Who is Isabella d'Este?

Question

lol naw I know a bit about her but I was wondering if anyone knew some cool / interesting / weird facts about her?
And does anyone know any details about her death? And who she was survived by?

Answer 1

Renaissance Women

Isabella d'Este



1474-1539
"First Lady of the Renaissance"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


INTRODUCTION

In the Renaissance times a Renaissance Woman was supposed to marry well, be loyal to her husband and give birth to boys. A Renaissance Man, on the other hand, had to be well-educated, have cultural grace, be a gentleman and understand the arts and sciences. He also had to have refinement, be of noble birth and have courage. Many women did not fit the mold of what they called a "Renaissance Woman." Many of them would fit in as more of a "Renaissance Man" or what we would call a "Renaissance Woman" in our day and age.

A prime example of this exception is Isabella d'Este.

BACKGROUND

Isabella d'Este was born in 1474 into the ruling family of Ferra. At the age of sixteen Isabella married Francesco Gonzaga. She then became the Marchioness of Mantua because Francesco was the Prince.
After the death of her husband, Isabella ruled Mantua alone. Isabella's father believed in the equality of men and women and so Isabella and her siblings were very well-educated. Isabella died at the age of sixty-four in 1539.


ACCOMPLISHMENTS
At the age of sixteen, Isabella d'Este was able to speak Greek and Latin as well as play the lute, sing, dance and debate with people much older than her. She was very well-educated and her political talent benefited Mantua while she was ruling. When her husband left, Isabella governed the city on her own, and after he died she took over his whole job. She showed great leadership skills in 1509 when she became Chief of State in Mantua.

At this time she also founded a school for young women where they had to observe a strict code of morals. She was a patron of the Arts and she also set artistic fashions and standards. Isabella collected many paintings and statues. She also wrote over two thousand letters and in these she commented on everything from politics to war. That was the closest that any woman at that time ever got to writing history.


IMPACT
Isabella patronized and promoted the arts. She allowed writers, artists and poets to exchange their ideas in her home. While she was ruling, she set an example for women to break away from the traditional role of what women were supposed to be like. By doing this and many other things she was known as the "First Lady of the Renaissance

Isabella was born in May 1474 to the Duke Ercole and Duchess Leonora of Ferrara. She was received with great joy. A son was hoped for but could wait. One year later in June 1475 her sister Beatrice was born. Then in 1476 and 1477 two brothers were born. The first was Alfonso and second Ferrante. In 1479 and 1480 two more brothers were born.They were Ippolitto and Sigismondo. Of all the children Isabella reigned as the favorite.

In 1474 when Ferrante was born, Isabella traveled to Naples with her mom and then when her mother returned to Ferrara, she went with her, while the other children stayed with their grandfather for eight years. As she traveled with her mom she learned politics and when it came time to study required subjects she was a master at it.

Education

As Isabella grew she received a royal schooling. As a child she studied Roman history, and rapidly learned to translate Greek and Latin. Because of her intellect she often discussed the classics and the affairs of the day with ambassadors. Moreover, she knew the painters, musicians, writers, and scholars, who lived in and around the court. Besides history and language, she could recite Virgil and Terrence from memory, and was an expert with lute, singing, and an innovator with new dances.

In 1480 at age six Isabella was betrothed to Francesco Gonzaga who at that time was the heir to the Marquis of Mantua. Even though he was an ugly man Isabella liked him for his strength, and bravery, she also thought that he was a gentleman. After their first meetings she found she liked him and spent the next few years getting to know him and preparing herself to be the Marchessa of Mantua. During these courting times Isabella especially treasured the letters, poems and sonnets he sent her.

Marriage

Ten years later, at age 16, she married the 25 year old, now- reigning Marquis of Mantua and became the Marchessa to Francesco amid a spectacular outpouring of popular acclamation. Besides the Marquis Francesco was also Captain General of the republic of Venice armies. This gave him many duties; so in result a couple of days after their honeymoon he left her to perform her responsibilities alone. However Isabella wasn't always alone, she spent time with her mother and sister, and once she met Elisabetta Gonzaga her 18- year- old sister-in-law the two became fast friends.

Influence on people

When she wasn't with others, to entertain herself she read and played the lute, which she learned as a child and soon wanted to try all the new instruments that were being made available. In addition to music she collected art, and backed painters, like Titian, Raphael and Da Vinci. Forms of art such as clothing were also important, she bought the finest clothing, including furs and new brands of perfume. However, her role as a Marchessa meant more than just pleasing herself and others, so she decided to learn the problems faced by a ruler of a city-state. To improve the well being of her people she studied architecture, agriculture, and industry and followed the principles that Machiavelli set forth for rulers.

Children

After many years of waiting, a daughter was born to Isabella in Dec 1493. She was named Leonora in memory of her mother who had recently passed away. Three years later another daughter was born then died within two months. In 1500 she finally bore a son, named Frederico, everyone was overjoyed the Gonzaga reign would have a future heir. Years later three daughters and one son were born. Leonora was not ignored but throughout this whole time Isabella made it clear that Frederico was her favorite.

Power

During the time of her children's birth her husband now Captain General of the united forces was battling, with the French king Charles VII to keep him from taking territory in Italy. In 1509 he was captured in his sleep and taken to Venice. Made regent by the state Isabella took command of the city's armies and successfully held off the enemy hosts. In 1512 a peace treaty was signed and her husband was released.

Her life after that however would be changed forever. Her husband was weak and ill after he was released, and became jealous of her power. Consequently he started ignoring her, and found fault with everything she did. Noticing her husbands' change of attitude toward her she decided to travel to Rome. Once in Rome she went to the court of Pope Leo X, where she lived like a queen and was the center of public attention.

Years later Isabella returned to Mantua for a short period of time. In 1525 she returned to Rome and was quoted as saying, "all my heart is in Rome." Then once again on May 6, 1527 she defended her fortified position from French attacks led by Charles V, and gave aid and comfort to refugees.

Death

After conflicts died down she left Rome, and in her 60's returned to Mantua and made it a cultural center, started a school for girls and created her ducal apartments into a museum of the finest art. Nevertheless this was not enough for Isabella so she continued her life long quest and ruled a tiny part of Romagna, Solarlo until her death in 1539.

Conclusion

Isabella d'Este the ruler, demonstrated her strengths in the court and in her daily life. The inventions and expertise in all she studied, helped make Italy the thriving place, it was and is now. Everything she did benefited others, she influenced women all over the world and proved that women could be just as good political leaders. As a result of all her efforts she has been named one of the top 100 women of the millennium, and will forever be remembered by her words and actions.

There are approximately 1200 of her letters preserved in Mantua.

Answer 2

Isabella D Este Biography

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Who is Isabella d'Este?
lol naw I know a bit about her but I was wondering if anyone knew some cool / interesting / weird facts about her?
And does anyone know any details about her death? And who she was survived by?

Answer 4

Isabella d'Este (18 May 1474 - 13 February 1539) was one of the leading women of the Italian Renaissance and a major cultural and political figure.

Have a look at this link for more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_d%27Este

Hope i could help!

Answer 5

She was a daughter of Ercole I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, and Eleonora Of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand I of Aragon and Isabel de Claremont. Her younger sister was the equally famous Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Milan as consort to Lodovico Sforza. She was related by birth or marriage to almost every ruler in Italy and is known as "The First Lady Of The Renaissance".


click here to know more...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_d'Este

Answer 6

Isabella d'Este (18 May 1474 - 13 February 1539) was one of the leading women of the Italian Renaissance and a major cultural and political figure

Family
She was a daughter of Ercole I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, and Eleonora Of Aragon, daughter of Ferdinand I of Aragon and Isabel de Claremont. Her younger sister was the equally famous Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Milan as consort to Lodovico Sforza. She was related by birth or marriage to almost every ruler in Italy and is known as "The First Lady Of The Renaissance".

Education and Early Life
Isabella d'Este was well-educated in her youth, as her voluminous correspondence from Mantua reveals. The Este sisters were exposed to many of the new Renaissance ideas: later Isabella became a passionate, even greedy collector of Roman sculpture and commissioned modern sculptures in the antique style. At the age of 16 she was married to Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua. They were Ariosto's patrons while he was writing Orlando Furioso and both she and her husband were greatly influenced by Baldassare Castiglione, author of Il Cortigiano ('The Courtier') a model for aristocratic decorum for two hundred years, and it was at his suggestion that Giulio Romano was summoned to Mantua to enlarge the Castello and other buildings. Under her auspices the court of Mantua became one of the most cultured in Europe. Among the other important artists, writers, thinkers, and musicians being drawn to it were Raphael, Andrea Mantegna, and the composers Bartolomeo Tromboncino and Marchetto Cara. Her court sculptor was Pier Jacopo Alari Bonacolsi, who re-interpreted works of antiquity in small finely-finished and often partly gilded bronzes that earned him the nickname "L'Antico". She was painted twice by Titian, (see illustration at right), and Leonardo da Vinci's portrait drawing of her is at the Louvre. She was a keen musician herself, who considered stringed instruments, such as the lute, superior to winds, which were associated with vice and strife; she also considered poetry incomplete until it was set to music, and sought the most skilled composers of the day to complete the task.

Later Life
After the death of her husband, Isabella ruled Mantua as regent for her child. She began to play an important role in Italian politics, steadily advancing Mantua's position. Her many important accomplishments include advancing Mantua to a Duchy and also obtaining a cardinalate for her younger son. She also showed great diplomatic and political skill in her negotiations with Cesare Borgia, who had dispossessed Guidobaldo da Montefeltre, duke of Urbino, the husband of her sister-in-law and intimate friend Elisabetta Gonzaga (1502).

Death
After conflicts died down she left Rome, and in her 60's returned to Mantua and made it a cultural center, started a school for girls and created her ducal apartments into a museum of the finest art. Nevertheless this was not enough for Isabella so she continued her life long quest and ruled a tiny part of Romagna, Solarlo until her death in 1539.

Answer 7

Issablella was the arrogant daughter of the Duke of Ferrara whose court was famous for its discerning patronage of the arts which she cultivated.

Answer 8

all i know is she was born in may 18 1474. she married Francisco Gonzaga. she loved art. when her husband let hid some of his job when he died she took over it...sorry guys im bored see ya :I

Answer 9

Well here's a 'lil fact about her.

http://www.geocities.com/unicornprincess84/Lady_Isabella_d_Este.html