I think the Medici family ran things superbly from what I gather. At least until the 1800s.
Yes, they were that powerful.
Its either that or the Hapsburgs.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if most of history over the last two hundred years were basically just conflicts between the Medicis and Hapsburgs, assuming the premise is correct.
I'm sure in some way families like this have used their accumulated wealth to control the modern world but even so they are less powerful than other families like the Rothschilds who controlled the royal family in the UK throughout the centuries and now in modern day
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