Este dynasty

Family who ruled Ferrara and Modena in northern Italy from the 13th century to the end of the 16th. Allied to other important families such as the Gonzaga, they played an important role in the political and cultural life of Italy, founding the university of Ferrara and making their courts major centres of literature and the arts. One of the leading members of the family was Isabella d'Este.

The dynasty was established when Obizzo II became perpetual lord of Ferrara in 1264, despite papal claims to the title. Este power was considerably extended by Niccolò III d'Este (lord 1393-1441), and by Borso d'Este (lord 1450-71), who became Duke of Modena and Reggio in 1452 and Duke of Ferrara in 1471. Ercole I d'Este (Duke 1471-1505), allied his family by marriage with the royal line of Naples and with the Bentivoglio, Gonzaga, and Sforza families.

Ercole I encouraged the arts and he beautified Ferrara. His daughters by Eleonora of Aragon, Isabella d'Este and Beatrice (1475-1497), carried the Ferrarese enthusiasm for music, art, and literature to their husbands' courts, Isabella to Mantua and Beatrice to Milan. Other Este patrons of the arts included Niccolò II (lord 1361-88), who built the Castello Estense; Alberto V (lord 1388-93), who founded the university of Ferrara; and Leonello (lord 1441-50), who was educated by Guarino da Verona and encouraged scholars and artists, among them Alberti, Pisanello, Jacopo Bellini, van der Weyden, and Mantegna.

In 1502 Alfonso I (duke 1505-34) married his second wife Lucrezia Borgia, their court becoming renowned for its brilliance. His brother Cardinal Ippolito I d'Este (1479-1520) was also a patron of the poet Ariosto, who dedicated his epic Orlando furioso to him. Alfonso's son, Cardinal Ippolito II d'Este (1509-1572) built the Villa d'Este at Tivoli, near Rome.

When Alfonso II (duke 1559-97) died without an heir the papacy recovered Ferrara, but a junior Este branch continued to rule Modena and Reggio.