01E01 - Original Sin

Cosimo Medici reminisces about how he and brother Lorenzo where introduces to politics 20 years earlier by their domineering father, self-made banker Giovanni, as the old man's death means Cosimi must stand for his seat in the Signoria, formal ruling body of the Florentine republic, in fact the Medici state, which must decide whether to go to war, as other noble families want, to defend Lucca against mighty MiIan. The trio set out to Rome at the papal election to support an unlikely candidate, 'condottiere'-admiral -virtual pirate- Cossa, by bribing his fellow (venal) cardinals. In the process, hedonistic Lorenzo satisfies his carnal lust serially. Cosimo rather indulges in taking painting lessons from master Brunelleschi, but in the process falls in love with a peasant model -which Cosimo plots away- and discovers illicit gay love, ideal blackmail ammunition.