Alfonso III d'Este, Duke of Modena

Alfonso III. d' Este ( born October 22, 1591 in Ferrara, † May 24 1644 in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana ) was the eldest son of the Duke Cesare d' Este of Modena and Reggio and Virginia de ' Medici, a daughter of Grand Duke Cosimo I. de ' Medici.

On February 22, 1608, he married Isabella of Savoy in Turin (* March 11, 1591; † August 22, 1626 ) daughter of Duke Carlo Emanuele I. The wedding was together with that of Isabella's sister Margherita with the Duke of Mantua, Francesco IV. Gonzaga celebrated.

Alfonso of as intelligent, well tempered, is even described violent, participated early in the affairs of state. In 1610 he led the campaign against Lucca Mantua for the possession of Garfagnana, fell ill of a fever and retired to Modena, while his brother Luigi continued the fight.

On August 22, 1626 Isabella died following the birth of their fourteenth child. Two years later, after the death of his father Cesare on December 11, 1628 was followed by Alfonso as Duke of Modena and Reggio. After only seven months, the government handed over the reign of Alfonso to his son Francesco, and withdrew to Meran, where he da Modena entered under the name Giambattista the Capuchin Order.

He studied theology in Rome and rhetoric, founded a monastery in Gorizia and was called to Innsbruck and Vienna, to preach there. 1632 he returned to Modena, where he preached, many supporters rallied around him. A particular concern of his was the conversion of the Jews, which also attacked to coercive measures.

Alfonso retired to the convent founded by him in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, where he died on May 24, 1644.

Progeny

Alfonso and Isabella had 14 children: