Eleanor of Toledo
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Eleanor of Toledo (Italian: Eleonora di Toledo (1522– December 17, 1562), born Leonor Álvarez de Toledo, was a Spanish noblewoman who was Duchess of Florence from 1539. She is credited with being the first modern style first lady, or consort.
Eleanor was born in Toledo, the second daughter of the Viceroy of Naples, Don Pedro Álvarez de Toledo, 2nd Marquis of Villafranca - Charles V's lieutenant-governor, - and Maria Osorio. Eleonora di Toledo became the wife of Cosimo I de' Medici, the ruler of Tuscany, whom she married in 1539.
The marriage with Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici was arranged undoubtedly not only for her large dowry but also for political and dynastic reasons. Thus, Florentine politics were not Eleonora's only attraction to the Medici, new to their ruling status; her royal Castilian ancestors and relations to Habsburgs provided the Medici with the blue blood they had hitherto lacked in order to place them on an equal footing with European sovereigns.
Eleanor, through her father, provided the Medici with a powerful link to Spain, at that time ultimately controlling Florence, providing Cosimo I with the opportunity to show sufficient loyalty and trust in Spain for the withdrawal of Spanish troops from the province.
Children
Eleanor and Cosimo had eleven children, including five sons who reached maturity (Francesco, Giovanni, Garzia, Ferdinando, and Pietro); before this time the Medici line had been in danger of becoming extinct. Thus by providing an heir, and ample spares, as well as through her daughters' marriages into other ruling and noble families of Italy, she was able to inaugurate an era of strength and stability in Tuscany. Two of her sons, Francesco and Ferdinando, reigned as grand Dukes of Tuscany.
Eleonora's children were:
| Maria | April 3, 1540 – November 19, 1557 | |
| Francesco | March 25, 1541 – October 19, 1587 | Grand Duke of Tuscany |
| Isabella | August 31, 1542 – July 16, 1576 | Was murdered by her husband Paolo Giordano I Orsini because of her infidelity. |
| Giovanni | September 28, 1543 – November 1562 | Bishop of Pisa and cardinal |
| Lucrezia | June 7, 1545 – April 21, 1561 | Wife (1560) of Alfonso II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara and Modena |
| Pietro (Pedricco) | August 10, 1546 – June 10, 1547 | |
| Garzia | July 5, 1547 – December 12, 1562 | |
| Antonio | 1548 – 1548 | |
| Ferdinando | July 30, 1549 – February 17, 1609 | Grand Duke of Tuscany |
| Anna | 1553 – 1553 | |
| Don Pietro de' Medici | June 3, 1554 – April 25, 1604 | Murdered his wife because of her infidelity |
