Obizzo II d'Este
Encyclopedia
Obizzo II d'Este was Marquis of Ferrara
and the March of Ancona
.
- with a Neapolitan laundress. Soon after his birth, Obizzo was expelled from Ferrara
with his mother and settled in Ravenna
.
For his condition, Obizzo was destined to an obscure future; nevertheless, this situation changed in 1251: his father Rinaldo, a hostage of emperor Frederick II
since 1238, was poisoned with his barren wife, Adelaide da Romano. Without any other sons to continue his line, the Margrave Azzo VII saw in Obizzo the only chance of survival of the House of Este and fought for his recognition as his heir. Obizzo was legitimated by the Pope in 1252, shortly after his mother was drowned in the Adriatic.
In 1264 he was proclaimed life-long ruler of Ferrara, Lord of Modena
in 1288 and of Reggio
in 1289. His rule marked the end of the communal period in Ferrara and the beginning of the Lordship, which lasted until the 17th century.
He was probably killed by his son Azzo VIII d'Este without having nominated a heir. Azzo claimed the government as the eldest son (primogeniture
) but his brothers Aldobrandino and Francesco made a violent dispute for his rights. Finally, they made a divisionary treaty over the lands: Azzo retained Ferrara
, Aldobrandino received Modena and Francesco obtained Reggio Emilia
.
Obizzo d'Este is cited in Dante's Inferno and is in the Eighth Circle of Hell for purchasing a woman from her brother for sexual relations.
. They had five children:
In 1289 Obizzo married secondly with Costanza (died 1306), daughter of Alberto I della Scala
, Lord of Verona
. This union was childless.
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...
and 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...
.
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'EsteAzzo VII d'Este
Azzo VII d'Este was marquess of Ferrara from 1215 to 1222, and again from 1240 until his death....
- with a Neapolitan laundress. Soon after his birth, Obizzo was expelled from Ferrara
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...
with his mother and settled in Ravenna
Ravenna
Ravenna is the capital city of the Province of Ravenna in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and the second largest comune in Italy by land area, although, at , it is little more than half the size of the largest comune, Rome...
.
For his condition, Obizzo was destined to an obscure future; nevertheless, this situation changed in 1251: his father Rinaldo, a hostage of 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...
since 1238, was poisoned with his barren wife, Adelaide da Romano. Without any other sons to continue his line, the Margrave Azzo VII saw in Obizzo the only chance of survival of the House of Este and fought for his recognition as his heir. Obizzo was legitimated by the Pope in 1252, shortly after his mother was drowned in the Adriatic.
In 1264 he was proclaimed life-long ruler of Ferrara, Lord of 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....
in 1288 and of Reggio
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....
in 1289. His rule marked the end of the communal period in Ferrara and the beginning of the Lordship, which lasted until the 17th century.
He was probably killed by his son Azzo VIII d'Este without having nominated a heir. Azzo claimed the government as the eldest son (primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
) but his brothers Aldobrandino and Francesco made a violent dispute for his rights. Finally, they made a divisionary treaty over the lands: Azzo retained Ferrara
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...
, Aldobrandino received Modena and Francesco obtained 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....
.
Obizzo d'Este is cited in Dante's Inferno and is in the Eighth Circle of Hell for purchasing a woman from her brother for sexual relations.
Marriages and issue
In 1263 Obizzo married firstly with Giacomina (died December 1287), daughter of Niccolò Fieschi di Lavagna and niece of Pope Innocent IVPope Innocent IV
Pope Innocent IV , born Sinibaldo Fieschi, was pope from June 25, 1243 until his death in 1254.-Early life:...
. They had five children:
- Azzo VIII (after 1263 - 31 January 1308).
- Beatrice (died 15 September 1334), married firstly with Ugolino Visconti, Giudice of GalluraNino ViscontiUgolino Visconti , better known as Nino, was the Giudice of Gallura from 1275 or 1276 to his death. He was a son of Giovanni Visconti and nephew of Ugolino della Gherardesca. He was the first husband of Beatrice, daughter of Obizzo II d'Este...
and secondly on 24 June 1300 to Galeazzo I Visconti, Lord of Milan. - Maddalena, married firstly with Aldobrandino Turchi, from Ferrara, and secondly with Raniero di Canossa.
- Aldobrandino IIAldobrandino II d'EsteAldobrandino II d'Este was the marquess of Ferrara from 1308 until his death.He was the son of Obizzo II d'Este and Jacopina Fieschi, the niece of Pope Adrian V. Aldobrandino became lord of Ferrara at the death of his elder brother Azzo VIII, and renounced to the rights to Modena and Reggio....
(died 1326). - Francesco (killed in action, Ferrara, 23 August 1312).
In 1289 Obizzo married secondly with Costanza (died 1306), daughter of Alberto I della Scala
Alberto I della Scala
Alberto I della Scala was lord of Verona from 1277, a member of the Scaliger family.The son of Jacopino della Scala, he was podestà of Mantua in 1272 and 1275. In 1277, after the assassination of his brother Mastino, inherited the seigniory of Verona.Alberto died in Verona in 1301. His son...
, Lord of Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
. This union was childless.