Figure 1.--Here Alfonso's wife Lucretia Borgia with her ladies in waiting presents her son Ercole to Saint Maurelius, protector of Ferrara. Ercole was born in 1508. His birth helped secure Lucretia's position. Note that Ercole wears a dress rather than period men's wear. This is a contemprary piece. It is one of three engraved silver plaques for a broze sarcophagus in the San Giorgio Maggiore church in Ferrara. |
The Este family is one of the most important princely families in Italy. The family is believed to be of Lombard origins. The Guelph faction in Ferrara helped install the Este family the city government. The Este family was also assisted by Venice. The Estes emerged as Ferrara's most important family. The people of the city conferred the title of First Lord of Ferrara on Azzo (1208). There was constant fighting with the Torelli family.
Este rule in Ferrara is complicated. The family was involved in other Italian cities. Alliances shifted. At times the Este family allied itself with the emperor and at other times with the pope. The Este family at times was supported by Venice and at other times fought against them. The Este family ruled Ferrara for over a century amist considerable fractional infighting. There were marked disputes with the Papacy, although as leaders of the Guelph faction, they generally sided with the pope against the emperor. Nicoló II
built the castle for which the city is renowned (1385). Alberto achieved an accord with Pope Boniface IX which reduced tension. Ferrara propspered under Niccoló III, Leonello, and Borso. Niccoló III transferred the Ecumenical Council to Ferrara (1438). Leonello was a respected figure of the Renaissance and oversaw a cultured court with a notable literary circle. Borso obtained the title of Duke of Modena and Reggio from the Emperor (1452) and Duke of Ferrara from the Pope (1471). The city's walls were extended and fortifications improved. The city began to decline under Alfonso I, in part because of extravagant spending by the Este family. There were, however, larger economic factors involved. A northward shift of the main course of the Po River harmed the city economy and benefited competing merchants in Venice. The declining economy also was accompanied by a cultural decline. Alfonso married Lucrezia Borgia. Futher decline occurred under Ercole II. Alfonso II died without leaving a successor (1597).
The Este family is one of the oldest and most important princely families in Italy. The family is believed to be of Lombard origins. They descened from the princes who ruled in Tuscany during the Carolingian Empire.
Alberto is believed to have founded the family. The Holy Roman Emperor Henry III invested him with the city of Este and other neigboring fiefs. He married first Kunitza, a sister of Duke Guelph III of Cunithra, providing an enduring link with the Guelph family. Later he married Gersense, a daughter of the Count of Maine.
Guelph was the son of Alberto and Kunitza. He became Duke of Carinthia upon the dath of his grandfather Guelph III who died without a male heir. Guelph married a daughter of Otto II Duke of Bavaria and inherited that dukedom (1070). Guelph's interests thus moved north of the Alps to Germany. He helped found the houses of Brusnswick and Hanover and is thus related to the British royal family. (Queen Victoria was a Hanovarian.)
Folco was another son of Alberto, but by his second wife Gersende. Folco ingerited Alberto's Italian title's and estates and founded the Italian branch of the family which played a major role in Italy's medieval history and the Renaissance. The leadership of the Guelph faction in its struggles with the Ghibellines came from the Este family.
Obizzo was Folco's son. He achieved the title of the first Marquis d'Este. He joined the Guelphic League against Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I. Later he was reconsiled with the Emperor who created him Marquis of Genoa and Milan.
Azzo married into an important Guelph family in Ferrara. This established the family in the city. Azzo's influence was opposed by the Torelli, an important Ghibelline family.
Azzo was a grandson of Obizzo I. The Guelph faction in Ferrara helped install the Este family the city government. The Este family was also assisted by Venice. The Estes emerged as Ferrara's most important family. Azzo became the leader of the Guelph faction. The people of the city conferred the title of First Lord of Ferrara on Azzo (1208). There was constant fighting with the Torelli family.
Aldobrandino ruled for 3 years after the dath of Azzo VI.
Azzo succeeded Aldobrandino, but was defeated by Salinguerra Torelli and expelled from Farrara (1222). Many years later he formed an alliance with Pope Gregory IX (1240). The pope wanted to destroy the Ghibelline houses with had been supporting the emperor before launching an attack on Holy Romna Emperor Frederick II. The pope's forces beseiged Ferrara which surendered after 4 months. Azzo restablished is rule and proceeded to destroy the Ghibelline faction. Azzo supported Pope Gregory in his war against Emperor Frederick.
Obizzo II was became Lord of Ferrara on the death of his grand father Azzo VII (1264).
He was made Lord of Modena (1288) and Lord of Reggio (1289).
The Este family continued to rule in Ferrara. Various Este rulers lost and gained Modena and Reggio. There were few notable events during the 14th century and much of the 15th century. Nicoló II built the castle for which the city is renowned (1385). Alberto achieved an accord with Pope Boniface IX which reduced tension.
Nicolo III became Lord (signor) of Ferrara in 1402. He also controlled Modena, Parma and Reggio. He was captain general of the papal armies. The Este family held Ferrara in fief from the pope and thus they were an important soyrce of military support for the Papal States. Niccolo turned Ferrara into a strong point between Germay to the north anmd the Papal States to the south. Niccoló III transferred the Ecumenical Council to Ferrara (1438). Niccolo's illegitimate and legitimate sons followed him in succession, Ercole being the first of the legitimate ones.
Ferrara continuede to prosper under Leonello, and Borso. Leonello was a respected figure of the Renaissance and oversaw a cultured court with a notable literary circle. Borso obtained the title of Duke of Modena and Reggio from the Emperor (1452) and Duke of Ferrara from the Pope (1471). The city's walls were extended and fortifications improved.
Ercole d'Este was as legitimate son of Niccoló III. He was known as "North Wind" and "The Diamond" for his frigid personality. He made an important alliance by marring Leonora of Aragon (1473). Leonora was the daughter of King Ferrante of Naples which made a family connection with the most powerful ruling family in Italy. Ercole became Lord of Ferrara in 1505. Ercole fought Venice over the salt monopoly, but conducted most of his reign in peace. He helped make Ferrara an artistic and cultural center. He is perhaps best known for his children, some of the major figures of the Italian Renaissance. His son Alfonso (1486-1534) succeded him as Lord of Ferrara. His daughters were both imposing women of the era. Beatrice d'Este (1475-97) married Lodovicio Sforza (il Moro), duke of Bari and subsequently duke of Milan (1491). She was a beautiful woman and Leonardo did a remarable portrait of her as a young woman. She was intelligent and a patron of the arts. She served as an ambassador for her husband to get Venice to recognize him as duke of Milan. She played an important role at the peace talks in Vercelli between Charles VIII and the Italian princes. Isabella was responsible for the construction of many important buildings. Equally remarkable was Beatrice's sister Isabella (1474-1539). Isabella married Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua. She like her sister was a patron of the Renaissance and a skilled diplomat. She negotiated with Cesare Borgia concerning a deposed relative. She did not, however, get along well with her brother's wife Lucretia Borgia.
Alfonso was younger than his two fenomenal sisters, Beatrice and Isabella. As a result they had had considerable influence with him, especially Iabala. He was appointed supreme commander of the papal forces in the League of Cambrai (1508). He achieved important military victories and the Venetinas made paece with Pope Julius II. When he refused to join the pope and the Venentians in a war against France, he was attacked. He defeated the allies, but after the French withdrew from Italy, he was isolated. Pope Julius refused efforts to restore relations. Succeeding popes (Leo X and Clement VII) continued the hostility against the Este family. Emperor Charles V conformed Alfonso's titles.
Alfonso married Lucrezia Borgia (1480-1519). It was Lucretia's third marriage. Lucretia is one of the most defamed women in history. She was the illegitimate daughter of Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (layer Pope Alexander VI)--phenomenal in itself. It is difficult to know how much of the invective written gainst her was actually true. Lucretia's brother was the calculating but ultimately failed despot Cesare Borgia--suposedly the inspiration for Machiavelli's The Prince. The Borgia have come to represent the ruthless Machiavillian diplomacy and sexual corruption of the Renaissance Papacy and eventually led to the Protestant Reformation. Lucrezia is often depicted as the family's femme fatale. Alfonso and Lucretia had a son Ercole (1508). Lucretia had considerable difficulty with her husband's older sister Isabela. After the birth of Ercole her position became more secure. Ferrara began to decline under Alfonso I. The conflict with the papacy was a problem as was the extravagant spending by the Este family. There were, however, larger economic factors involved. A northward shift of the main course of the Po River harmed the city economy and benefited competing merchants in Venice. The declining economy also was accompanied by a cultural decline.
Futher decline occurred under Ercole II.
Alfonso II died without leaving a successor (1597).
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