Borso d'Este

Borso d'Este (1413 - August 20 1471) was the first Duke of Ferrara, which he ruled from 1450 until his death. He was a member of the House of Este.

Biography

He was an illegitimate son of Niccolò III d'Este, Marquess of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, and his mistress Stella de' Tolomei. Borso succeeded to Leonello d'Este in the marquisate on October 1 1450.On May 18 1452 he received confirmation over his fiefs, as Duke, by Emperor Frederick III. On April 12 1471, in St. Peter's Basilica, he was also appointed as Duke of Ferrara by Pope Paul II.

Borso followed an expansionist policy for his state, and one of ennobling for his family. He was generally allied with the Republic of Venice, and enemy both to Francesco I Sforza and the Medici family. These rivalries led to the indecisive Battle of Molinella.

Borso's court was the center of the so-called Ferrarese school of painting, whose members include Francesco del Cossa, Ercole dei Roberti and Cosimo Tura. Their most important commission during Borso's rule were the frescoes in the Palazzo Schifanoia. He also protected numerous musicians, including Pietrobono del Chitarrino, Niccolò Todescho e Blasio Montolino.

Although in the subsequent tradition (as in Ludovico Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso") he is generally portrayed as a magnanimous patron of arts, he was instead somewhat greedy in spending money for culture: a famous example of his attitude was his refusal to pay Cossa, who therefore moved to Bologna to found the Bolognese School. Borso d'Este is especially remembered for the famous Bible carrying his name, one of most famous works of miniature in Renaissance Italy, and which he commissioned in 1455.

Borso never married and left no heirs. His successor was his half-brother Ercole I d'Este.

References

*cite book|first=Luciano|last=Chiappini|title=Gli Estensi|year=2001|location=Ferrara