The House of Medici, was an Italian banking family, political dynasty. They were the first royal house, that, first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de Medici in the Republic of Florence, during the first half of the 15th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of Tuscany, gradually rising until they were able to fund the Medici Bank. It was the largest in Europe during the 15th century.The Medici produced three Popes of the Catholic Church: Pope Leo X, Pope Clement VII, and Pope Leo XI and two regent queens of France: Catherine de Medici and Marie de Medici. In 1531, the family became hereditary Dukes of Florence.The Medicis's wealth and influence initially derived from the textile trade guided by the guild of the Arte della Lana. Like other families ruling in Italian signorie, the Medicis dominated their city's government, were able to bring Florence under their family's power, and created an environment where art and humanism could flourish. They, along with other families of Italy,such as the Visconti and Sforza of MilanTestimates.The Medici family was the wealthiest in Europe for a time. From this base, they acquired political power initially in Florence and later in wider Italy and Europe. They were among the earliest businesses to use the general ledger system of accounting, through the development of the double-entry bookkeeping system for tracking credicts and debits.
