Thomas I de Gadagne
Thomas I de Gadagne | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1454-08-26 Savoy |
| Died | 1533-05-23 Avignon |
| Occupation(s) | Banker, merchant |
| Known for | Wealthiest citizen of Lyon, financier of French military and exploration expeditions |
Thomas I de Gadagne, often referred to as Thomas the Rich (born 26 or 27 August 1454 in Savoy – died 23 May 1533 in Avignon), was a banker originating from a prosperous Florentine lineage who established himself in Lyon, France. He built a broad portfolio spanning trade, banking, and industry in both Lyon and Florence, accumulating significant wealth. His financial resources supported French monarchs' military efforts in Italy and expeditions to the New World.
Life
Thomas’s father relocated him and his brothers François and Olivier to Lyon in 1434. During his youth, Thomas spent time in Geneva, where the family maintained commercial connections, before moving to Florence in 1463. He returned to Lyon five years later, in 1468, and began an apprenticeship with the Florentine banking house Pazzi. Shortly thereafter, he founded his own banking firm, eventually becoming the wealthiest individual in Lyon. His enterprise included his brothers and nephews, whom he involved until he stepped down in 1527.
By the turn of the 16th century, Thomas had emerged as Lyon’s foremost spice trader. Tax records from 1516 reveal him as the city’s richest citizen, with taxable assets of 5000 'livres tournois'—a figure at least twice that of other notable families such as the Nasi and Bonvisi. When a 'consulat' tax was introduced in 1523 targeting foreign merchants to fund city wall repairs, Thomas contributed sixty men—double or more than other leading traders. In 1529, Venetian envoy Antonio Suriano appraised his fortune at approximately 400,000 ducats.
Florentine connections
The Florentine merchant community in Lyon operated under statutes sanctioned by Florence itself and was governed by four counsellors alongside a consul who ensured internal order and represented their interests both in Florence and at the French royal court. As head of this influential commercial and banking faction, the consul managed financial transactions during Lyon’s four annual fairs.
Thomas attained the position of counsellor in 1501 and was elevated to consul in 1505. He partially financed the St. Thomas Chapel within Notre-Dame de Confort, Lyon’s Florentine church; his successor later commissioned Francesco Salviati’s artwork The Incredulity of Saint Thomas for this chapel. In Florence, Thomas joined the wool guild in 1497 and made substantial investments across commercial and industrial sectors. Among these was a contribution of 4000 florins toward establishing a wool textile factory in 1502, where he held a majority share of 60% and appointed his brother Olivier along with nephew Niccolo Strozzi as managers. His involvement in developing manufacturing enterprises in Florence continued until his passing, marking notable commercial achievements.
Citizen of Lyon
In 1507, Thomas married Péronette Buatier from a distinguished bourgeois family of Lyon, who brought considerable property holdings including two urban residences and an estate located at Saint-Genis-Laval. Prior to this union, Thomas owned a substantial home featuring gardens and vineyards near montée Saint-Barthélémy. Through Péronette’s inheritance, he acquired additional rental buildings and retail shops situated on montée du Gourguillon and rue Tramassac. Their estate at Saint-Genis-Laval comprised agricultural operations such as vineyards equipped with a wine press and arable land.
Péronette passed away in 1521 and was interred at Notre-Dame de Confort, the Florentine church in Lyon. Following political unrest, Thomas temporarily relocated to Avignon between 1521 and 1524. After returning to Lyon, he invested in public health projects and contributed financially toward King François I’s ransom, which secured him a seat on Lyon’s city council.
The Verrazzano Voyage
In 1524, Thomas provided partial funding for an expedition commanded by the Florentine explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, who charted parts of what would become the eastern seaboard of the United States. Verrazzano, who may have been connected to Thomas through familial relations, aimed to discover alternative trading pathways due to the dominance of Genoese and Venetian monopolies over the Mediterranean spice trade and the obstruction posed by Spanish control. King François I endorsed this mission by sponsoring four vessels to contest Iberian claims.
Initially, the expedition was backed by a consortium led by three Lyonnais brothers-in-law of Thomas: Antoine de Martigny along with Jean and François Buatier. The group later grew to incorporate five Florentine merchants based in Lyon, including Thomas de Gadagne, Guillaume Nasi, Robert Albisse, Julien Bonacorsi, and Antoine Gondi. Although three journeys were undertaken, the venture did not succeed in obtaining spices or precious metals, ultimately resulting in its discontinuation.
Passing
He passed away in 1533 without leaving descendants and was interred alongside his spouse. His considerable estate was left to his nephew, Thomas II de Gadagne.