Duke of Ferrara and of Modena


conferred Borso d'Este, Lord of Ferrara, with the Duchy of Modena and Reggio in 1452, while Pope Paul II formally elevated him as the Duke of Ferrara in 1471, over which the family had in fact long presided. Nonetheless, this latter territory was lost to the Papal States in 1597, while the Estensi continued to rule the Duchy of Modena and Reggio in the Emilia until 1796, when it became part of Napoleon Bonaparte's Cispadane Republic. In 1814 the duchy was restored under the Habsburg grandson of the last Este Duke, continuing until annexed by Piedmont-Sardinia in 1859.

From the Lordship of Este to the Duchy of Ferrara-Modena-Reggio

[House of Este]

The line of "Marquesses of Este" rises in 1039 with Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan. The name "Este" is related to the city where the family came from, Este.
The family was founded by Adalbert the Margrave. who might have been the true first Margrave of Milan of this family. In 1209 Azzo VI is named the first "Marquess of Ferrara", and the title passed to his descendants, and Este Marquisate's was delegated to a cadet branch of the family. Later, were also created the Marquisates of Modena and Reggio.

Partitions of Modena-Ferrara-Reggio under Este rule

Table of rulers

Este Dukes of Modena and Reggio

'
NamePortraitBirthMarriagesDeath
Francesco IV
14 July 1814–
21 January 1846		6 October 1779
Milan
son of Ferdinand, Duke of Breisgau and Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa		Maria Beatrice of Savoy
20 June 1812
Cagliari Cathedral
four children		21 January 1846
Modena
aged 66
Francesco V'''
21 January 1846–
11 June 1859		1 June 1819
Modena
son of Francis IV and Maria Beatrice of Savoy		Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria
20 March 1842
Kreuzkirche
one daughter		20 November 1875
Vienna
aged 56

Habsburg – Este Dukes of Modena and Reggio, post monarchy