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Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, a name to remember
Her name, as good as gold
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Anna Maria Luisa's name has gone down in Florence's history. Grand Duke Cosimo III issued a Europe-wide decree proclaiming that Anna Maria Luisa would rule the Tuscan Grand Duchy after her brother's death, despite her gender (European powers ignored his wishes). A woman of authentic foresight, she established that regardless of who ruled Florence in the future, the Medici family's formidable collections would remain in the city to “ornament” the state, to “benefit” the public and to “attract the curiosity of foreigners”. Her word has been honored by posterity, and the whole world has reaped its benefits.