Azzo VII d'Este
Encyclopedia
Azzo VII d'Este was marquess of Ferrara
from 1215 to 1222, and again from 1240 until his death.
The son of Azzo VI d'Este and a noblewoman from the Aldobrandeschi family, he married in 1225. In contrast to emperor Frederick II
, he became the leader of the Guelph
forces in the March of Ancona
. In 1242 Azzo took the chance to capture Ferrara in 1242, after defeating Ezzelino III da Romano
, and established his family's lordship in the city, which lasted until late Renaissance times.
In 1259 he again defeated Ezzelino and his Ghibellines troops in the Battle of Cassano
. He married two times, and had one son, Rinaldo (born 1230), who was captured by Frederick II and died as prisoner in Apulia
(1251). He was succeeded by his grandson Obizzo
.
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
from 1215 to 1222, and again from 1240 until his death.
The son of Azzo VI d'Este and a noblewoman from the Aldobrandeschi family, he married in 1225. In contrast to emperor Frederick II
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
, he became the leader of the Guelph
Guelphs and Ghibellines
The Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively, in central and northern Italy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the split between these two parties was a particularly important aspect of the internal policy of the Italian city-states...
forces in the March of Ancona
March of Ancona
The March of Ancona or marca Anconitana was a frontier march centred on the city of Ancona and, then, Macerata in the Middle Ages...
. In 1242 Azzo took the chance to capture Ferrara in 1242, after defeating Ezzelino III da Romano
Ezzelino III da Romano
Ezzelino III da Romano was an Italian feudal lord in the March of Treviso who was a close ally of the emperor Frederick II and ruled Verona, Vicenza and Padua for almost two decades...
, and established his family's lordship in the city, which lasted until late Renaissance times.
In 1259 he again defeated Ezzelino and his Ghibellines troops in the Battle of Cassano
Battle of Cassano (1259)
The Battle of Cassano was fought in the Autumn of 1259 between a Guelph and a Ghibelline army in northern Italy.In 1259, Ezzelino da Romano and his Ghibelline army moved into Lombardy and besieged Orci Novi. But the approach of the Guelph army forced Ezzelino to abandon the siege and cross the...
. He married two times, and had one son, Rinaldo (born 1230), who was captured by Frederick II and died as prisoner in Apulia
Apulia
Apulia is a region in Southern Italy bordering the Adriatic Sea in the east, the Ionian Sea to the southeast, and the Strait of Òtranto and Gulf of Taranto in the south. Its most southern portion, known as Salento peninsula, forms a high heel on the "boot" of Italy. The region comprises , and...
(1251). He was succeeded by his grandson Obizzo
Obizzo II d'Este
Obizzo II d'Este was Marquis of Ferrara and the March of Ancona.-Biography:He was a bastard, the fruit of an illegitimate relation of Rinaldo I d'Este - the only son and heir of the Margrave Azzo VII d'Este - with a Neapolitan laundress...
.