Duke of Ferrara and of Modena
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This is a list of rulers of the estates owned by the Este family, which main line of Marquesses (Marchesi d'Este) rose in 1039 with Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan. The name "Este" is related to the city where the family came from, Este.
From the Lordship of Este to the Duchy of Ferrara-Modena-Reggio
The family was founded by Adalbert the Margrave, who might have been the true first margrave of Milan of this family. In 1209, Azzo VI was named the first marquess of Ferrara. The title passed to his descendants, and the marquisate was delegated to a cadet branch of the Este family. Later, they were also created marquesses of Modena and Reggio.
- The Duchy of Modena (in the dark purple) and of Ferrara (in the light purple) in the context of late 15th century Italy.
- First coat of arms of the family
- A map of Ferrara at the time of its loss by the Este family, c.1600
In 1452 Borso d'Este, then marquis of Modena and Reggio, was raised by Emperor Frederick III with the title of duke of Modena and Reggio. In 1471, Pope Paul II formally elevated him in as Duke of Ferrara, over which the family had in fact long presided.
This latter territory was lost to the Papal States in 1597, while the House of Este continued to rule the Duchy of Modena and Reggio in the Emilia region until 1796, when it became part of Napoleon Bonaparte's Cispadane Republic. In 1814, the duchy was restored under the Habsburg grandson of the last Este duke, continuing until it was annexed by Piedmont-Sardinia in 1859.
Rulers
House of Este
Partitions of Este territories under Este rule
| Marquisate of Este (940–1463) (acquired Ferrara 1187, recovered 1240); (acquired Modena 1288; and Reggio 1289) | Marquisate of Modena (1st creation) (1293–1361) | ||
| Marquisate of Ferrara (1293–1308) | Reggio to Papal States (1306–1405) | ||
| Modenese Republic (1308–1336) | Ferrara to Papal States (1308–1317) | ||
| Marquisate of Ferrara (1317–1405) | |||
| Marquisate of Modena (2nd creation) (1336–1361) | |||
| Marquisate of Modena, Ferrara and Reggio (1405–1471) | |||
| Raised to: Duchy of Modena, Ferrara and Reggio (1471–1597) (lost Ferrara 1597) | |||
| Ferrara lost to Papal States 1597 | |||
| Marquisate of San Martino in Rio (1490–1757) | Marquisate of Montecchio (1st creation) (1562–1587) | ||
| Marquisate of Lanzo (1592–1652) | |||
| Marquisate of Scandiano (1643–1725) | Marquisate of Montecchio (2nd creation) (1638–1713) | ||
| Marquisate of Dronero (1653–1734) | Marquisate of Borgomanero (1652–1734) | ||
| Dronero inherited by Birago di Vische family | |||
Table of rulers
| Ruler | Born | Reign | Ruling part | Consort | Death | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adalbert the Margrave | c.910 ? | c.940 – 951 | Lordship of Este (part of the March of Milan) | Unknown | 951 aged 40-41? | Ruler of the Eastern March (or March of Milan), and founder of the Obertenghi family, direct ancestor to the House of Este. | |
| Oberto I | c.930 Son of Adalbert | 951 – 15 October 975 | Lordship of Este (part of the March of Milan) | Willa of Spoleto seven children | 15 October 975 aged 44-45 | Also Marquis of Milan. A son of his was the founder of the Malaspina family. | |
| Oberto II | c.950 Sons of Oberto I and Willa of Spoleto | 15 October 975 – 1014 | Lordship of Este (part of the March of Milan) | Railenda six children | 1014 aged 63-64 | Also Marquesses of Milan. The sons of Alberto I were the ancestors of the Pallavicini family. | |
| Alberto I | 15 October 975 – 1002 | Unknown three children | 1002 aged 51-52 | ||||
| Ugo | c.970 First son of Oberto II and Railenda | 1014 | Lordship of Este (part of the March of Milan) | Unmarried | (26 January) 1035 Piacenza aged 64-65 | Also Marquis of Milan, and Count of Padua and Vicenza. Deposed in the same year of accession. | |
| Alberto Azzo I (Alberto II Azzo I) | c.970 Second son of Oberto II and Railenda | 1014–1029 | Lordship of Este (part of the March of Milan) | Adela one child | 1029 aged 58-59 | Also Marquis of Milan. | |
| Alberto Azzo II (Alberto III Azzo II) | 997 Modena Son of Alberto Azzo I and Adela | 1029 – 20 August 1097 | Lordship of Este Raised to:Marquisate of Este | Kunigunde of Altdorf 1036 one child Garsenda of Maine[it] c.1050 two children Vitalia Orseolo one child | 20 August 1097 Vangadizza aged 99–100? | First ruler to be known as Marquis of Este. Also Marquis of Milan, and the founder of the House of Este. His son from his first wife, Welf IV, is the ancestor of the House of Welf. | |
| Folco I | c.1050? Son of Alberto Azzo II and Garsenda of Maine | 20 August 1097 – December 1128 | Marquisate of Este | Unknown six children | 15/22 December 1128 Vangadizza aged 87–88 or 100–101 | Also Marquis of Milan. Referenced as titular, because, after Alberto Azzo II's death, the lands of the family were partitioned between the various branches of the family (including Malaspinas and Pallavicinis). | |
| Azzo III | c.1080 Sons of Ugo d'Este, Count of Maine and Heria of Hauteville | December 1128 – c.1142 | Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Ferrara since 1187) | Aichiva one child | c.1142 aged 61-62 | Nephews of Folco, referenced in documents as marchese, proving, along with Azzo's numbering, that they may have co-ruled with their cousins. | |
| Tancredo | December 1128 – c. 1145 | Unknown | c.1145 aged 64-65 | ||||
| Azzo IV | c.1100? Sons of Folco I | December 1128 – c. 1154 | Unknown | c.1154 aged 53–54? | Sons of Folco I, ruled jointly and with their cousins Azzo III and Tancredo. Obizzo I was the first lord of Ferrara and the last Marquess of Milan of the family. Obizzo also associated to his rule his son Azzo V and his nephew Bonifazio II. | ||
| Bonifazio I | December 1128–c.1165 | Unknown two children | c.1165 aged 64–65? | ||||
| Folco II | December 1128 – 1178 | Unknown one child | 1178 aged 77–78? | ||||
| Alberto IV | December 1128 – 1184 | Matilda two children | 1184 (after 10 April) aged 83–84? | ||||
| Obizzo I[it] | December 1128 – 25 December 1193 | Unknown one child Sofia Lendinara five children | 25 December 1193 aged 92–93? | ||||
| Azzo V[it] | c. 1135 Son of Obizzo I[it] and Sofia Lendinara | c.1140–1190 | Marchesella Adelardi 1120 two children | c.1190 Ferrara aged 54-55? | |||
| Bonifazio II | c.1130? Son of Folco II | 1178 – 1190 | Unknown | 1190 aged 59-60? | |||
| Azzo VI | c. 1170 Ferrara Son of Azzo V and Marchesella Adelardi | 25 December 1193 – November 1212 | Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Ferrara) | Sofia Aldobrandini 1189 two children Sophia of Savoy before 1192 one child Alice of Châtillon[it] 22 February 1204 two children | November 1212 Verona aged 41–42 | Also Marquis of Ancona since 1209. In that year, the lordship of Ferrara was raised to a Marquisate. | |
| Aldobrandino I | c. 1190 Ferrara Son of Azzo VI and Sofia Aldobrandini | November 1212 – 10 October 1215 | Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Ferrara) | Unknown Before 1215 three children | 10 October 1215 Ancona aged 24–25 | Died prematurely, but with children. However, he was succeeded by his minor half-brother. | |
| Regencies of Alice of Châtillon[it], Alberto da Baone, and Tisone da Camposampiero (1215–1219) | In 1222, Azzo was deposed of Ferrara by Salinguerra II Torelli[it], but recovered the city in 1240. Azzo VII raised two of the children of his half-brother, one of them being Saint Contardo of Este. | ||||||
| Azzo VII Novello | c.1205 Ferrara Son of Azzo VI and Alice of Châtillon[it] | 10 October 1215 – 16 February 1264 | Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Ferrara in 1215-1222 and since 1240) | Giovanna Puglia 1221 four children Amabilia Pallavicini 1238 no/two children | 16 February 1264 Apulia aged 58–59 | ||
| Occupation of Ferrara by Salinguerra II Torelli[it] (1222–1240) | |||||||
| Obizzo II | 1247 Ferrara Bastard son of Rinaldo d'Este | 16 February 1264 – January/February 1293 | Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Ferrara; with Lordships of Modena since 1288 and Reggio since 1289) | Jacopina Fieschi 1263 three children Costanza della Scala[it] 1289 two children | 20 January or 13 February 1293 Ferrara aged 45-46 | Grandson of Azzo VII, as bastard son of Azzo's son, Rinaldo. Between 1288 and 1289 he achieved the joining of the communes of Modena and Reggio to the Este's lands. After his death the lands were partitioned between his sons. | |
| Azzo VIII | c.1265 Ferrara Son of Obizzo II and Jacopina Fieschi | January/February 1293 – 31 January 1308 | Marquisate of Este (1/3, with Lordship of Ferrara) | Giovanna Orsini September 1282 three children Beatrice of Sicily April 1305 no children | 31 January 1308 Este aged c.42-43 | Children of Obizzo II. Initialliy Obizzo had recognized solely Azzo as his heir, but in April 1293 his sons made a new division of the inheritance. In 1306, Francesco was expelled from Reggio, and, similarly, Aldobrandino was expelled from Modena. In 1308, not long after Azzo's death, Ferrara also expelled the family form government. With only the Este marquisate remaining in their hands, in 1317, the family organized a pro-Este revolt in Ferrara, and restored their rule in that city, where they officialized a co-rulership. Aldobrandino may have also stepped down from Este, where his nephews Azzo and Bertoldo held complete control from then on. | |
| Aldobrandino II | c.1265 Ferrara Son of Obizzo II and Jacopina Fieschi | January/February 1293 – 1317 | Marquisate of Este (1/3, with Lordship of Modena until 1306) | Alda Rangoni[it] April 1305 no children | 26 July 1326 Bologna aged c.60–61 | ||
| 1317 – 26 July 1326 | Lordship of Ferrara | ||||||
| Francesco I[it] | c. 1290 Ferrara Son of Obizzo II and Costanza della Scala[it] | January/February 1293–23 August 1312 | Marquisate of Este (1/3, with Lordship of Reggio until 1306) | Orsina Orsini four children | 23 August 1312 Ferrara aged 22–23 | ||
| Modenese Republic (1306–1336) | |||||||
| Reggio occupied by the Papal States (1306–1405) | |||||||
| Regency of Fresco d'Este[it] (1308) | Barred from succession (despite Ferrara wanting him to succeed his father), Fresco d'Este was appointed regent for his own son Folco, the designated heir of Azzo VIII. Fresco tried to appeal to the Papal States to regain his place, but Ferrara ended up temporarily absorbed by the Papal army. | ||||||
| Folco II[it] | c.1300? Ferrara Son of Fresco d'Este[it] and Pellegrina Caccianemici | 31 January - October 1308 | Lordship of Ferrara | Unknown | c.1315 Venice ged 14-15 | ||
| Ferrara occupied by the Papal States (1308–1317) | |||||||
| Rinaldo[it] | c.1290? Ferrara First son of Aldobrandino II and Alda Rangoni[it] | 1317 – 31 December 1335 | Lordship of Ferrara (with Lordship of Modena since 1336) | Lucrezia Barbiano one child | 31 December 1335 Ferrara aged 44–45? | Following a pro-Este revolt in Ferrara, the sons of Aldobrandino II (Rinaldo, Niccolò, Obizzo) and Francesco I (Azzo and Bertoldo) ascended together. Bertoldo and Azzo IX, Francesco's sons, kept all Este for themselves (while retaining co-rulership in Ferrara which was abandoned by their children), and Niccolò and Obizzo, while keeping Ferrara, also recovered Modena. | |
| Niccolò I[it] | c.1290? Ferrara Second son of Aldobrandino II and Alda Rangoni[it] | 1317– 1 May 1344 | Beatrice Gonzaga[it] 21 April 1335 no children | 1 May 1344 Ferrara aged 53–54? | |||
| Obizzo III | 14 July 1294 Ferrara Third son of Aldobrandino II and Alda Rangoni[it] | 1317– 20 March 1352 | Jacopa Pepoli May 1317 no children Filippa Ariosto[it] (lover until 1347) 27 November 1347 ten children (legitimized 1347) | 20 March 1352 Ferrara aged 57 | |||
| Azzo IX[it] | c.1300 Sons of Francesco I[it] and Orsina Orsini | 1317–24 June 1318 | Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Ferrara) | Tomasina Cattanei di Lusia no children | 24 June 1318 Ferrara aged 17–18 | ||
| Bertoldo I[it] | 1317– 21 July 1343 | Domenica Pio 1324 two children Caterina da Camino July 1339 Ferrara no children | 21 July 1343 Este aged 42–43 | ||||
| Francesco II[it] | June 1323 Ferrara Son of Bertoldo I[it] and Domenica Pio | 21 July 1343 – 13 December 1384 | Marquisate of Este | Caterina Visconti no children Taddea Barbiano three children | 13 December 1384 Marquisate of Este aged 51 | ||
| Aldobrandino III | 14 September 1335 Ferrara First son of Obizzo III and Filippa Ariosto[it] | 20 March 1352 – 3 November 1361 | Lordship of Ferrara | Beatrice da Camino[it] 1351 two children | 3 November 1361 Ferrara aged 26 | ||
| Niccolò II the Lame | 17 May 1338 Ferrara Son of Obizzo III and Filippa Ariosto[it] | 3 November 1361 – 26 March 1388 | Lordship of Ferrara (with Lordship of Modena since 1352) | Verde della Scala[it] February 1363 two children | 26 March 1388 Ferrara aged 49 | ||
| Azzo X | 1344 Este Son of Francesco II[it] and Taddea Barbiano | 13 December 1384 – 1415 | Marquisate of Este | Tommasina Guarnioni Ricciarda da Camino Amabilia Collalto three children (uncertain maternity) | 1415 Venice aged 42–43 | In 1393, he challenged the succession of Niccolò III in Ferrara. | |
| Alberto V | 27 February 1347 Ferrara Son of Obizzo III and Jacopa Pepoli | 26 March 1388 – 30 July 1393 | Lordship of Ferrara (with Lordship of Modena) | Giovanna da Roberti 1388 no children Isotta Albaresani[it] (lover until 1393) 1393 one child (legitimized 1393) | 30 July 1393 Ferrara aged 46 | ||
| Council of Regency supported by the Republics of Venice, Florence and Bologna (1393-1397) | His rule was contested early on by his cousin Azzo X, who was eventually defeated and imprisoned. Niccolò recovered Reggio in 1405. | ||||||
| Niccolò III | 9 November 1383 Ferrara Son of Alberto V and Isotta Albaresani[it] | 30 July 1393–6 December 1441 | Lordship of Ferrara (with Lordship of Modena; with Lordship of Reggio since 1405) | Gigliola da Carrara 1394 no children Laura (Parisina) Malatesta 1418 three children Ricciarda of Saluzzo 1429 or 1431 two children | 6 December 1441 Milan aged 58 | ||
| Taddeo | 1390 Este Son of Azzo X | 1415 – 21 June 1448 | Marquisate of Este | Margherita Pio two children Maddalena Arcelli no children | 21 June 1448 Mozzanica aged 43 | ||
| Leonello | 21 September 1407 Ferrara Bastard son of Niccolò III and Stella de' Tolomei | 6 December 1441 – 1 October 1450 | Lordship of Ferrara (with Lordship of Modena and Lordship of Reggio) | Margherita Gonzaga 1435 one child Maria of Naples[it] 1444 no children | 1 October 1450 Voghiera aged 43 | ||
| Bertoldo II[it] | May 1434 Este Son of Taddeo and Margherita Pio | 21 June 1448 – 4 November 1463 | Marquisate of Este | Giacopa Leonessa no children | 4 November 1463 Corinth aged 29 | Left no descendants. After his death the original possessions of the family (marquisate of Este) were annexed to Ferrara. | |
| The Marquisate of Este was definitively annexed to Modena-Ferrara-Reggio | |||||||
| Borso | 24 August 1413 Ferrara Bastard son of Niccolò III and Stella de' Tolomei | 1 October 1450 – 20 August 1471 | Lordships of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio (until 1452) Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio (since 1452) | Unmarried | 20 August 1471 aged 57 | ||
| Ercole I the Fearless | 26 October 1431 Ferrara Son of Niccolò III and Ricciarda of Saluzzo | 20 August 1471 – 15 June 1505 | Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio | Eleanor of Naples July 1473 six children | 15 June 1505 Ferrara aged 73 | ||
| Sigismondo I | 31 August 1433 Ferrara Son of Niccolò III and Ricciarda of Saluzzo | 11 May 1501 – 1 April 1507 | Lordship of San Martino in Rio | Pizzocara three children | 1 April 1507 Ferrara aged 73 | Received the lordship based at San Martino in Rio from his brother. | |
| Alfonso I the Artilleryman | 21 July 1476 Ferrara Son of Ercole I and Eleanor of Naples | 15 June 1505 – 31 October 1534 | Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio | Anna Maria Sforza 23 January 1491 Pavia no children Lucrezia Borgia 1 September 1501 Ferrara seven children | 31 October 1534 Ferrara aged 58 | ||
| Ercole[it] | c.1470 Bastard son of Sigismondo I and Cecilia Rachesi | 1 April 1507 – 1523 | Lordship of San Martino in Rio | Angela Sforza[it] 28 November 1492 two children | 1523 Castellarano aged 52–53 | ||
| Sigismondo II[it] | 1493 Son of Ercole[it] and Angela Sforza[it] | 1523 – 1561 | Lordship of San Martino in Rio | Giustina Trivulzio[it] 1533 six children | 1561 Pavia aged 67–68 | ||
| Alfonso | 10 March 1527 Ferrara Bastard son of Alfonso I and Laura Dianti | 28 August 1533 – 1 November 1587 | Lordship of Montecchio (1533–1562) Marquisate of Montecchio (1562–1587) | Giulia Della Rovere 3 January 1549 three children | 1 November 1587 Ferrara aged 50 | Inherited from his father the lordship of Montecchio, which was raised to marquisate in 1569. | |
| Ercole II | 5 April 1508 Ferrara Son of Alfonso I and Lucrezia Borgia | 31 October 1534 – 3 October 1559 | Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio | Renée of France 28 June 1528 Paris five children | 3 October 1559 Ferrara aged 51 | ||
| Alfonso II | 22 November 1533 Ferrara Son of Ercole II and Renée of France | 3 October 1559 – 27 October 1597 | Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio | Lucrezia de' Medici 3 July 1558 Florence no children Barbara of Austria 5 December 1565 Innsbruck no children Margherita Gonzaga 24 February 1579 Ferrara no children | 27 October 1597 Ferrara aged 63 | Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his cousin Cesare. | |
| Filippo I[it] | 1537 Ferrara Son of Sigismondo II[it] and Giustina Trivulzio[it] | 1561 – 13 December 1592 | Lordship of San Martino in Rio (1561–1588) Marquisate of San Martino in Rio (1588–1592) | Maria of Savoy[it] 20 January 1570 Turin five children | 13 December 1592 Ferrara aged 54–55 | During his rule the lordship was raised to a marquisate (1588). Acquired in 1580 the marquisate of Lanzo. | |
| Carlo Filiberto I[it] | 1 November 1571 San Martino in Rio First son of Filippo I[it] and Maria of Savoy[it] | 13 December 1592 – 26 May 1652 | Marquisate of San Martino in Rio | Luisa de Cárdenas 1606 no children Livia Marini Castagna no children | 26 May 1652 Milan aged 80 | Children of Filippo I, divided their patrimony. | |
| Sigismondo[it] | 26 June 1572 Turin Second son of Filippo I[it] and Maria of Savoy[it] | 13 December 1592 – 26 August 1628 | Marquisate of Lanzo | Francesca Charledes d’Antel d’Hostel 1618 three children | 26 August 1628 Turin aged 56 | ||
| Cesare | 8 October 1562 Ferrara Son of Alfonso I, Marquess of Montecchio and Giulia della Rovere | 1 November 1587 – 27 October 1597 | Marquisate of Montecchio | Virginia de' Medici 30 January 1586 Florence ten children | 11 December 1628 Modena aged 67 | Half cousin of Alfonso II. In 1598, the lack of recognition of his succession in Ferrara led to its annexation to the Papal States. | |
| 27 October 1597 – 11 December 1628 | Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio (until 1598) Duchy of Modena and Reggio (from 1598) | ||||||
| Ferrara definitively annexed by the Papal States | |||||||
| Montecchio briefly annexed to Modena (1597–1638) | |||||||
| Filippo II Francesco[it] | 1621 First son of Sigismondo d'Este, Marquis of Lanzo[it] and Francesca Charledes d’Antel d’Hostel | 26 August 1628 – 26 May 1652 | Marquisate of Lanzo | Margaret of Savoy 30 November 1645 Turin three children | 1653 aged 31–32 | In 1652, reunited Lanzo and San Martino in Rio. Created, in 1646, the marquisate of Dronero. | |
| 26 May 1652 – 1653 | Marquisate of San Martino in Rio | ||||||
| Lanzo definitively annexed to San Martino in Rio | |||||||
| Alfonso III | 22 October 1591 Ferrara Son of Cesare and Virginia de' Medici | 11 December 1628 – 11 July 1629 | Duchy of Modena and Reggio | Isabella of Savoy 22 February 1608 Turin fourteen children | 26 May 1644 Castelnuovo di Garfagnana aged 52 | In 1629, abdicated to his son, to enter in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. | |
| Francesco I | 6 September 1610 Modena Son of Alfonso III and Isabella of Savoy | 11 July 1629 – 14 October 1658 | Duchy of Modena and Reggio | Maria Caterina Farnese 11 January 1631 Parma nine children Vittoria Farnese 12 February 1648 Parma one child Lucrezia Barberini 14 October 1654 one child | 14 October 1658 Santhià aged 48 | Joined Florence and Venice against the Papal States in the Wars of Castro, hoping to reconquer Ferrara, with no success. | |
| Luigi I | 27 March 1594 Ferrara Son of Cesare and Virginia de' Medici | 1643 – 1 January 1664 | Marquisate of Scandiano (with Marquisate of Montecchio) | Unmarried | 1 January 1664 Modena aged 69 | Invested by his nephew with marquisate of Scandiano, and with it also came the old Marquisate of Montecchio. With no descendants of his own, he was succeeded by his nephews. | |
| Carlo Emanuele[it] | 1622 Borgomanero Second son of Sigismondo d'Este, Marquis of Lanzo[it] and Francesca Charledes d’Antel d’Hostel | 26 May 1652 – 24 October 1695 | Marquisate of Borgomanero | Paola Camilla Marliani 1645 one child | 24 October 1695 Vienna aged 72–73 | Inherited from his uncle, Carlo Filiberto I, the lands of Borgomanero and Porlezza, creating a new marquisate. | |
| Sigismondo III[it] | 1647 First son of Filippo II Francesco[it] and Margaret of Savoy | 1653 – 28 August 1732 | Marquisate of San Martino in Rio | Maria Teresa of Monaco seven children | 28 August 1732 Parma aged 84–85 | Children of Filippo II, divided the patrimony. In 1720, the title of "marquess of Lanzo" ceased to exist. | |
| Carlo Filiberto | 1649 Second son of Filippo II Francesco[it] and Margaret of Savoy | 1653 – 25 July 1703 | Marquisate of Dronero | Thérese de Mesmes de Marolles six children | 25 July 1703 Parma aged 53–54 | ||
| Alfonso IV | 14 October 1634 Modena Son of Francesco I and Maria Caterina Farnese | 14 October 1658 – 16 July 1662 | Duchy of Modena and Reggio | Laura Martinozzi 27 May 1655 Compiègne two children | 16 July 1662 Modena aged 27 | ||
| Regency of Laura Martinozzi (1662–1674) | |||||||
| Francesco II | 6 March 1660 Modena Son of Alfonso IV and Laura Martinozzi | 16 July 1662–6 September 1694 | Duchy of Modena and Reggio | Margherita Maria Farnese 14 July 1692 Parma no children | 6 September 1694 Modena aged 34 | ||
| Luigi II[it] | 28 August 1648 Reggio Emilia First son of Borso d'Este and Ippolita d'Este | 1 January 1664 – 26 May 1698 | Marquisate of Scandiano | Unmarried | 26 May 1698 Modena aged 49 | Children of Borso, and nephews of Luigi I. Divided the inherited patrimony: Foresto abdicated of Montecchio to his younger brother Cesare Ignazio, but inherited his elder brother Luigi's property: after their deaths the patrimony was annexed to Modena. | |
| Foresto[it] | 20 April 1652 Modena Second son of Borso d'Este and Ippolita d'Este | 1 January 1664–23 May 1680 | Marquisate of Montecchio | 1725 aged 72–73 | |||
| 26 May 1698 – 1725 | Marquisate of Scandiano | ||||||
| Cesare Ignazio[it] | 1653 Third son of Borso d'Este and Ippolita d'Este | 23 May 1680 – 27 October 1713 | Marquisate of Montecchio | 27 October 1713 Reggio Emilia aged 59–60 | |||
| Montecchio was annexed to Modena | |||||||
| Scandiano was annexed to Modena | |||||||
| Rinaldo | 26 April 1655 Modena Son of Francesco I and Lucrezia Barberini | 6 September 1694 – 26 April 1737 | Duchy of Modena and Reggio | Charlotte Felicitas of Brunswick-Lüneburg 11 February 1696 Modena seven children | 26 April 1737 Modena aged 82 | Albeit declaring neutrality on the War of the Spanish Succession, France invaded Modena and Rinaldo had to flee to Bologna. In 1707, German troops ousted the French and restored the throne to Rinaldo. | |
| Carlo Filiberto[it] | 1646 Son of Carlo Emanuele[it] and Paola Camilla Marliani | 24 October 1695 – 1714 | Marquisate of Borgomanero | Bibiana Gonzaga[it] 1671 one child | 1714 aged 67–68 | ||
| Gabriele[it] | 1673 Turin Son of Carlo Filiberto and Thérese de Mesmes de Marolles | 25 July 1703 – 1734 | Marquisate of Dronero (with Marquisate of Borgomanero from 1716) | Clara Colomba Cobianchi two children | 1734 Castelfranco Emilia aged 60–61 | After his death Dronero was inherited by the Birago di Vische family, and Borgomanero reverted to Modena. | |
| Borgomanero was annexed to San Martino in Rio | |||||||
| Dronero inherited by the Birago di Vische family | |||||||
| Carlo Filiberto II[it] | 16 March 1678 San Martino in Rio Son of Sigismondo III[it] and Maria Teresa of Monaco | 1732 – 30 April 1752 | Marquisate of San Martino in Rio (1732–1747) Principality of San Martino in Rio (1747–1752) | Teresa Sfondrati (1710–1773) 1734 three children | 30 April 1752 San Martino in Rio aged 74 | In 1747 the marquisate was raised to a principality. However, as he didn't have male heirs, after his death, the lands he ruled went to Modena. | |
| San Martino in Rio definitively annexed to Modena-Reggio | |||||||
| Francesco III | 2 July 1698 Modena Son of Rinaldo and Charlotte Felicitas of Brunswick-Lüneburg | 26 April 1737 – 22 February 1780 | Duchy of Modena and Reggio | Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans 21 June 1720 Modena ten children | 22 February 1780 Modena aged 81 | As the duchy was bankrupted by the Wars of the Spanish, Polish, and Austrian Successions, Francesco sold artworks of the Estense Gallery. He was a careful administrator, but most of the duchy's financial policy was in the hands of the Austrian plenipotentiary, Beltrame Cristiani. | |
| Ercole III | 22 September 1727 Modena Son of Francesco III and Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans | 22 February 1780 – 16 October 1796 | Duchy of Modena and Reggio | Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina, Duchess of Massa 16 April 1741 Modena two children Chiara Marini 1795 (morganatic) one child | 14 October 1803 Treviso aged 75 | In 1785 he founded the Atesine Academy of Fine Arts: during his reign arts and culture flourished. The French invasion forced him to flee to Venice on 7 May 1796. Later, French soldiers captured him there, robbing 200,000 zecchini from his house. Then he moved to Treviso, where he died in 1803. The peaces of Treaty of Campo Formio (1797) and Lunéville had assigned him territories in Breisgau in exchange of the lost Duchy, but he never took possession of them. |
Habsburg-Este dukes of Modena and Reggio, 1814–1859
(from 1815 also Duke of Mirandola and from 1829 Duke of Massa and Prince of Carrara)
| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Francesco IV 14 July 1814– 21 January 1846 | 6 October 1779 Milan son of Ferdinand, Duke of Breisgau and Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa | Maria Beatrice of Savoy 20 June 1812 Cagliari Cathedral four children | 21 January 1846 Modena aged 66 | |
| Francesco V 21 January 1846– 11 June 1859 | 1 June 1819 Modena son of Francis IV and Maria Beatrice of Savoy | Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria 20 March 1842 Kreuzkirche (Munich) one daughter | 20 November 1875 Vienna aged 56 |
Habsburg-Este dukes of Modena and Reggio, post monarchy
Heir apparent: Prince Amedeo of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este