Noble family House of Este Mother Adelaide | Name Albert II, | |
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Father Albert Azzo I, Margrave of Milan Died August 20, 1097, Modena, Italy Parents Albert Azzo I, Margrave of Milan Spouse Garsende, daughter of Herbert I, Count of Maine (m. 1050), Cuniza, daughter of Welf II, Count of Altdorf (m. 1036) Children Welf I, Duke of Bavaria, Fulco I, Margrave of Milan, Hugh V, Count of Maine Grandchildren Henry IX, Duke of Bavaria, Welf II, Duke of Bavaria, Kunizza of Bavaria, Obizzo I d’Este Cousins Bertha of Susa, Irmgard of Susa | ||
Alberto Azzo II (997 or July 10, 1009, Modena – August 20, 1097, Modena), Margrave of Milan, and Liguria, Count of Gavello and Padua, Rovigo, Lunigiana, Monselice, and Montagnana, aka, Albertezzo II, was a powerful nobleman in the Holy Roman Empire. He is considered the founder of Casa d'Este (House of Este), having been head of the first family to be master of Este, a town of Padua.
Alberto Azzo II was the only son of Albert Azzo I, Margrave of Milan. He inherited his father's offices around 1020, and continually increased his properties in northern Italy. In 1069–1070, he tried to acquire Maine for his son Hugh, because his wife, Garsende, was a co-heiress of the previous counts of Maine. Hugh was declared count, but he could not prevail against Robert, the Duke of Normandy, who had been betrothed to the last heiress. In the Investiture Controversy between Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, and Pope Gregory VII, Azzo attempted to mediate, but later he joined the side of the pope. Around 1073 he made a castle at Este his residence, from which the House of Este, the dynasty to which he belonged, took its name. Before his building project, Este was little more than a village.
His son Welf (from his first marriage) moved first to Carinthia and then to Bavaria, giving rise to one of the most important families in European history, the Guelphs. Another son, Fulk I of Milan, (from his second marriage), made the first documented use of the title "Marquis d'Este."
Family
Azzo II married Kunigunde (also called Chuniza), the daughter of Welf II, Count of Altdorf, in 1036. They had one known child:
His second marriage was to Garsende, daughter of Herbert I, Count of Maine, around 1050. They had the following known sons:
Some sources say he also married Vitalia Orseolo, daughter of Peter Orseolo. They had a daughter: Itta.
He had an extra-marital affair with Matilda, sister of William, Bishop of Padua, with whom he had a daughter named Adelasia who married Guglielmo Adelardi.