Lorenzaccio

Lorenzaccio is a French play of the Romantic period written by Alfred de Musset in 1834, set in 16th-century Florence, and depicting Lorenzino de' Medici, who killed Florence's tyrant, Alessandro de' Medici, his cousin. Having engaged in debaucheries to gain the Duke's confidence, he loses the trust of Florence's citizens, thus earning the insulting surname "Lorenzaccio". Though he kills Alessandro, he knows he will never return to his former state. Since opponents to the tyrant's regime fail to use Alessandro's death as a way to overthrow the dukedom and establish a republic, Lorenzo's action does not appear to aid the people's welfare. Written soon after the July revolution of 1830, at the start of the July Monarchy, when King Louis Philippe I overthrew King Charles X of France, the play contains many cynical comments on the lack of true republican sentiments in the face of violent overthrow. The play was inspired by George Sand's Une conspiration en 1537, in turn inspired by Varchi's chronicles. As much of Romantic tragedy, including plays by Victor Hugo, it was influenced by William Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Lorenzaccio (horse)

Lorenzaccio (foaled 1965) was a British Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. As a racehorse he was best known for his upset victory over the Triple Crown winner Nijinsky in the 1970 running of the Champion Stakes. In four years of racing he also won the July Stakes, Prix Jean Prat, Prix Quincey and Prix Foy as well as being placed in several other important races. At stud, he was best known as the sire of the outstanding breeding stallion Ahonoora.

Background

Lorenzaccio was a chestnut horse standing 16.1 hands high bred by Captain A D Rogers. His sire Klairon was a top-class racehorse whose win included the Poule d'Essai des Poulains in 1955. Apart from Lorenzaccio, he sired the Ascot Gold Cup winner Shangamuzo and Prix Jacques Le Marois winner Luthier. Klairon was a representative of the Byerley Turk sire line, unlike more than 95% of modern thoroughbreds, who descend directly from the Darley Arabian. Lorenzaccio's dam Phoenissa, was a moderate racehorse but was a half-sister of the Man o' War Stakes winner Tudor Era. As a granddaughter of the broodmare Jennydang, Phoenissa as also closely related to the Irish St Leger winners Barclay and Christmas Island, the Japanese classic winners Miss Onward and Chitose-O and the July Cup winner Thatching.