Ebook: The Medici Giraffe and Other Tales of Exotic Animals and Power

The Medici giraffe was a giraffe presented to Lorenzo de' Medici in 1486 possibly by al-Ashraf Qaitbay, the Burji Sultan of Egypt, in an attempt to win the support of the Medici.

It caused a great stir on its arrival in Florence: although the Medici maintained a large menagerie, and had previously featured a giant mannequin of a giraffe in the animal entertainments they provided to the citizenry, this was the first time a living example had been seen in the city. It was also reputedly the first living giraffe to be seen in Italy since the days of Ancient Rome. It did not survive for long and another giraffe was not seen in Europe for almost 300 years.

This book is a fascinating exploration, spanning two thousand years, of the central role exotic animals have played in war, diplomacy, and thepomp of rulers and luminaries.