Borso d'Este facts for kids
Borso d'Este (born 1413, died 1471) was an important Italian ruler. He became the first duke of Ferrara and the first duke of Modena. Borso ruled these areas from 1450 until he passed away. He belonged to a famous family called the House of Este.
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Who Was Borso d'Este?
Borso d'Este was the son of Niccolò III d'Este. Niccolò was the Marquess of Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio. Borso's mother was Stella de' Tolomei. He took over as ruler after his brother, Leonello d'Este, on October 1, 1450.
Becoming a Duke
On May 18, 1452, Borso received an important title. Emperor Frederick III officially made him a Duke. This meant he had even more power over his lands. Later, on April 12, 1471, Pope Paul II also named him Duke of Ferrara. This ceremony took place in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Borso's Rule and Policies
Borso wanted his state to grow bigger and stronger. He also wanted his family, the House of Este, to become more famous. He often worked with the Republic of Venice. However, he was rivals with Francesco I Sforza and the Medici family. These rivalries sometimes led to battles, like the Battle of Molinella. People generally liked Borso as a ruler. He once had a strange idea to build a mountain from scratch. He had to give up on this project later.
Arts and Culture in Borso's Court
Borso's court was a lively center for art. It was home to the "Ferrarese school of painting." Famous artists like Francesco del Cossa, Ercole dei Roberti, and Cosimo Tura worked there.
Important Art Projects
Two very important art projects happened during Borso's rule. One was the creation of frescoes in the Palazzo Schifanoia. These were large paintings on walls. The other was the amazing Borso D'Este Bible. This was a very special book. Borso also supported many musicians, including Pietrobono del Chitarrino.
Art as a Tool for Power
Borso wasn't very educated, unlike his brother Leonello. But he understood that art could be a powerful tool. He used it to show off his importance and power. He wanted to look like an ideal ruler. The frescoes in Palazzo Schifanoia helped create this image. Later, the poet Ludovico Ariosto wrote about Borso's generosity in his poem Orlando Furioso. However, Borso wasn't always generous with the artists themselves. He spent a lot on grand projects but didn't pay artists very well. For example, he treated Francesco del Cossa poorly. This made Cossa leave Ferrara for Bologna.
The Borso d'Este Bible
Borso's personal Bible was commissioned in 1455. It is one of the most beautiful illuminated manuscripts from the Renaissance. It was incredibly expensive to make. However, the main artist, Taddeo Crivelli, sometimes had money problems. He even had to pawn parts of other books he was working on.
Succession
Borso d'Este never married. He also did not have any children to inherit his titles. After he died, his half-brother, Ercole I d'Este, became the next ruler.
