Mother Giulia della Rovere | ||
 | ||
Born 1 June 1561
Ferrara ( 1561-06-01 ) Issue Alfonso, Duke of Modena
Laura, Duchess of Mirandola
Luigi, Lord of Montecchio
Borso d'Este Father Alfonso d'Este, Marquis of Montecchio Died 11 December 1628, Ferrara, Italy Spouse Virginia de' Medici (m. 1586) Children Borso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara Parents Alfonso d'Este, Lord of Montecchio, Giulia della Rovere Grandchildren Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena, Anna Beatrice d'Este Similar Virginia de' Medici, Alfonso III d'Este - Duke of, Francesco I d'Este - Duke of, Alfonso I d'Este - Duke of F, Camilla Martelli | ||
Cesare d'Este (1561 – December 11, 1628) was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1597 until his death.
Contents
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 the latter died without heirs in the October 1597, Cesare inherited the duchy.
The legitimacy of the succession was recognised by the Emperor Rudolph II but not by Pope Clement VIII: thus, as Ferrara was nominally a Papal fief, the city was returned to the Papal States, despite the attempts of the young duke, who sought help from the major powers to no avail..
The capital was therefore moved to Modena, which he entered on January 30, 1598. His 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.
On January 30, 1586 he married Virginia de' Medici, daughter of Cosimo I de' Medici, who suffered increasing symptoms of madness, until her death in 1615. He was succeeded by his son, Alfonso.