Alfonso IV d'Este
Encyclopedia
Alfonso IV d'Este was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1658 until his death. He was the father of Mary of Modena
, consort of James II of England
.
as the eldest son of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and his first wife Maria Caterina Farnese
, daughter of Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma
. He became Duke of Modena and Reggio after his father's death in 1658. Alfonso had very bad health, suffering from gout and tuberculosis. He died young and his reign only lasted for four years.
In 1659 came an end to the Franco-Spanish War, and Modena was rewarded with the town of Correggio
for supporting France.
In 1655 he married Laura Martinozzi
, Cardinal Mazarin's niece, strengthening the alliance with France. On Laura's sixteenth birthday, 27 May 1655, she was married to the Duke of Modena by proxy occurred at the Palace of Compiègne with the Count of Soissons acting as the Duke of Modena.
He was succeeded by his son, aged two years, under the regency of Laura Martinozzi.
Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena was Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of King James II and VII. A devout Catholic, Mary became, in 1673, the second wife of James, Duke of York, who later succeeded his older brother Charles II as King James II...
, consort of James II of England
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
.
Biography
Born in ModenaModena
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....
as the eldest son of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and his first wife Maria Caterina Farnese
Maria Caterina Farnese
Maria Caterina Farnese was a member of the Ducal House of Farnese. She was the Duchess of Modena as the first wife of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena...
, daughter of Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma
Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma
Ranuccio I Farnese reigned as Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro from 1592. A firm believer in absolute monarchy, Ranuccio, in 1594, centralised the administration of Parma and Piacenza, thus rescinding the nobles' hitherto vast prerogative...
. He became Duke of Modena and Reggio after his father's death in 1658. Alfonso had very bad health, suffering from gout and tuberculosis. He died young and his reign only lasted for four years.
In 1659 came an end to the Franco-Spanish War, and Modena was rewarded with the town of Correggio
Correggio, Italy
Correggio is a small town and comune in the Province of Reggio Emilia, in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, in the Po valley. As of 2007 Correggio had an estimated population of 23,108....
for supporting France.
In 1655 he married Laura Martinozzi
Laura Martinozzi
Laura Martinozzi was a Duchess consort of Modena. On the death of her husband, she became the regent of the Duchy in the name of her son, Francesco.-Biography:...
, Cardinal Mazarin's niece, strengthening the alliance with France. On Laura's sixteenth birthday, 27 May 1655, she was married to the Duke of Modena by proxy occurred at the Palace of Compiègne with the Count of Soissons acting as the Duke of Modena.
He was succeeded by his son, aged two years, under the regency of Laura Martinozzi.
Issue
- Francesco d'Este, Hereditary Prince of Modena (1657–1658) died in infancy;
- Maria Beatrice Anna Margherita Isabella d'EsteMary of ModenaMary of Modena was Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of King James II and VII. A devout Catholic, Mary became, in 1673, the second wife of James, Duke of York, who later succeeded his older brother Charles II as King James II...
(1658–1718) married James II of EnglandJames II of EnglandJames II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
and had issue; known as Mary of Modena; - Francesco d'Este, Duke of Modena (1660–1694) married Margherita Maria FarneseMargherita Maria FarneseMargherita Maria Farnese was an Italian noblewoman born into the House of Farnese. She was the Duchess of Modena and Reggio by marriage to her first cousin Francesco II d'Este, Duke of Modena...
, no issue.