Rinaldo of the Albizzi

El Palazzo Vecchio.

Rinaldo degli Albizzi (1370-1442) was an Italian nobleman, member of the Florentine family of the Albizzi. Next to Palla Strozzi, was the main adversary of the ascent of Cosme de Médici in the Republic of Florence. After the revolt against Florence in 1428, Rinaldo degli Albizzi was sent to 'rescue' Volterra from the rebels led by Giovanni di Contugi and the priors. After that, he incited the condottiero Niccolò Fortebraccio to "attack the Lucanians with the excuse of some fictitious dispute", an action that led the Florentines to conquer Lucca, which became a failure in 1433. During this campaign, Rinaldo was accused of trying to increase his wealth through looting, so he was eventually dismissed and returned to Florence.

Later, in the 1430s, Rinaldo convinced several prominent nobles to resist Cosimo de Medici, who feared he was becoming too powerful. Finally, Rinaldo helped Bernardo Guadagni, candidate for a position among the Signori, to pay his debts, which disqualified him for the position. Guadagni was appointed confaloniero, and through him, Rinaldo imprisoned Cosme in the Palazzo Vecchio accusing him of embezzlement. Through a brief trial, Cosme was sentenced to 20 years' exile in Florence.

However, with the crisis of Florentine fortunes because of the war with Milan, Cosimo returned with popular acclaim only a year later, and Rinaldo had to go into exile this time, dying in Ancona. In fiction

Since October 2016 Rinaldo is played by actor Lex Shrapnel in the Medici: Masters of Florence miniseries.

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