Alessandro was the illegitimate son of Pope Clement VII.  His mother is unknown, but because of his thick lips, wide nose, and frizzy hair, it was rumoured that she was an African slave.  The Pope was determined to make Alessandro ruler of Florence, despite the legitimate claim to the ducal throne of Ippolito, the son of Giuliano di' Medici.  By continued and ingenious scheming, the Pope managed to have Ippolito's claim set aside, and installed Alessandro, first as head of the Florentine republic, and then, when the republic  was abolished the following year, as Duke. 

    Alessandro's reign was memorable only for his outrageous injustice, cruelty and beastiality.  It was said to be one continuous orgy.  In June 1536, he married Margaret of Austria, the illegitimate daughter of the Emperor Charles V.  In January 1537, Alessandro was assassinated.  One would have thought this would have been a tremendous relief to his young bride, so it is strange that she named her son by her second husband, the Prince of Parma , Alessandro. (He was to become a famous general.)

Source: Sandra Wise