Alessandro I Pico della Mirandola facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alessandro I Pico della Mirandola
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|---|---|
| Duke of Mirandola | |
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| Coat of arms |  |
| Predecessor | Federico II Pico della Mirandola |
| Successor | Alessandro II Pico della Mirandola |
| Other titles | Marquis of Concordia |
| Born | May 15, 1566 Mirandola |
| Died | 2 December 1637 (aged 71) Mirandola |
| Buried | 1637 church of St. Francis, Mirandola |
| Noble family | Pico della Mirandola |
| Spouse(s) |
Laura d'Este
(m. 1607) |
| Father | Ludovico II Pico della Mirandola |
| Mother | Fulvia da Correggio |
Alessandro I Pico della Mirandola (born May 15, 1566 – died December 2, 1637) was an important Italian nobleman. He was also a military leader. He held several important titles during his life. He was the second Marquis of Concordia from 1602 to 1637. He was also the second and last Prince of Mirandola from 1602 to 1617. Later, he became the first Duke of Mirandola, ruling from 1617 until his death in 1637.
Contents
Life of Alessandro I Pico
Alessandro was born in Mirandola. His father was Ludovico II Pico della Mirandola. Ludovico was the Count of Mirandola and Concordia. His mother was Fulvia da Correggio.
Alessandro first worked for Henry IV of France. In 1602, he took over from Frederick II. He stayed loyal to the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. They confirmed his right to rule his lands. In 1605, he was made a knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece. This was a very special award. The ceremony took place on October 18, 1606, in Modena.
Family Life and Successors
In 1607, Alessandro I Pico married Laura d'Este in Modena. Laura was the daughter of Cesare d'Este. Cesare was the Duke of Modena and Reggio. Laura's mother was Virginia de' Medici. Virginia was the daughter of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I de' Medici.
Alessandro and Laura had eight daughters. They hoped for a son to take over the family's rule. Alessandro also had a son named Galeotto IV. Galeotto was later made a legitimate heir by the emperor. However, Galeotto died a few months before his father. Galeotto had many children, including Alessandro II Pico della Mirandola. This younger Alessandro later became the next ruler.
Becoming Duke of Mirandola
In 1612, Alessandro was thought to be involved in a disagreement. This disagreement was against Ranuccio I Farnese, the Duke of Parma. Alessandro was later cleared of any wrongdoing.
On March 6, 1617, Emperor Matthias of Habsburg made a special declaration. This was signed in Prague. Alessandro paid 100,000 florins for this. With this, he officially became the Duke of Mirandola.
Alessandro also did important things for his city. He started the Mirandola seminary. This was a school for religious studies. He also brought the Jesuits, a religious group, to Mirandola. He had a large church built for them. This church was called the Church of Gesù, Mirandola.
War and Legacy
In 1629, Alessandro was involved in the War of the Mantuan Succession. During this war, the city of Mantua was under attack. Some farming areas near Mirandola were also affected. But Mirandola itself was saved from being taken over. Alessandro Pico helped protect the city. He used his family's wealth to do this.
Alessandro I Pico died at the end of 1637. He was buried next to his wife, Laura d'Este. Laura had died earlier in 1630. They were buried in the church of San Francesco in Mirandola. They were supposed to be moved to the new church of Gesù later. However, the bodies of the first dukes of Mirandola were never moved.
See also
- Castle of the Pico
- Church of Gesù, Mirandola
- Duchy of Mirandola
- Mirandola Mint
