| Alfonso II d'Este | |
|---|---|
 Alfonso II d'Este byGirolamo da Carpi | |
| Duke of Ferrara | |
| Reign | 3 October 1559 – 27 October 1597 |
| Predecessor | Ercole II |
| Successor | Lost to thePapal States (1597) |
| Duke of Modena and Reggio | |
| Reign | 3 October 1559 – 27 October 1597 |
| Predecessor | Ercole II |
| Successor | Cesare |
| Duke of Chartres | |
| Tenure | 12 June 1574 – 27 October 1597 |
| Predecessor | Renée |
| Successor | Gaston |
| Born | 22 November 1533 |
| Died | 27 October 1597(1597-10-27) (aged 63) Ferrara |
| Spouse | |
| House | Este |
| Father | Ercole II d'Este |
| Mother | Renée of France |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Alfonso II d'Este (22 November 1533 – 27 October 1597) wasDuke of Ferrara from 1559 to 1597. He was a member of theHouse of Este.
Alfonso was the elder son ofErcole II d'Este andRenée de France, the daughter ofLouis XII of France andAnne of Brittany and was the fifth and last Duke of Ferrara.[1]
As a young man, Alfonso fought in the service ofHenry II of France against theHabsburgs. Soon after his accession, he was forced byPope Pius IV to send his mother back to France due to her increasinglyCalvinist beliefs.[2] The1570 Ferrara earthquake occurred during his reign. In 1583, he allied with EmperorRudolf II in the war against the Turks inHungary.
The court of Alfonso was a centre for the development of secular music, both in Italy and Europe at large. He assembled theconcerto delle donne, a chorus of women performing for the entertainment of Alfonso and his court.
Alfonso married three times:
He had no known children, legitimate or otherwise.
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The legitimate line of the House of Este ended in 1597 with him. Emperor Rudolf II recognised as heir his cousinCesare d'Este, member of acadet branch, who continued to rule in the imperial duchies and carried on the family name. The succession as duke of Este, however, was recognised only by the emperor but not by the popes. In 1598, Ferrara was therefore incorporated into thePapal States byPope Clement VIII, on grounds of doubtful legitimacy. As a result of Alfonso's death, Cesare d'Este and his family were "obliged to leave the city", and the power of the government was there after turned over to the cardinal legate.[4]
Alfonso II raised the glory ofFerrara to its highest point, and was the patron ofTorquato Tasso,Giovanni Battista Guarini, andCesare Cremonini—favouring the arts and sciences, as the princes of his house had always done. Besides being fluent in Italian, he was also proficient in Latin and French.[5]Luzzasco Luzzaschi served as his court organist.
In addition, he was the sponsor of theConcerto delle donne, a type of group which was to be copied all over Italy. He also restored theCastello Estense, damaged by an earthquake in 1570.
His expenses, however, caused damage to the public treasury.
Alfonso II is the duke upon whomRobert Browning based his poemMy Last Duchess, and is a major character in theMaggie O'Farrell novelThe Marriage Portrait.[6]
Alfonso II d'Este Born: 22 November 1533 Died: 27 October 1597 | ||
| Preceded by | Duke of Modena and Reggio 1559–1597 | Succeeded by |
| Duke of Ferrara 1559–1597 | Seized by thePapal States | |
| Preceded by | Duke of Chartres 1574–1597 | Vacant Title next held by Gaston |
