Why did the Medici family leave Florence in 1494?

The Medici family was expelled from Florence in 1494 primarily due to the actions of Piero di Lorenzo de’ Medici, who had assumed power following the death of his father, Lorenzo the Magnificent.12

Piero’s leadership was marked by poor political judgment, particularly regarding the imminent invasion of Italy by the French king Charles VIII. In a move that alienated the Florentine people, Piero abandoned the city's traditional French alliance in favor of one with Naples. When French forces subsequently entered Tuscany, Piero attempted to negotiate directly with the king; the resulting agreement was viewed by the citizens of Florence as a betrayal.132

This perceived treachery, combined with domestic pressure from the reformer Girolamo Savonarola and the support of the popular party for the French invaders, triggered a revolt. The populace sacked the Medici Palace, forcing Piero and his family to flee the city, which then declared itself a republic.13