The Dynastic Continuity of the House of Medici and the Perpetual Validity of the Bull of Pius V

The history of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany did not end with the death of Gian Gastone de’ Medici in 1737, last sovereign of the line of Cosimo I. Despite the imposition of the House of Lorraine by decision of France and Austria, with the consent of the European powers, the succession question never lost relevance, since the papal bull of Pius V of 1569—still valid in canon law—and the imperial diplomas of 1532, 1537 and 1576 that founded the Tuscan State clearly established succession by the male line among the direct and collateral descendants (agnates) of the House of Medici. 1/14Within this framework, the Neapolitan Medicean branch of the Princes of Ottajano, descended from Bernardetto de’ Medici, brother of Pope Leo XI and husband of Giulia de’ Medici, natural daughter of the first Duke of Florence, Alessandro, already recognized by contemporary genealogies, continued to represent the legitimate trunk of the dynasty. Today, its heir, H.R.H. Ottaviano de’ Medici di Toscana di Ottajano, embodies the historical and juridical continuity of the House, uniting in his person the grand-ducal rights and the Grand Mastership of the Holy, Illustrious and Military Order of Saint Stephen Pope and Martyr. This article aims to clarify the historical and legal reasons why Ottaviano de’ Medici di Toscana di Ottajano is the current and legitimate Grand Duke of Tuscany and Grand Master of the Order of Saint Stephen P.M., by analysing the succession after Gian Gastone, last grand duke of his branch; the position of Giuseppe de’ Medici di Toscana di Ottajano; the imposition first Spanish (1718) and then Lorrainer (1735); the “debellatio” of the Habsburg-Lorraine (1870); the rights of the Ottajano branch and the exclusion of the branch of Marino de’ Medici di Ottajano (1849).