Giovanni was born in
Florence on 21 October 1467. After his father's death (1476), he and his elder brother
Lorenzo (il Popolano) came under the tutelage of their cousins
Giuliano and
Lorenzo (il Magnifico), and were educated by humanists such as
Marsilio Ficino and
Angelo Poliziano. They conceived a passion for classical studies and books, and later created a large library of manuscripts and codexes. Later their relationship with Lorenzo il Magnifico deteriorated, mostly for economic reasons (Lorenzo had kept for himself the Popolanos' inheritance, instead of simply administering it). After Lorenzo il Magnifico's death, they were among the opponents of Lorenzo's successor,
Piero (il Fatuo), who exiled them in April 1494. The following November, Lorenzo and Giovanni returned to Florence in the wake of
Charles VIII of France's invasion of Italy, as Piero had been ousted by a Republican revolution in the city. Their support for
Girolamo Savonarola gained them the
Popolano ("commoner", "plebeian") nickname. He was to marry
Luisa de' Medici, but she died in 1488 at aged 11. In September 1497 Giovanni married
Caterina Sforza, Lady of
Forlì and
Imola. They had a son, baptized Ludovico in April 1498. However, after Giovanni's death soon afterwards, Caterina renamed the baby Giovanni. He became known as
Giovanni delle Bande Nere. Giovanni il Popolano died on 14 September 1498 in
Santa Maria in Bagno,
Papal States, aged 30. == References ==