Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara
Alfonso I d' Este (* July 21 1476 in Ferrara, † October 31, 1534 ibid ) was the eldest son of Duke Ercole I d' Este of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio from his marriage to Eleonora of Aragon, the daughter by King Fernando I of Naples and his wife, Isabella di Chiaramonte ( 1450-1493 ). Alfonso was his successor on 15 June 1505. He was the brother of Isabella (1474-1539), Beatrice (1475-1497) and Ippolito I d' Este ( 1479-1520 ).
Life and work
Alfonso I asserted at a time frequently shifting alliances independence of his principality, especially against Venice and the Holy See. For this purpose, he relied on a powerful, equipped with modern firearms army. Among other things, he served as commander of the papal troops against Venice in the War of the League of Cambrai.
His residence in Ferrara became a cultural center. The University of the city he built into one of the leading educational institutions in Italy. Among other things, promoted Alfonso I. Titian and Ludovico Ariosto.
Alfonso married on January 12, 1491, or by other sources on February 12, 1491 Anna Sforza ( 1473-1497 ), the daughter of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, Duke of Milan, who died at the birth of their first child, a son. The newborn died a short time later. On February 2, 1502, he married Lucrezia Borgia ( 1480-1519 ), daughter of Pope Alexander VI. and sister of Cesare Borgia. She is the mother of most of his children and she died in childbirth.
His third marriage concluded Alfonso I, in order to legitimize two illegitimate children. Your mother's name was Laura Dianti († 1573) and was for many years his mistress.
- Alfonsino d' Este († 1547), Margrave of Castelnuovo
- Alfonso d' Este (1527-1587), Margrave of Montecchio 1534 ∞ 1) 1549 Giulia della Rovere († 1563), daughter of the Duke of Urbino Francesco Maria della Rovere,, ∞ 2) 1584 Violanta Signa ( 1546-1609 )
This attempt of legitimacy has not been recognized by the Pope. When Alfonso II d' Este, grandson of Alfonso I, died childless in 1597, Pope Clement VIII his son Cesare d' Este took the illegitimate birth of his uncle Alfonso d' Este, the Marquis of Montecchio on the occasion, the papal part of heritage, Ferrara to refuse. Cesare renounced in 1598 and the Pope divided the territory of the Papal State.
Art
Alfonso was a great patron of the arts. 1514 Giovanni Bellini painted for him his last completed painting The Feast of the Gods. He gave Titian a series of paintings commissioned and built an art cabinet in his Camerino d' alabastro.