Piero de' Medici, also known as Piero the Unfortunate, was an Italian statesman born in 1472. He was the son of Lorenzo de' Medici, a prominent leader of the Medici family, which played a crucial role in the political and cultural life of Florence. Piero became the head of the family after his father's death in 1492 but struggled to maintain the family's power and influence. His rule was marked by political challenges and conflicts, leading to his eventual exile in 1494. Piero's inability to navigate the turbulent political landscape of Renaissance Florence ultimately diminished the Medici family's control, paving the way for the rise of the Republic of Florence.