the merchants, bankers and other nobles, like the Medici, Rucellai, Peruzzi and the Bardi. These are then followed by artisans, and then by the laborers. Florence also prides itself on being a very democratic city-state. The Ordinances of Justice, our constitution, was officially passed in 1293. It decreed that no one on the top, like a noble, or on the bottom, like a laborer, could assume power. Instead, our leaders, like the Magistrate (Head of Government) and our Chief of Police come from the most prominent guilds of merchants. Also, to make sure that our politicians don’t assume too much power, political terms are extremely short. Our primary governing body, the Signora, undergoes personnel changes every two months. Economically, Florence has two main industries: wool-cloth production, and banking. My family members, for as far back as I’ve been told, have been bankers. Up until the Black Death, our family business had been going along excellently. Unfortunately, when the plague hit, all of Florence’s banks collapsed. Even now, we are still in a period of recovery. Nevertheless, I’m still doing well enough to live in our spacious villa, and enjoy the privileges of a multitude of servants.
I hope that you truly enjoyed learning about my family, my home, my city and me. I’ll try to keep you informed with my weekly blog posts. Goodbye for now!
In terms of my family life, things are pretty standard. My father had arranged for my current wife, Antonietta, to come from overseas to marry me, as her family proved to be a vital client for our business. Antonietta gave birth to five children, but unfortunately, our fourth child died shortly after birth, so we have but four today. Nevertheless, our villa is still quite full! Even though it’s just our immediate family living here, we have 32 servants to tend to our every need. During the day, while I go to work, Antonietta stays home to teach the children. Though I can’t say that our relationship was a match made in heaven, it certainly works out logistically. I manage the taxes and my business, and she manages the villa. Speaking of our house, we live in a spacious stone villa, on a hill, overlooking our beautiful city of Florence. We even have an outside garden! The interior looks just as sophisticated; there is lots of classic furniture, and our dining room table is marked with tasteful ceramic plates.
Florence was one of the first cities in Italy to experience a “rebirth” of the liberal arts. At the top of the pecking order, in terms of social class, are the merchants, bankers and other nobles, like the Medici, Rucellai, Peruzzi and the Bardi. These are then followed by artisans, and then by the laborers. Florence also prides itself on being a very democratic city-state. The Ordinances of Justice, our constitution, was officially passed in 1293. It decreed that no one on the top, like a noble, or on the bottom, like a laborer, could assume power. Instead, our leaders, like the Magistrate (Head of Government) and our Chief of Police come from the most prominent guilds of merchants. Also, to make sure that our politicians don’t assume too much power, political terms are extremely short. Our primary governing body, the Signora, undergoes personnel changes every two months. Economically, Florence has two main industries: wool-cloth production, and banking. My family members, for as far back as I’ve been told, have been bankers. Up until the Black Death, our family business had been going along excellently. Unfortunately, when the plague hit, all of Florence’s banks collapsed. Even now, we are still in a period of recovery. Nevertheless, I’m still doing well enough to live in our spacious villa, and enjoy the privileges of a multitude of servants.
I hope that you truly enjoyed learning about my family, my home, my city and me. I’ll try to keep you informed with my weekly blog posts. Goodbye for now!
Personal Business Plan
Good day! I’m back with my personal business plan for making my fortune. Let me know what you think. I wanted to first give you an overview of the basic economic situation that I am in, along with the economy of my city, Florence. As I had mentioned in my “Getting to Know Me” post, I’m a moderately successful banker, and banking has been my family’s business for generations. We were extremely profitable until the Black Death hit our city, but then we crashed. Even today, we are still recovering, and my family has tasked me with creating a new business proposal in order to “drum up” more business in this period of recovery. As far as the economy of Florence goes, two main industries come to mind: banking and wool cloth.
With my business plan, I hope to create a life where my family no longer has to constantly worry about ways to increase our business. Ideally, things can go back to the way they were before the Black Death. As I’m told, life was splendid then; my family hardly had to lift a finger, our bank was so prosperous. I feel as if my generation is indebted to our ancestors who lost so much as a result of the awful pandemic. We need to make up what they had worked so hard for.
Now, back to my business plan! I’ve noticed a significant change in the merchant class; no longer are they purely exchanging goods, but also money. In fact, they’re becoming more and more like bankers. Perhaps I can begin to do business with this new, big class of people that hasn’t really been touched yet. There is also a huge profit to be made if somehow the Pope keeps his money in your bank. I was going to draft a proposal, asking him to kindly invest a portion of his money in my bank.
While many merchants are becoming more like bankers, trade is still vital to Florence’s economy. Unfortunately, Florence, geographically speaking, is not a very good trading location. There are few roads that lead to other key Italian cities, and there is but one major river on which Florence is situated, the Arno River. After Florence’s successful conquest of Pisa, which is conveniently situated on the Arno River, I decided to sail down to meet with some merchants from Pisa. After careful consideration, I think that I will contact Marsilio Farnese. I’ll propose that I’ll fund 5% of the costs of his international trading, if he invests the majority (more than 50%) of his money in my bank. I believe that this deal will bode well for me, as Pisa has a fairly good geography for trading. In addition to its advantageous location on the Arno, it is also within a mere 50 miles of the eastern coast of Italy.
In addition to banking and trade, the wool-cloth industry is incredibly prosperous here in Florence. Unfortunately, I know nothing about linen weaving, so I plan to propose a deal to Mario Bellini, one of Florence’s most prominent wool/linen traders. Similar to the deal I made with Marsilio Farnese, I’ll propose that I’ll fund 5% of the international trading costs, so long as Mario Bellini keeps the majority (more than 50%) of his money in my bank. With this agreement, I’ll be able to capitalize on one of Florence’s most profitable industries.
In addition to my work in business, I’d really like to get involved in politics, but the Ordinances of Justice, Florence’s constitution, bans nobles, like myself, from assuming absolute political power. Instead, guilds (groups of merchants, artisans, or craftsman) are the groups that hold some of the power. I was thinking of creating a new guild for bankers; many of my employees at my bank are also eager to assume some sort of political power. As a guild, we could meet with the Florence’s officials, and even discuss some of Florence’s most pressing issues. We might even gain the ability to vote for our officials. As it stands now in Florence, the true power rests with influential families, like the Medici and the Albizzi. These families employ some of the best scholars, artists and intellectuals that Italy has to offer. For example, before the Medici, Florence's legislation was controlled by two bodies of about 3oo. When the Medici rose to power, however, the two bodies were shrunken down to fewer voices, 100 and 70, and the majority of these representatives were, in some way or the other, connected to the Medici! Even though Florence’s politics are truly controlled by families like the Medici and the Albizzi, it would certainly be nice to have my voice heard!
I hope that you enjoyed learning about how I plan to forge economic and political power. Please let me know what you think of my proposal!
With my business plan, I hope to create a life where my family no longer has to constantly worry about ways to increase our business. Ideally, things can go back to the way they were before the Black Death. As I’m told, life was splendid then; my family hardly had to lift a finger, our bank was so prosperous. I feel as if my generation is indebted to our ancestors who lost so much as a result of the awful pandemic. We need to make up what they had worked so hard for.
Now, back to my business plan! I’ve noticed a significant change in the merchant class; no longer are they purely exchanging goods, but also money. In fact, they’re becoming more and more like bankers. Perhaps I can begin to do business with this new, big class of people that hasn’t really been touched yet. There is also a huge profit to be made if somehow the Pope keeps his money in your bank. I was going to draft a proposal, asking him to kindly invest a portion of his money in my bank.
While many merchants are becoming more like bankers, trade is still vital to Florence’s economy. Unfortunately, Florence, geographically speaking, is not a very good trading location. There are few roads that lead to other key Italian cities, and there is but one major river on which Florence is situated, the Arno River. After Florence’s successful conquest of Pisa, which is conveniently situated on the Arno River, I decided to sail down to meet with some merchants from Pisa. After careful consideration, I think that I will contact Marsilio Farnese. I’ll propose that I’ll fund 5% of the costs of his international trading, if he invests the majority (more than 50%) of his money in my bank. I believe that this deal will bode well for me, as Pisa has a fairly good geography for trading. In addition to its advantageous location on the Arno, it is also within a mere 50 miles of the eastern coast of Italy.
In addition to banking and trade, the wool-cloth industry is incredibly prosperous here in Florence. Unfortunately, I know nothing about linen weaving, so I plan to propose a deal to Mario Bellini, one of Florence’s most prominent wool/linen traders. Similar to the deal I made with Marsilio Farnese, I’ll propose that I’ll fund 5% of the international trading costs, so long as Mario Bellini keeps the majority (more than 50%) of his money in my bank. With this agreement, I’ll be able to capitalize on one of Florence’s most profitable industries.
In addition to my work in business, I’d really like to get involved in politics, but the Ordinances of Justice, Florence’s constitution, bans nobles, like myself, from assuming absolute political power. Instead, guilds (groups of merchants, artisans, or craftsman) are the groups that hold some of the power. I was thinking of creating a new guild for bankers; many of my employees at my bank are also eager to assume some sort of political power. As a guild, we could meet with the Florence’s officials, and even discuss some of Florence’s most pressing issues. We might even gain the ability to vote for our officials. As it stands now in Florence, the true power rests with influential families, like the Medici and the Albizzi. These families employ some of the best scholars, artists and intellectuals that Italy has to offer. For example, before the Medici, Florence's legislation was controlled by two bodies of about 3oo. When the Medici rose to power, however, the two bodies were shrunken down to fewer voices, 100 and 70, and the majority of these representatives were, in some way or the other, connected to the Medici! Even though Florence’s politics are truly controlled by families like the Medici and the Albizzi, it would certainly be nice to have my voice heard!
I hope that you enjoyed learning about how I plan to forge economic and political power. Please let me know what you think of my proposal!
Response to "The Prince"
Greetings! I’m back from reading an excerpt from Machiavelli’s “The Prince, ” which I believe contains true insight into how a ruler should lead his city. I’ve always felt that anyone in any sort of power should exercise his/her power, demonstrating his/her control. As a wealthy Italian prince, I've tried to demonstrate my power whenever I could. For example, as you might have already read above, I've begun the process of forming a banker's guild, so that I can assume even more political power. In order to convince the public of their decisions, princes must also self-advocate. These ideas are central to Machiavelli’s perspective on political leadership. I also agree with Machiavelli’s idea of what the relationship between a prince and his people should look like. In order to be successful, princes must be liked and appreciated by their citizens. He also can’t let public opinion faze him. Most importantly, however, is the style in which he leads. Machiavelli argues that princes must be cruel to a certain degree, so that disorder doesn’t go unpunished. Otherwise, murderers, looters, and other criminals will take over the city. I, too, value strict leadership. Also emphasized is the fact that a prince must be realistic. He has to pick and choose only his most important battles. Further, he can’t uphold promises that he made previously that would potentially damage his city. On the topic of generosity, a prince can’t be too liberal in his giving. If he gives too much, he must increase the taxes of his citizens. With this increase in taxes, the public will become angered, sharing a feeling of dislike for the prince. Instead, a prince must be more conservative in his giving. However, when he does give, a prince must make his generosity widely known to his subjects, so that they are aware of his generosity. Finally, Machiavelli wisely says that a prince must be like a lion and a fox: a lion to be aggressive towards enemies, and the fox to be aware of any traps that lie ahead. Just a few weeks ago, a group of people came to my villa, claiming that they had ventured from afar. They stated that they had gone without food or water for days, and asked to come inside my villa for some food and water. I could tell that there was something "fishy" about them, so I denied them access to my villa. A few days later, I heard from some of my associates that a group of bandits, disguised as weary travelers, has been ransacking villas throughout the city. Had I not been cunning and slightly on edge, like Machiavelli suggested, I could have lost my villa!
Overall, I found Machiavelli’s ideas to be thoughtful, engaging, and quite useful. On the point of being cruel in order to protect your city, I, too, have always valued safety, security, and discipline rather than public opinion. I also am in agreement with Machiavelli’s ideas on upholding promises: Only honor a promise if it somehow improves your city, not just to be kind to the other individual.
Have any of you read Machiavelli’s “The Prince?” What did you think of it? Please comment below!
Overall, I found Machiavelli’s ideas to be thoughtful, engaging, and quite useful. On the point of being cruel in order to protect your city, I, too, have always valued safety, security, and discipline rather than public opinion. I also am in agreement with Machiavelli’s ideas on upholding promises: Only honor a promise if it somehow improves your city, not just to be kind to the other individual.
Have any of you read Machiavelli’s “The Prince?” What did you think of it? Please comment below!
Obituary
Giacomo Niccolo Mocenigo, a widely respected banker whose creative business ideas earned him great wealth, passed away on October 2nd, 1548, inside his Florence villa. Four years prior to his death, Mocenigo contracted leprosy, an unbearable skin disease. Though he bravely went about his intense struggle with the disease, he unfortunately lost his battle last Wednesday.
Mocenigo was born June 6th, 1485, in Florence, into a wealthy family of bankers. His immediate family consisted of just five people: his mother, Maria, his father, Roberto, and his two younger sisters, Clara and Lorenza. Mocenigo was tutored by his mother starting at the age of 3. Though his tutoring was conducted in Latin, he also studied Ancient Greek texts, along with arithmetic, science, history, music and a variety of the other liberal arts. Mocenigo met Aracelli Lombardi, his childhood sweetheart, one day at Mass when he was 13. Unfortunately, because she came from a peasant family and didn’t hold any promise for any economic or political gain for the family, Mocenigo’s parents forbid him to marry her. Rather, they arranged for him to marry Antonietta Ricci, a wealthy Italian princess whose family promised the Mocenigos economic success. The two were wed in 1509. In one of Mocenigo’s letters, he identified that his marriage was lacking a love connection and that “extra spark.” Nevertheless, he commented that the relationship with his wife certainly “worked out.” Mocenigo had many achievements. Firstly, Mocenigo achieved considerable economic power. He began to do business with the untouched merchant class, which was, at that time, just starting to evolve into more of a banking industry. Further, Mocenigo made numerous agreements with Marsilio Farnese, an international trader from Pisa, and Mario Bellini, a wool merchant. Mocenigo wisely proposed a deal in which he would fund 5% of the operating costs for these two businessmen, as long as they would invest the majority of their money in his bank. The deals were a huge for success for Mocenigo, and he began to grow very wealthy, very quickly. Even Pope Clement VII noticed Mocenigo’s success! Clement VII even ended up investing some of his money in Mocenigo’s bank. Unfortunately, not all of Mocenigo’s dealings were quite as successful. For years, he tried to form a guild of bankers. However, there just didn’t seem to be enough interest from his colleagues and other acquaintances to meet regularly. Because of this, his guild couldn’t vote on Florence’s public officials, and even ended up disbanding just a few years ago. Nevertheless, Mocenigo will always be remembered by his determination, grit, and kindness towards others, especially if they were going through “tough times.”
Mocenigo is survived by his wife, Antonietta (B. 1492) and his four children, Zabina (B. 1510), Giovanni (B. 1511), Isabella (B. 1513) and Gabriele (B. 1516), all of whom are still living in Florence. Fortunate for the family name, Isabella married Geno Bellini, son of another wealthy Florentine family. As of now, the couple has had two sons, Gianni (B. 1534) and Antonio (B. 1536). Both Zabina and Gabrielle have also married. Zabina married and has had both Beppe (B. 1531) and Celia (B. 1532) with Dante Morino, a Florentine wool-merchant. In fact, Celia Morino recently married Fredo Russi, and the two are expecting their child later this year. Gabrielle married Elda De Luca, and fathered his son, Flavio (B. 1540). Giovanni Mocenigo has yet to marry, and thusly, hasn’t had any children. Additionally, Mocenigo is survived by his siblings Clara (B. 1483) and Lorenza (B. 1486).
Mocenigo could be summed up in two words: successful and determined. All of Florence will forever remember him by his various agreements and alliances, which helped him claim such great economic power. Though unsuccessful, his efforts to start a banker’s guild will also be remembered as an incredibly valiant effort. "A grave is braced not just by a tombstone but by angels as well." With this in mind, Mocenigo’s family has certain hope in the resurrection and a life everlasting. A funeral service is to be held this Sunday, October 6th, 1548 at the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore at 10:30 am.
Mocenigo was born June 6th, 1485, in Florence, into a wealthy family of bankers. His immediate family consisted of just five people: his mother, Maria, his father, Roberto, and his two younger sisters, Clara and Lorenza. Mocenigo was tutored by his mother starting at the age of 3. Though his tutoring was conducted in Latin, he also studied Ancient Greek texts, along with arithmetic, science, history, music and a variety of the other liberal arts. Mocenigo met Aracelli Lombardi, his childhood sweetheart, one day at Mass when he was 13. Unfortunately, because she came from a peasant family and didn’t hold any promise for any economic or political gain for the family, Mocenigo’s parents forbid him to marry her. Rather, they arranged for him to marry Antonietta Ricci, a wealthy Italian princess whose family promised the Mocenigos economic success. The two were wed in 1509. In one of Mocenigo’s letters, he identified that his marriage was lacking a love connection and that “extra spark.” Nevertheless, he commented that the relationship with his wife certainly “worked out.” Mocenigo had many achievements. Firstly, Mocenigo achieved considerable economic power. He began to do business with the untouched merchant class, which was, at that time, just starting to evolve into more of a banking industry. Further, Mocenigo made numerous agreements with Marsilio Farnese, an international trader from Pisa, and Mario Bellini, a wool merchant. Mocenigo wisely proposed a deal in which he would fund 5% of the operating costs for these two businessmen, as long as they would invest the majority of their money in his bank. The deals were a huge for success for Mocenigo, and he began to grow very wealthy, very quickly. Even Pope Clement VII noticed Mocenigo’s success! Clement VII even ended up investing some of his money in Mocenigo’s bank. Unfortunately, not all of Mocenigo’s dealings were quite as successful. For years, he tried to form a guild of bankers. However, there just didn’t seem to be enough interest from his colleagues and other acquaintances to meet regularly. Because of this, his guild couldn’t vote on Florence’s public officials, and even ended up disbanding just a few years ago. Nevertheless, Mocenigo will always be remembered by his determination, grit, and kindness towards others, especially if they were going through “tough times.”
Mocenigo is survived by his wife, Antonietta (B. 1492) and his four children, Zabina (B. 1510), Giovanni (B. 1511), Isabella (B. 1513) and Gabriele (B. 1516), all of whom are still living in Florence. Fortunate for the family name, Isabella married Geno Bellini, son of another wealthy Florentine family. As of now, the couple has had two sons, Gianni (B. 1534) and Antonio (B. 1536). Both Zabina and Gabrielle have also married. Zabina married and has had both Beppe (B. 1531) and Celia (B. 1532) with Dante Morino, a Florentine wool-merchant. In fact, Celia Morino recently married Fredo Russi, and the two are expecting their child later this year. Gabrielle married Elda De Luca, and fathered his son, Flavio (B. 1540). Giovanni Mocenigo has yet to marry, and thusly, hasn’t had any children. Additionally, Mocenigo is survived by his siblings Clara (B. 1483) and Lorenza (B. 1486).
Mocenigo could be summed up in two words: successful and determined. All of Florence will forever remember him by his various agreements and alliances, which helped him claim such great economic power. Though unsuccessful, his efforts to start a banker’s guild will also be remembered as an incredibly valiant effort. "A grave is braced not just by a tombstone but by angels as well." With this in mind, Mocenigo’s family has certain hope in the resurrection and a life everlasting. A funeral service is to be held this Sunday, October 6th, 1548 at the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore at 10:30 am.