Politics

City of Ferrara

iccolò d'Este (Niccolò III), marquis of Ferrara: was the first Renaissance prince in the Este dynasty. His historical claim to fame is his successful military skills and the number of concubines and bastard children he had.

Niccolò was one of the first rulers in Italy to become interested in humanist learning. He reopened the University of Ferrara, which was founded by his father. Niccolò had three wives in his lifetime. His first wife had no children, his second wife bore him twin daughters, and his third wife had two sons, Ercole and Sigismondo. Three of his bastard sons were also important to him: Ugo, Leónello, and Borso. In total, Niccolò had more than thirty children, though he acknowledged about twenty-seven.

Ugo d'Este and Parisina Malatesta: he was a bastard son of Niccolò III and she was the second wife of Niccolò. Their historical claim to fame is falling in love with each other.

Ugo, Niccolò's beloved son and heir, was closer to Parisina's age than his father. Niccolò had many concubines, but he nevertheless frowned on infidelity in women. When he found out about an affair between his son and his wife, he was distraught. He sentenced them both to be beheaded. Soon after, he created a new law stating that any two involved in the same activities as his son and wife would also be beheaded.

Leónello d'Este, marquis of Ferrara: bastard son of Niccolò III who became his father's heir after the execution of Ugo d'Este. His historical claim to fame is his interest in humanism and the arts.

Leónello was a master of Greek, Latin, philosophy, and law. During his rule, he established public libraries and endowed the university. During his brief rule, Leónello was never charged with any crime or act of cruelty. He shunned opulence and invested his money in improving the university and collecting books, pictures, and antiquities. He also brought in many great artists and scholars from all over Europe. He died of illness at the age of forty-three.

Borso d'Este, marquis of Ferrara: bastard son of Niccolò III and successor to Leónello in 1450. His historical claim to fame was his elaborate excesses and expenditures for entertainment and luxury.

The jovial Borso was able to both charm and intimidate his subjects at times. The people of Ferrara in turn loved Borso and called him "the divine Borso," though he taxed them heavily. Much of his money went to musicals, pageants, dances, plays, and commissioned works from renowned poets and artists. He brought acclaim to Ferrara and the title of duke to himself. Borso died of malaria.

Ercole d'Este (Ercole I), marquis of Ferrara: legitimate son of Niccolò III and the last of Niccolò's sons to reign. His historical claim to fame was his patronage of the arts and his piety.

When Borso died, Ferrara was split over whether Ercole should rule or Niccolò, Leónello's son, should rule. Ercole eventually had the upper hand and drove Niccolò out of the city. He was not as cultivated as Leónello or as popular as Borso, but he was a successful ruler for thirty-three years. He patronized the arts and had a love for sacred music. In addition, he tripled Ferrara's size by adding an extension called the Herculean Addition. This addition added homes, palaces, churches, convents, and defensive structures; it made Ferrara one of the most modern cities in Europe. His icy demeanor earned him the name "North Wind." He was loved by few, but he was respected by all. He died peacefully at the age of seventy-three.

Elenora of Aragon: wife of Ercole I and a great beauty. Her historical claim to fame was her able administration of Ferrara in her husband's many absences.

The marriage between Ercole and Elenora was happy. She was pious, virtuous, courageous, well educated, and much admired by her subjects. Ercole loved, trusted, and admired her. Elenora bore Ercole six children.