What city did the Medici family rule?

The Medici Family, also known as the House of Medici, ruled Florence, in what is now Italy, for hundreds of years.  Florence was not the only place where the Medici had influence, but it was the base of their power.

The Medici Family first came to prominence as a family of bankers.  As such, they became very wealthy.  In those times (the 1400s), wealth was very useful in gaining political power, particularly in Florence because that city-state was a republic.  Through their wealth, the Medici became rulers of Florence.  Before long, Florence stopped being a republic and became a duchy, with the Medici as its hereditary dukes.  This situation continued until the 1730s.

Because they were so important in Florence, the Medici were also important elsewhere.  There were three Roman Catholic popes from their family.  There were also two Medici women who became queens of France.  However, while the Medici did have influence and power in other places, the city that the Medici family ruled was Florence.