(Francisco), a celebrated historian, born at Florence in 1482. He professed the civil law with reputation, and was employed in seve- Guiardini

Leo X. gave him the government of Modena and Reggio, and Clement VII. that of Romagna and Bologna. Guicciardini was also lieutenant-general of the pope's army, and distinguished himself by his bravery on several occasions; but Paul III., having taken from him the government of Bologna, he retired to Florence, where he was made counsellor of state, and was of great service to the house of Medicis. He at length retired into the country to write his history of Italy, which he composed in Italian, and which comprehends what passed from the year 1494 to 1532. This history is greatly esteemed; and was continued by John Baptist Adriani, his friend. He died in 1540.

Guicciardini (Lewis), his nephew, composed a history of the Low Countries, and memoirs of the affairs of Europe, from 1530 to 1560. He wrote with great spirit against the persecution of the duke d'Alva, for which he imprisoned him. Died in 1583.