Johanna of Austria, 1547-1578, First Wife of Francisco I de' Medici 1565 c. 1740

Antonio Francesco Selvi created this bronze medal of Johanna of Austria in the 18th century, well after her death in 1578. The medal commemorates Johanna's marriage into the powerful Medici family, as evidenced by the inscription identifying her as the Grand Duchess of Etruria, the Latin name for Tuscany. Yet, Johanna’s story is one of displacement and duty. As a member of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty, her marriage to Francesco was a strategic alliance designed to solidify ties between Austria and Florence. Imagine being a young woman, barely more than a child, transplanted from your home to a foreign court with the expectation of producing a male heir. In a patriarchal society, Johanna's worth was tied to her fertility, a burden she carried until her untimely death at the age of 31. This medal, created long after her death, reflects how women were often remembered for their dynastic roles rather than their individual experiences.