Family Tree Welborn » Biagio BALBANI (1453-1523)

Personal data Biagio BALBANI 

• He was born on May 23, 1453 in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy.Source 1
• He died January 1523 in Lucca, Tuscany, Italy, he was 69 years old.Source 1
• A child of Francesco Di Paolo Balbani and Chiara Balbani (Manfredi)
• This information was last updated on September 7, 1998.

Household of Biagio BALBANI

Notes about Biagio BALBANI

Biagio Balbani, according to Bettye S. Rathbone, "was emancipated by his
father on 4 April 1468, and the following day he left for Bruges, to
learn the mercantile trade in the firm of his brother Giovanni, who was a
partner with Martino Cenami. For the next 36 years of his life he spent
most of his time abroad, associated with various Lucchese merchants in
the trading centers of France and Flanders.

"From Bruges he went to Lyon for four years where the company did poorly
and the partners made little profit. Returning to Bruges he joined with
Francesco Michaeli first, and later with Reale Reali and Niccolo Bandini
with whom he stayed until 1488. Because of the war, the last venture
also brought little profit.

"During the years he spent in Bruges, he was an active member of the
Lucchese community there. In 1478 he and eleven other merchants proposed
a reform of the articles of the association of the mercantile community
which was adopted some twenty years later by the Council General. In
1480-1481 he was consul of the Lucchese nationals in Bruges."

"In 1489, he took his family to Lucca. The following year he returned to
Bruges to manage a firm he owned in association with Benedetto Buonvisi.
In 1493 he returned briefly to Lucca bringing his wife back to Bruges
with him, and again returned in 1497, this time bringing back his eldest
son Carlo, then 13 years of age. Two years later the other son
Guglielmo, by then 14 years old, was sent to Venice to learn commerce in
the firm of his uncle Pandolfo Cenami, going in 1502 to join his father
in Bruges.

"In 1503 Biagio suffered a serious illness and decided to return
permanently to Lucca, which he did in March 1504.

"His first wife having died in Bruges on 19 March 1500, he was married to
Ginevra Guidiccioni."

"Biagio built a house in the quarter of the old home of the Balbani,
bought another of Filippo Calandrini and began construction of a house in
the country at Vicopelago. Meanwhile his nephew Agostino continued until
1508 to manage the firm he owned with the Buonvisi in Bruges. After 1508
the management was in the hands of Biagio's eldest son, Carlo.

"After returning to live in Lucca, Biagio began to take an active part in
the city's political life. He was elected to the Great Council nine
times between 1504 and 1522. In 1507, 1511, 1514, and 1518 he was
Gonfaloniere di Giustizia, and Anziano in 1509, 1512, 1516 and 1520. he
took part in the Uffizio dell'Abondanza in 1513, and put the books and
writings in order. In 1520 he was elected to the Collegio dei Tre
Segretari. He was drawn for Gonfaloniere again in 1523, but had died in
January of that year, and was buried 'in a sepulture that was made before
his death beside our chapel.' (Balbini ms., f. 15-15v.)"2 SOUR S67
3 PAGE pages 40-41.

Emancipated by his father. The following day Biagio left for Bruges.2 SOUR S67
3 PAGE pages 40-41.

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Timeline Biagio BALBANI

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