Duchy of Mirandola
Encyclopedia
The Duchy of Mirandola was a state which existed in Italy from 1310 until 1711, centered in Mirandola
(in what is now the province of Modena
) and ruled by the Pico
family.
in Modena
and Reggio Emilia
, until, in 1311, Francesco Pico received by emperor Henry VII
the fiefs of Quarantoli and San Possidonio
in reward of his help during the war against the Este. In 1353 Paolo Pico obtained by the bishops of Reggio the fief of San Martino Spino, and in the following year emperor Charles IV
freed the Pico from the dominance of the bishops, placing Mirandola directly under the imperial suzerainty.
In 1432 Giovanni Pico received by emperor Sigismund
the title of count of Concordia
.
The city was strongly fortified, and, in the course of the Italian Wars
, it was allied with France
. It was besieged two times by the Papal troops under Julius II (1510-1511), who personally attacked its walls, and Julius III (1551-1552). In the second occasion, the fortress resisted successfully under the command of Ludovico Pico and Piero Strozzi
. In 1597, after returning under the imperial umbrella, Mirandola obtained the title of city and the Picos were named princes of Mirandola and marquesses of Concordia. In 1617 Alessandro I was finally declared duke.
The main economical activities in Renissance times were animal husbandry, agriculture and, starting from the 17th century, silk clothes. The duchy however suffered from internal crisis and the numerous military operations in the area, such as in 1630 when it was ravaged by the imperial troops.
The last lord was Francesco Maria Pico, who was charged of treason after having been forced to cease the fortress to the French. The duchy was acquired by the Duchy of Modena under the House of Este, who bought it for 175,000 golden doppie.
Mirandola
Mirandola is a city and comune of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, in the Province of Modena, 31 km northeast of the provincial capital by railway.- History :Mirandola originated as a Renaissance city-fortress...
(in what is now the province of Modena
Province of Modena
The Province of Modena is a province in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Modena.It has an area of 2,689 km², and a total population of 659,925 . There are 48 comuni in the province, see Comuni of the Province of Modena.At May 31, 2005, the main comuni by population...
) and ruled by the Pico
Pico
Pico- is a prefix in the metric system denoting a factor of 10−12 or .Derived from the Italian piccolo, meaning small, this was one of the original 12 prefixes defined in 1960 when the International System of Units was established....
family.
History
The Pico were a noble family first known for one Hugh, a vassal of Mathilda of Canossa in the 11th century. In the following centuries, members of the family were podestàPodestà
Podestà is the name given to certain high officials in many Italian cities, since the later Middle Ages, mainly as Chief magistrate of a city state , but also as a local administrator, the representative of the Emperor.The term derives from the Latin word potestas, meaning power...
in Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
and Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia
Reggio Emilia is an affluent city in northern Italy, in the Emilia-Romagna region. It has about 170,000 inhabitants and is the main comune of the Province of Reggio Emilia....
, until, in 1311, Francesco Pico received by emperor Henry VII
Henry VII, Holy Roman Emperor
Henry VII was the King of Germany from 1308 and Holy Roman Emperor from 1312. He was the first emperor of the House of Luxembourg...
the fiefs of Quarantoli and San Possidonio
San Possidonio
San Possidonio is a comune in the Province of Modena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 50 km northwest of Bologna and about 35 km northeast of Modena....
in reward of his help during the war against the Este. In 1353 Paolo Pico obtained by the bishops of Reggio the fief of San Martino Spino, and in the following year emperor Charles IV
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles IV , born Wenceslaus , was the second king of Bohemia from the House of Luxembourg, and the first king of Bohemia to also become Holy Roman Emperor....
freed the Pico from the dominance of the bishops, placing Mirandola directly under the imperial suzerainty.
In 1432 Giovanni Pico received by emperor Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
the title of count of Concordia
Concordia sulla Secchia
Concordia sulla Secchia is a comune in the Province of Modena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 50 km northwest of Bologna and about 30 km north of Modena....
.
The city was strongly fortified, and, in the course of the Italian Wars
Italian Wars
The Italian Wars, often referred to as the Great Italian Wars or the Great Wars of Italy and sometimes as the Habsburg–Valois Wars, were a series of conflicts from 1494 to 1559 that involved, at various times, most of the city-states of Italy, the Papal States, most of the major states of Western...
, it was allied with France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. It was besieged two times by the Papal troops under Julius II (1510-1511), who personally attacked its walls, and Julius III (1551-1552). In the second occasion, the fortress resisted successfully under the command of Ludovico Pico and Piero Strozzi
Piero Strozzi
Piero Strozzi was an Italian military leader. He was a member of the rich Florentine family of the Strozzi.-Biography:Piero Strozzi was the son of Filippo Strozzi the Younger and Clarice de' Medici....
. In 1597, after returning under the imperial umbrella, Mirandola obtained the title of city and the Picos were named princes of Mirandola and marquesses of Concordia. In 1617 Alessandro I was finally declared duke.
The main economical activities in Renissance times were animal husbandry, agriculture and, starting from the 17th century, silk clothes. The duchy however suffered from internal crisis and the numerous military operations in the area, such as in 1630 when it was ravaged by the imperial troops.
The last lord was Francesco Maria Pico, who was charged of treason after having been forced to cease the fortress to the French. The duchy was acquired by the Duchy of Modena under the House of Este, who bought it for 175,000 golden doppie.