Grand Ducal Crown of Tuscany

Cosimo I de' Medici, duke of Florence, sought to achieve a title which removed him from his status as a feudatory of the Holy Roman Emperor and gave him more political independence.

Finally in 1569, after many favours and dealings of differing levels of legitimacy, Pope Pius V released a Papal bull which conferred the style of Altezza Serenissima and the title of Grand Duke, a very rare title that placed the Sovereign of Tuscany above a Duke, but below a Prince.

In January 1570 Cosimo I was crowned by Pius himself at Rome, though by rights such an act was the prerogative of the Emperor.

It was a gold circlet decorated with emeralds, rubies and pearls with rays projecting from the top.

One of these, which belonged to Gian Gastone de' Medici (r. 1723–1737) was recovered during a survey of the corpse and is now conserved in Florence.