# Lorenzo de' Medici — The Prince character guide

> Lorenzo de' Medici in The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Lorenzo de ’ Medici, the Medici, Lorenzo, the splendour - loving Lorenzo

**First appearance:** 0006-dedication

## Snapshot

The splendour-loving ruler of Florence to whom Machiavelli ultimately dedicated The Prince — a patron who may never have read a word of it.

## Who they are

Lorenzo sits at the far end of Machiavelli's hopes: the Medici heir whose favour could restore a dismissed civil servant to office. The book was first meant for Giuliano de' Medici, then redirected to Lorenzo for reasons history never explains, and no evidence survives that he received it or gave Machiavelli any employment. That silence is the quiet irony shadowing the dedication — a masterwork of political advice offered to a prince who never answered.

## In the story

### [Youth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/youth)

Represented the splendour-loving current of Florence and impressed Machiavelli strongly.

### [Literature and Death](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/literature-and-death)

The Prince was finally dedicated to him, though there is no evidence he received or read it.

### [The Prince](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/the-prince)

The dedicatee of The Prince, to whom Machiavelli offers his advice.

### [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/dedication)

The dedicatee, addressed as 'your Magnificence', to whom Machiavelli offers his treatise.

### [XI: Concerning Ecclesiastical Principalities](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/xi-concerning-ecclesiastical-principalities)

Referenced as Pope Leo X, who inherited a powerful pontificate and is hoped to make it greater through his virtues.

### [XXVI: An Exhortation to Liberate Italy from the Barbarians](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/chapters/xxvi-an-exhortation-to-liberate-italy-from-the-barbarians)

Addressed directly as the hope for Italy's redemption; urged to lead the liberation.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/characters/lorenzo_de_medici
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_prince_se/characters