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Alfonso IV D'Este
Alfonso IV d'Este (2 February 1634 – 16 July 1662) was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1658 until his death. He was the father of Mary of Modena, consort of James II of England. Alfonso was born in Modena, the eldest son of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena, and his first wife, Maria Caterina Farnese. He became Duke of Modena and Reggio after his father's death in 1658. Alfonso's health was poor and he suffered from gout and tuberculosis. He died four years into his reign. In 1655 he married Laura Martinozzi, Cardinal Mazarin's niece, thus strengthening his alliance with France. On Laura's sixteenth birthday, 27 May 1655, she was married to the Duke of Modena by proxy at the Palace of Compiègne, with the Count of Soissons standing in the place of the Duke of Modena. They had two children, Maria and Francesco, who went on to become Queen of England and Duke of Modena, respectively. In 1659 the Franco-Spanish War came to an end and Modena was rewarded with the town of ...
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Justus Sustermans
Justus Sustermans, Joost Sustermans or Suttermans, his given name Italianised to Giusto (28September 159723April 1681), was a Flemish people, Flemish painter and draughtsman who is mainly known for his portraits. He also painted history and genre paintings, still lifes and animals.Justus Sustermans
at the Netherlands Institute for Art History
Sustermans is chiefly noted for his portraits of members of the House of Medici, Medici family as he was its court painter. The Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor, Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II invited him to Vienna to paint portraits of the Imperial family and granted Sustermans and his brothers patents of nobility. (p. 249–254, v.1; plate 94–96, v.2) During his lifetime he was fêted as the finest portrait painter in Italy.
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Infanta Maria Of Guimarães
Infanta Maria of Guimarães (12 August 1538 – 9 July 1577) was a Portuguese infanta, daughter of Infante Duarte, Duke of Guimarães (son of King Manuel I of Portugal), and Isabel of Braganza. She married Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ... Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza on 11 November 1565. She was Hereditary Princess of Parma by marriage. Issue Ancestry References 1538 births 1577 deaths Portuguese infantas Hereditary princesses of Parma House of Aviz Nobility from Lisbon House of Farnese Burials at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata 16th-century Portuguese people Mothers of Italian monarchs {{Portugal-royal-stub ...
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Alexander Farnese, Duke Of Parma
Alexander Farnese (, ; 27 August 1545 – 3 December 1592) was an Italian noble and military leader, who was Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro from 1586 to 1592, as well as Governor of the Spanish Netherlands from 1578 to 1592. Nephew to King Philip II of Spain, he served in the Battle of Lepanto and the subsequent campaigns of the Holy League against the Ottoman Empire, being latter appointed general of the Spanish army during the Dutch revolt until his death in 1592. During the French Wars of Religion, he decisively relieved Paris for the Catholic League. His talents as a commander, strategist and organiser earned him the regard of contemporaries and historians as the greatest general of his age, as well as one of the best in history. He stood out for his equal proficiency at war and diplomacy. Under his leadership, Philip II's army achieved the most comprehensive successes in the history of the Eighty Years' War, capturing more than thirty towns between 1581 and 1587 bef ...
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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.Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani – Volume 22 (1979) She was the younger surviving daughter of Philip II of Spain and Elisabeth of Valois. Early life Catalina Micaela was the daughter of Philip II, ruler of the vast Spanish Empire, and his third wife, the French princess Elisabeth of Valois. She was described as beautiful, intelligent, arrogant and well aware of her high social status. Though her father did not attend her christening and was not as rejoiced at the birth of a daughter as he had been with her elder sister, Isabella Clara Eugenia, she had a good relationship with him. Philip and Catalina Micaela exchanged letters throughout her life. She had a close relationship with her sister. They were raised together under th ...
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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 at the time, only for his record to be surpassed by his great-grandson Victor Amadeus II. He was nicknamed (, in context "the Hot-Headed") for his rashness and military aggression. Being ambitious and confident, Charles pursued a policy of expansion for his duchy, seeking to expand it into a kingdom. Biography Charles was born in the Castle of Rivoli in Piedmont, the only child of Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy and Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry. He succeeded his father as duke on 30 August 1580. His father was a devout Catholic and advised Charles to follow in his footsteps: My son, I urge you above all to be a true friend and devout servant of God and His holy Catholic religion, as were your ancestors. Never begin anyt ...
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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, she was able to protect the autonomy of the city of Modena from the attacks of the local Podestà and Judge. Her husband's infidelities increased her already erratic behavior and led to a permanent mental illness, which lasted until her death. Life Early years Born in Florence on 29 May 1568,Georgia Arrivo: ''Scritture delle donne di casa Medici nei fondi dell’Archivio di Stato di Firenze'' in: archiviodistato.firenze.it (in Italian) ...
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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 cousin of Alfonso II d'Este, duke of Ferrara and Modena. When Alfonso II died without heirs in the October 1597, Cesare claimed the duchy of Ferrara. Pope Clement VIII raised an army and Cesare, denied French assistance, retreated to Modena. His capital was moved to Modena, which he entered on January 1598. Cesare's first years were troublesome: he had to face the quarrels between the Modenese and Ferrarese nobles who had come with him, the attempt at independence of Maro Pio of Sassuolo, and a war against Lucca for the possession of Garfagnana. Marriage and issue On 30 January 1586, Cesare married Virginia de' Medici, daughter of Cosimo I de' Medici Cosimo I de' Medici (12 June 1519 – 21 April 1574) was the second and l ...
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Margherita Aldobrandini
Margherita Aldobrandini (29 March 1588 — 9 August 1646), was an Italian noblewoman member of the Aldobrandini family and by marriage Duchess consort of Parma and Piacenza during 1600–1622. She was also Regent of both Duchies during 1626–1628 on behalf of her minor son. Life Family and early years Born in the castle of Capodimonte in the Duchy of Castro on 29 March 1588, Margherita was the eldest child and daughter of Gianfrancesco Aldobrandini and Olimpia Aldobrandini, niece of Cardinal Ippolito Aldobrandini, who became Pope Clement VIII in 1592. In 1593, at the invitation of her uncle, the pontiff, Margherita's parents moved to Rome. The Pope wanted to strengthen the position of the Aldobrandini family in the Papal States and provided patronage to his relatives. Margherita's father enjoyed special confidence in the pontiff, who bestowed on him the titles of Count of Sarsina and Meldola (later elevated to the rank of Prince in 1597), and her mother was his favorite niece. ...
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Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke Of Parma
Ranuccio I Farnese (28 March 1569 – 5 March 1622) reigned as Duke of Parma, Duke of Piacenza, Piacenza and Duchy of Castro, Castro from 1592. A firm believer in absolute monarchy, Ranuccio, in 1594, centralised the administration of Parma and Piacenza, thus rescinding the nobles' hitherto vast prerogative. Persecution of conspirators Ranuccio was the son of Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma and his wife, Maria of Portugal, Hereditary Princess of Parma, Infanta Maria of Portugal. He is best remembered for the "Great Justice" of 1612, which saw the executions of a large number of Piacentine nobles suspected of Sanvitale conspiracy, plotting against him. Claudia Colla his mistress and her mother were accused of using witchcraft to stop him from having offspring, and both were sentenced to death by burning. Because one of the conspirators, Gianfrancesco Sanvitale, falsely implicated several Italian princes, namely Vincenzo I Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua ...
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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 Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy and Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry. She was a Hereditary Princess of Modena who died before her husband became Duke of Modena in 1628. Life Isabella was born in Turin to Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and his wife Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain, a daughter of Philip II of Spain and Elisabeth of Valois, Elisabeth of France. Marriage On 22 February 1608, Isabella married Alfonso III d'Este, Alfonso, Hereditary Prince of Modena (a son of Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena, Cesare d'Este and Virginia de' Medici) in Turin. This was a happy marriage; Alfonso was loving and loyal towards his wife. Within a year and a half, Isabella bore Alfonso a son, Cesare. The couple were more devoted to each other ...
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Alfonso III D'Este, Duke Of Modena
Alfonso III d'Este (22 October 1591 – 24 May 1644) was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1628 to 1629. He was the husband of Princess Isabella of Savoy, daughter of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and his wife Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain. Biography Born in Ferrara, he was the first son of Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena and Virginia de' Medici. In 1613 he took part in the war against Lucca 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, 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. On September 8 of the same year he entered the Capuchin friars at Merano Merano (, ; ) or Meran () is a (municipality) in ...
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