Alfonso III d'Este (22 October 1591 – 24 May 1644) was
Duke of Modena and Reggio
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 1628 to 1629.
He was the husband of
Princess Isabella of Savoy, daughter of
Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy
Charles Emmanuel I (; 12 January 1562 – 26 July 1630), known as the Great, was the Duke of Savoy and ruler of the Savoyard states from 30 August 1580 until his death almost 50 years later in 1630, he was the longest-reigning Savoyard monarch ...
and his wife
Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain
Catalina Micaela of Spain (10 October 1567 – 6 November 1597) was Duchess of Savoy by marriage to Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy. She ruled the duchy several times as regent in Charles Emmanuel's absence, notably during his campaign in 1594 ...
.
Biography
Born in
Ferrara
Ferrara (; ; ) is a city and ''comune'' (municipality) in Emilia-Romagna, Northern Italy, capital of the province of Ferrara. it had 132,009 inhabitants. It is situated northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main ...
, he was the first son of
Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena
Cesare d'Este (8 October 1562 – 11 December 1628) was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1597 until his death.
Biography
Born in Ferrara, Cesare was the son of Alfonso d'Este, Marquis of Montecchio, fourth son of Alfonso I d'Este and the ...
and
Virginia de' Medici
Virginia de' Medici (29 May 1568 – 15 January 1615) was an Italian princess, a member of the House of Medici and by marriage Duchess of Modena and Reggio.
Regent of the Duchy of Modena and Reggio in 1601 during the absence of her husband, s ...
. In 1613 he took part in the war against
Lucca
Città di Lucca ( ; ) is a city and ''comune'' in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the Serchio River, in a fertile plain near the Ligurian Sea. The city has a population of about 89,000, while its Province of Lucca, province has a population of 383,9 ...
and had a primary role in the assassination of count
Ercole Pepoli, who was disputing the duchy with Cesare, at Ferrara (1617).
In 1608 he was married to
Isabella of Savoy
Isabella of Savoy (2 March 1591 – 28 August 1626) was a daughter of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and Catherine Michelle of Spain. Her maternal grandparents were Philip II of Spain and Elisabeth of Valois, and her paternal grandparents were ...
, daughter of
Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy. Profoundly in love with her, when she died in 1626 he started to think to take religious vows. When his father died in 1628, Alfonso became Duke of Modena and Reggio. However, in July 1629 he announced his abdication from the Castle of
Sassuolo
Sassuolo (; ) is an Italian town, ''comune'', and industrial centre of the Province of Modena in Emilia-Romagna.
Standing on the right bank of the river Secchia some southwest of Modena, the town is best known for being the centre of the Ita ...
. On September 8 of the same year he entered the
Capuchin friars at
Merano
Merano (, ; ) or Meran () is a (municipality) in South Tyrol, Northern Italy. Generally best known for its Spa town, spa resorts, it is located within a Depression (geology), basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to Height above mean sea ...
under the name of fra' Giambattista da Modena.
He was distinguished as a preacher and helper of dying people during the pestilence which struck the Duchy in 1630–1631. In the following year he returned to Modena, but his discourses against the costumes of the court made him unwelcome, so he retired to a convent in
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, built by his son, Duke
Francesco I, where he died in 1644.
Issue
*Cesare d'Este (1609–1613), died in infancy;
*
Francesco Ι d'Este (1610–1658), future Duke of Modena; married
Maria Farnese, Vittoria Farnese and
Lucrezia Barberini, all had issue;
*Obizzo d'Este (1611–1644), Bishop of Modena;
*Caterina d'Este (1613–1628), nun;
*Cesare d'Este (1614–1677), died unmarried;
*Alessandro d'Este (1615), died in infancy;
*Carlo Alessandro d'Este (1616–1679), died unmarried;;
*
Rinaldo d'Este (1618–1672) Cardinal;
*Margherita d'Este (1619–1692), married
Ferrante III Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla;
*Beatrice d'Este (1620), died in infancy;
*Beatrice d'Este (1622–1623), died in infancy;
*Filiberto d'Este (1623–1645);
*Bonifazio d'Este (1624), died in infancy;
*
Anna Beatrice d'Este (1626–1690), married
Alessandro II Pico della Mirandola and had issue; Isabella died giving birth to her.
Ancestry
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Este, Alfonso 3
1591 births
1644 deaths
Nobility from Ferrara
Alfonso 3
Alfonso 3
Alfonso 3
Alfonso 3
17th-century Italian nobility
Hereditary princes of Modena
Capuchins