The Medicis were a family whose origins can be traced to the 12th century, but they became important in the city of Florence in the 14th century. They had enormous influence over the political, religious and financial institutions of their day and eventually became rulers themselves.

Early in the 14th century the first of the Medici popes, Pope Leo X, was chosen. In total four members of the family would reach this position, the last being Leo XI in 1605. Both Catherine and Marie Medici married into French royalty, becoming powerful figures in their own right, and by the mid 15th century the Medicis were official rulers of Florence, later becoming Grand Dukes of the whole region (Tuscany).

Another famous achievement of the House of Medici was the foundation of the Medici Bank in the 15th century. This brought the family enormous wealth and introduced methods and systems that changed the world of finance.

The family remained powerful until the 18th century. The last of the Medici Grand Dukes was Cosimo III, who died in 1723.