Alfonso III d'Este (22 October 1591 – 26 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
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 his wife
Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain.
Biography
Born in
Ferrara
Ferrara (, ; egl, Fràra ) is a city and ''comune'' 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 stream ...
, 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
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 has a population of 383,957.
Lucca is known as ...
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
Sassuolo (; egl, label= Modenese, Sasól ) 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 fo ...
. On September 8 of the same year he entered the
Capuchin friars at
Merano
Merano (, , ) or Meran () is a city and ''comune'' in South Tyrol, northern Italy. Generally best known for its spa resorts, it is located within a basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to above sea level, at the entrance to the Passeier V ...
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
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, 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
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