Isabella of Savoy (11 March 1591 – 28 August 1626) was a daughter of

Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy Charles Emmanuel I ( it, Carlo Emanuele di Savoia; 12 January 1562 – 26 July 1630), known as the Great, was the Duke of Savoy from 1580 to 1630. He was nicknamed (, in context "the Hot-Headed") for his rashness and military aggression. Being ...

, and

Catherine Michelle of Spain Katherine, also spelled Catherine, and other variations are feminine names. They are popular in Christian countries because of their derivation from the name of one of the first Christian saints, Catherine of Alexandria. In the early Christ ...

. Her maternal grandparents were

Philip II of Spain Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal fro ...

and

Elisabeth of Valois Elisabeth of France or Elisabeth of Valois ( es, Isabel de Valois; french: Élisabeth de France) (2 April 1545 – 3 October 1568) was Queen of Spain as the third spouse of Philip II of Spain. She was the eldest daughter of Henry II of France ...

, her paternal grandparents were

Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy Emmanuel Philibert ( it, Emanuele Filiberto; pms, Emanuel Filibert; 8 July 1528 – 30 August 1580), known as ( pms, Testa 'd fer, links=no; "Ironhead", because of his military career), was Duke of Savoy from 1553 to 1580. He is remembered fo ...

and Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry. She was the Hereditary Princess of Modena, dying before her husband succeeded to the

Duchy of Modena A duchy, also called a dukedom, is a medieval country, territory, fief, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess, a ruler hierarchically second to the king or queen in Western European tradition. There once existed an important difference between ...

in 1628.

Life

Isabella was born in Turin to

and his wife Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain, a daughter of

and Elisabeth of France.

Marriage

On 22 February 1608, she married Alfonso, Hereditary Prince of Modena (son of Cesare d'Este and Virginia de' Medici) in Turin. This was a happy marriage; Alfonso was loving and loyal towards his wife. Within two years, Isabella bore Alfonso a son, Francesco who would one day succeed his father as Duke of Modena and Reggio. When Isabella died in childbirth on 28 August 1626, Alfonso was heartbroken; he never remarried and died in 1644. Isabella had been constantly pregnant during much of her 18 years of marriage, giving birth almost once per year. She had died before her husband became duke, so she was never Duchess of Modena.

Issue

Isabella and Alfonso had fourteen children in just seventeen years: *Cesare d'Este (1609–1613), died in infancy; * Francesco d'Este (1610–1658), future Duke of Modena; married Maria Farnese, Vittoria Farnese d'Este and

Lucrezia Barberini Lucrezia Barberini (24 October 1628 – 24 August 1699) was an Italian noblewoman and, by marriage, Duchess of Modena. Born into the Barberini family, she was the last wife of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena. Biography Barberini was bo ...

, 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, duca di 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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Isabella Of Savoy Princesses of Savoy 1591 births 1626 deaths Nobility from Turin Deaths in childbirth House of Este Hereditary Princesses of Modena 17th-century Italian nobility 17th-century Italian women Daughters of monarchs