The palace was begun in 1430 abd was still in progress in 1433 when the Albizzi, who had always viewed the rise of the Medici family with apprehension and misgiving, and were now strengthened by the death of Niccolo da Uzzano, who, though powerful, had been a very cautious and temperate adviser, succeeded in getting a majority in the Signoria and passing a sentence of banishment on the whole Medici tribe as being too rich and ambitious to be good citizens of a simple and frugal Republic.  Cosimo therefore, after some days of imprisonment in the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio, during which he expected execution at any moment, left Florence for Venice, taking his architect with him.  In 1434, however, the Florentines, realizing that under the Albizzi they were losing their independence, and what was to be a democracy was become an oligarchy, revolted, and Cosimo was recalled, and, like his father, was elected gonfalonier.  With this recall began his long supremacy; for he returned like a king and like a king remained, quickly establishing himself as the leading man in the city, the power behind the Signoria.  Not only did he never lose that position, but he made it so naturally his own that when he died he was able to transmit it to his son.

Cosimo de’ Medici was, I think, the wisest and best ruler that Florence ever had and ranks high among the rulers that any state ever had.  But he changed the Florentines from an independent people to a dependent one.  In his capacity of Father of his Country he saw to it that his children lost their proud spirit.  He had to be absolute; and this end he achieved in many ways, but chiefly by his wealth, which made it possible to break the rich rebel and to enslave the poor.  His greatest asset—­next his wealth—­was his knowledge of the Florentine character.  To know anything of this capricious, fickle, turbulent folk even after the event was in itself a task of such magnitude that almost no one else had compassed it; but Cosimo did more, he knew what they were likely to do.  By this knowledge, together with his riches, his craft, his tact, his business ramifications as an international banker, his open-handedness and air of personal simplicity, Cosimo made himself a power.  For Florence could he not do enough.  By inviting the Pope and the Greek Emperor to meet there he gave it great political importance, and incidentally brought about the New Learning.  He established the Platonic Academy and formed the first public library in the west.  He rebuilt and endowed the monastery of S. Marco.  He built and rebuilt other churches.  He gave Donatello a free hand in sculpture and Fra Lippo Lippi and Fra Angelico in painting.  He distributed altogether in charity and churches four hundred thousand of those golden coins which were invented by Florence and named florins after her—­a sum equal to a million pounds of to-day.  In every direction one comes upon traces of his generosity and thoroughness.  After his death it was decided that as Pater Patriae, or Father of his Country, he should be for ever known.