Giuliano de' Medici (28 October 1453 – 26 April 1478) was the second son of Piero de' Medici (the Gouty) and Lucrezia Tornabuoni. As co-ruler of the Florentine Republic, with his brother Lorenzo the Magnificent, he complemented his brother's image as the "patron of the arts" with his own image as the handsome, sporting "golden boy". He was killed in a plot known as the Pazzi conspiracy in 1478.
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Personal life
In 1478, Giuliano was promised in marriage to Semiramide Appiani Aragona, daughter of Iacopo III Appiani, Prince of Piombino and niece of Simonetta Vespucci, though he died before the wedding could take place. After Giuliano's death, Semiramide married his cousin, Lorenzo di Pierfrancesco de' Medici, in 1482.
At fifteen years of age, he found himself at the head of the Florentine Signoria alongside his brother Lorenzo. Despite his passion for art and culture, and some occasional frictions between the two due to their differing characters, Lorenzo nonetheless wanted Giuliano at his side in the administration of Florence, placing trust in him.
On January 29, 1475, Giuliano took part in the tournament in Piazza Santa Croce. This was celebrated by Angelo Poliziano, who wrote two works which include Giuliano de' Medici as a major character. Stanze cominciate per la giostra del Magnifico Giuliano de’ Medici was written to commemorate a joust that Giuliano won in 1475.