The Medici family ruled Florence for 300 years. Oddly enough though, their roots cannot be traced within the city they so famously ruled - but in the countryside, specifically the valley of Mugello. Giovanni di Bicci, was a self-made man who established himself as an acomplished banker and the first “Banco Medici” was established in Florence at the end of the 14th century. But, despite their financial power, the first generation of the family didn’t actually hold an official role in the government. Instead, they were more like puppet masters, delicately pulling strings to ensure that every newly elected government was pro Medici. In fact you could almost say that Giovanni di Bicci was a bit like the Godfather, the Vito Corleone of the family.