Duke of Ferrara and of Modena facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Duke of Modena
Flag of the Duchy of Modena under the Este family
Francis V, Duke of Modena
Details
Style	Imperial and Royal Highness
First monarch	Borso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara
Last monarch	Francis V, Duke of Modena
Formation	1452
Abolition	1859
Pretender(s)	Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este

This is a list of rulers of the estates owned by the Este family, which main line of Marquesses (Marchesi d'Este) rose in 1039 with Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan. The name "Este" is related to the city where the family came from, Este.

From the Lordship of Este to the Duchy of Ferrara-Modena-Reggio

The family was founded by Adalbert the Margrave, who might have been the true first margrave of Milan of this family. In 1209, Azzo VI was named the first marquess of Ferrara. The title passed to his descendants, and the marquisate was delegated to a cadet branch of the Este family. Later, they were also created marquesses of Modena and Reggio.

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  The Duchy of Modena (in the dark purple) and of Ferrara (in the light purple) in the context of late 15th century Italy.

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  First coat of arms of the family

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  A map of Ferrara at the time of its loss by the Este family, c.1600

In 1452 Borso d'Este, then marquis of Modena and Reggio, was raised by Emperor Frederick III with the title of duke of Modena and Reggio. In 1471, Pope Paul II formally elevated him in as Duke of Ferrara, over which the family had in fact long presided.

This latter territory was lost to the Papal States in 1597, while the House of Este continued to rule the Duchy of Modena and Reggio in the Emilia region until 1796, when it became part of Napoleon Bonaparte's Cispadane Republic. In 1814, the duchy was restored under the Habsburg grandson of the last Este duke, continuing until it was annexed by Piedmont-Sardinia in 1859.

Rulers

House of Este

Partitions of Este territories under Este rule

Table of rulers

Ruler		Born	Reign	Death	Ruling part	Consort	Notes
Adalbert the Margrave		Before 940	c. 940–951	951	Lordship of Este (part of the March of Milan)	Unknown	Ruler of the Eastern March (or March of Milan), and founder of the Obertenghi family, direct ancestor to the House of Este.
Oberto I		Before 951 Son of Adalbert	951 – 15 October 975	15 October 975	Lordship of Este (part of the March of Milan)	Willa of Spoleto seven children	Also Marquess of Milan. A son of his was the founder of the Malaspina family.
Oberto II		Before 975 Sons of Oberto I and Willa of Spoleto	15 October 975 – 1014	1014	Lordship of Este (part of the March of Milan)	Railenda six children	Also Marquesses of Milan. The sons of Alberto I founded the Pallavicini family.
Alberto I			15 October 975 – 1002	1002	Lordship of Este (part of the March of Milan)	Unknown three children
Ugo I		Before 1014 Son of Oberto II and Railenda	1014	(26 January) 1035 Piacenza	Lordship of Este (part of the March of Milan)	Unmarried	Also Marquess of Milan, and Count of Padua and Vicenza. Deposed in the same year of accession.
Alberto Azzo I (Alberto II Azzo I)		Before 1014 Son of Oberto II and Railenda	1014–1029	1029	Lordship of Este (part of the March of Milan)	Adela one child	Also Marquess of Milan.
Alberto Azzo II (Alberto III Azzo II)		997 Modena Son of Alberto Azzo I and Adela	1029 – 20 August 1097	20 August 1097 Vangadizza aged 99–100?	Lordship of Este Raised to: Marquisate of Este	Kunigunde of Altdorf 1036 one child Garsenda of Maine c. 1050 two children Vitalia Orseolo one child	First ruler to be known as Marquis. Also Marquess of Milan, and the founder of the House of Este. His son from his first wife, Welf IV, is the ancestor of the House of Welf.
Folco I		c. 1050? Son of Alberto Azzo II and Garsenda of Maine	20 August 1097 – December 1128	15 or 22 December 1128 Vangadizza aged 87–88 or 100–101	Marquisate of Este	Unknown six children	Also Marquess of Milan. Referenced as titular, because, after Alberto Azzo II's death, the lands of the family were partitioned between the various branches of the family (including Malaspinas and Pallavicinis).
Azzo III		After 1071 Sons of Ugo d'Este, Count of Maine and Heria of Hauteville	December 1128 – c. 1142	After 1142	Marquisate of Este	Aichiva one child	Nephews of Folco, referenced in documents as marchese, proving, along with Azzo's numbering, that they may have co-ruled with their cousins.
Tancredo			1128 – c. 1145	After 1145		Unknown
Azzo IV		c.1100? Sons of Folco I	December 1128 – c. 1154	c.1154 aged 53–54?	Este (then included in the March of Milan)	Unknown	Sons of Folco I, ruled jointly and with their cousins Azzo III and Tancredo. Obizzo I was the first lord of Ferrara and the last Marquess of Milan of the family.
Bonifazio I			December 1128 – c.1165	c.1165 aged 64–65?		Unknown two children
Folco II			December 1128 – 1178	1178 aged 77–78?		Unknown one child
Alberto IV			December 1128 – 1184	1184 (after 10 April) aged 83–84?		Matilda two children
Obizzo I			December 1128 – 25 December 1193	25 December 1193 aged 92–93?		Unknown one child Sofia Lendinara five children
			1187 – 25 December 1193		Lordship of Ferrara
Azzo V		c. 1125 Son of Obizzo I and Sofia Lendinara	c. 1140–1190	c. 1190 (before 1193)	Marquisate of Este	Marchesella Adelardi 1120 two children	Co-rulers of Obizzo I, both predeceased him. Azzo V as his son, and Bonifazio II as his nephew.
			1187–1190		Lordship of Ferrara
Bonifazio II		Before 1178 Son of Folco II	1178–1190	1190	Marquisate of Este	Unknown
1187–1190	Lordship of Ferrara
Azzo VI		c. 1170 Ferrara Son of Azzo V and Marchesella Adelardi	25 December 1193 – November 1212	November 1212 Verona aged 41–42	Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Ferrara )	Sofia Aldobrandini 1189 two children Sophia of Savoy before 1192 one child Alice of Châtillon 22 February 1204 two children	Son of Azzo V. Also Marquis of Ancona since 1209. In that year, the lordship of Ferrara was raised to a Marquisate.
Aldobrandino I		c. 1190 Ferrara Son of Azzo VI and Sofia Aldobrandini	November 1212 – 10 October 1215	10 October 1215 Ancona aged 24–25	Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Ferrara)	Unknown Before 1215 three children	Died prematurely, but with children. However, he was succeeded by his minor half-brother.
Regencies of Alice of Châtillon, Alberto da Baone, and Tisone da Camposampiero (1215–1219)							In 1222, Azzo was deposed of Ferrara by Salinguerra Torelli, but recovered the city in 1240. Azzo VII raised two of the children of his half-brother, one of them being Saint Contardo of Este.
Azzo VII Novello		c.1205 Ferrara Son of Azzo VI and Alice of Châtillon	10 October 1215 - 16 February 1264	16 February 1264 Apulia aged 58–59	Marquisate of Este	Giovanna Puglia 1221 four children Amabilia Pallavicini 1238 no/two children
			10 October 1215 – 1222 1240 – 16 February 1264		Lordship of Ferrara
Occupation of Ferrara by Salinguerra II Torelli (1222–1240)
Obizzo II		1247 or 1252 Ferrara Bastard son of Rinaldo d'Este	16 February 1264 – January/February 1293	20 January or 13 February 1293 Ferrara aged 41 or 46	Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Ferrara)	Jacopina Fieschi 1263 three children Costanza della Scala 1289 two children	Grandson of Azzo VII, as bastard son of Azzo's son, Rinaldo. Between 1288 and 1289 he achieved the joining of the communes of Modena and Reggio to the Este's lands. After his death the lands were partitioned between his sons.
			1288 - January/February 1293		Lordship of Modena
			1289 - January/February 1293		Lordship of Reggio
Azzo VIII		c.1265 Ferrara Son of Obizzo II and Jacopina Fieschi	January/February 1293 – 31 January 1308	31 January 1308 Este aged c.42-43	Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Ferrara)	Giovanna Orsini September 1282 three children Beatrice of Sicily April 1305 no children	Children of Obizzo II. Initialliy Obizzo had recognized solely Azzo as his heir, but in April 1293 he made a new division of the inheritance with his brothers. Azzo kept Ferrara to himself; Aldobrandino took Modena; Francesco took Reggio. The three may have had co-rulership in the Marquisate of Este. In 1306, Francesco was expelled from Reggio, and, similarly, Aldobrandino was expelled from Modena. In 1308, not long after Azzo's death, Ferrara also expelled the family form government. In 1317, the Este family organized a pro-Este revolt in Ferrara, and restored their rule in that city, where they officialized a co-rulership. Aldobrandino may have also stepped down from Este, where his nephew Bertoldo held complete control from then on.
Aldobrandino II		c.1265 Ferrara Son of Obizzo II and Jacopina Fieschi	January/February 1293 – 1317	26 July 1326 Bologna aged c.60-61	Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Modena until 1306)	Alda Rangoni April 1305 no children
			1317 – 26 July 1326		Lordship of Ferrara
Francesco I		c. 1290 Ferrara Son of Obizzo II and Costanza della Scala	January/February 1293 – 23 August 1312	23 August 1312 Ferrara aged 22–23	Marquisate of Este (with Lordship of Reggio until 1306)	Orsina Orsini four children
Modenese Republic (1306–1336)
Reggio occupied by the Papal States (1306–1405)
Regency of Fresco d'Este (1308)							Barred from succession (despite Ferrara wanting him to succeed his father), Fresco d'Este was appointed regent for his own son Folco, the designated heir of Azzo VIII. Fresco tried to appeal to the Papal States to regain his place, but Ferrara ended up temporarily absorbed by the Papal army.
Folco II		c.1300? Ferrara Son of Fresco d'Este and Pellegrina Caccianemici	31 January - October 1308	After 1312 Venice	Lordship of Ferrara	Unknown
Ferrara occupied by the Papal States (1308–1317)
Rinaldo		c.1290? Ferrara Son of Aldobrandino II and Alda Rangoni	1317 – 31 December 1335	31 December 1335 Ferrara aged 44–45?	Lordship of Ferrara	Lucrezia Barbiano one child	Following a pro-Este revolt in Ferrara, the sons of Aldobrandino II (Rinaldo, Niccolò, Obizzo) and Francesco I (Azzo and Bertoldo) ascended together. Bertoldo kept Este for himself, and Niccolò and Obizzo recovered Modena.
Niccolò I		c.1290? Ferrara Son of Aldobrandino II and Alda Rangoni	1317 – 1 May 1344	1 May 1344 Ferrara aged 53–54?	Lordship of Ferrara	Beatrice Gonzaga 21 April 1335 no children
			1336 – 1 May 1344		Lordship of Modena
Obizzo III		14 July 1294 Ferrara Son of Aldobrandino II and Alda Rangoni	1317 - 20 March 1352	20 March 1352 Ferrara aged 57	Lordship of Ferrara	Jacopa Pepoli May 1317 no children Filippa Ariosto (lover until 1347) 27 November 1347 ten children (legitimized 1347)
			1336 – 20 March 1352		Lordship of Modena
Azzo IX		c.1300 Sons of Francesco I and Orsina Orsini	1317 – 24 June 1318	24 June 1318 Ferrara aged 17–18	Lordship of Ferrara	Ricciarda da Camino no children
Bertoldo I			1317 – 21 July 1343	21 July 1343 Este aged 42–43	Lordship of Ferrara (with Marquisate of Este)	Domenica Pio 1324 two children Caterina da Camino July 1339 Ferrara no children
Francesco II		June 1323 Ferrara Son of Bertoldo I and Domenica Pio	21 July 1343 – 13 December 1384	13 December 1384 Marquisate of Este aged 51	Marquisate of Este	Caterina Visconti no children Taddea Barbiano three children
Aldobrandino III		14 September 1335 Ferrara Son of Obizzo III and Filippa Ariosto	20 March 1352 - 1352	3 November 1361 Ferrara aged 26	Lordship of Modena	Beatrice da Camino 1351 two children
			1352 – 3 November 1361		Lordship of Ferrara
Niccolò II the Lame		17 May 1338 Ferrara Son of Obizzo III and Filippa Ariosto	1352 – 26 March 1388	26 March 1388 Ferrara aged 49	Lordship of Modena	Verde della Scala February 1363 two children
			3 November 1361 – 26 March 1388		Lordship of Ferrara
Azzo X		1344 Este Son of Francesco II and Taddea Barbiano	13 December 1384 – 1415	1415 Venice aged 42–43	Marquisate of Este	Tommasina Guarnioni Ricciarda da Camino Amabilia Collalto three children (uncertain maternity)	In 1393, he challenged the succession of Niccolò III in Ferrara.
Alberto V		27 February 1347 Ferrara Son of Obizzo III and Jacopa Pepoli	26 March 1388 – 30 July 1393	30 July 1393 Ferrara aged 46	Lordship of Ferrara (with Lordship of Modena)	Giovanna da Roberti 1388 no children Isotta Albaresani (lover until 1393) 1393 one child (legitimized 1393)
Niccolò III		9 November 1383 Ferrara Son of Alberto V and Isotta Albaresani	30 July 1393 – 6 December 1441	6 December 1441 Ferrara aged 58	Lordship of Ferrara (with Lordship of Modena)	Gigliola da Carrara 1394 no children Laura (Parisina) Malatesta 1418 three children Ricciarda of Saluzzo 1429 or 1431 two children	Recovered Reggio in 1405.
			1405 – 6 December 1441	Lordship of Reggio
Taddeo		1390 Este Son of Azzo X	1415 – 21 June 1448	21 June 1448 Mozzanica aged 43	Marquisate of Este	Margherita Pio two children Maddalena Arcelli no children
Leonello		21 September 1407 Ferrara Bastard son of Niccolò III and Stella de' Tolomei	6 December 1441 – 1 October 1450	1 October 1450 Voghiera aged 43	Lordship of Ferrara (with Lordship of Modena and Lordship of Reggio)	Margherita Gonzaga 1435 one child Maria of Naples 1444 no children
Bertoldo II		May 1434 Este Son of Taddeo and Margherita Pio	21 June 1448 – 4 November 1463	4 November 1463 Corinth aged 29	Marquisate of Este	Giacopa Leonessa no children	Left no descendants. After his death the original possessions of the family (marquisate of Este) were annexed to Ferrara.
The Marquisate of Este was definitively annexed to Modena-Ferrara-Reggio
Borso		24 August 1413 Ferrara Bastard son of Niccolò III and Stella de' Tolomei	1 October 1450 – 1452	18 May 1471 aged 57	Lordship of Ferrara (with Lordship of Modena and Lordship of Reggio)	Unmarried	Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1452, Duke of Ferrara from 1471.
			1452 – 18 May 1471		Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio (1452–1471)
Ercole I the Fearless		26 October 1431 Ferrara Son of Niccolò III and Ricciarda of Saluzzo	18 May 1471 – 15 June 1505	15 June 1505 Ferrara aged 73	Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio	Eleanor of Naples July 1473 six children
Sigismondo I		31 August 1433 Ferrara Son of Niccolò III and Ricciarda of Saluzzo	11 May 1501 – 1 April 1507	1 April 1507 Ferrara aged 73	Lordship of San Martino in Rio	Pizzocara three children	Received the lordship based at San Martino in Rio from his brother.
Alfonso I the Artilleryman		21 July 1476 Ferrara Son of Ercole I and Eleanor of Naples	15 June 1505 – 31 October 1534	31 October 1534 Ferrara aged 58	Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio	Anna Maria Sforza 23 January 1491 Pavia no children Lucrezia Borgia 1 September 1501 Ferrara seven children
Ercole		c.1470 Bastard son of Sigismondo I and Cecilia Rachesi	1 April 1507 – 1523	1523 Castellarano aged 52–53	Lordship of San Martino in Rio	Angela Sforza 28 November 1492 two children
Sigismondo II		1493 Son of Ercole and Angela Sforza	1523–1561	1561 Pavia aged 67–68	Lordship of San Martino in Rio	Giustina Trivulzio 1533 six children
Alfonso		10 March 1527 Ferrara Bastard son of Alfonso I and Laura Dianti	28 August 1533 – 1 November 1587	1 November 1587 Ferrara aged 50	Lordship of Montecchio (1533–1562) Marquisate of Montecchio (1562–1587)	Giulia Della Rovere 3 January 1549 three children	Inherited from his father the lordship of Montecchio, which was raised to marquisate in 1569.
Ercole II		5 April 1508 Ferrara Son of Alfonso I and Lucrezia Borgia	31 October 1534 – 3 October 1559	3 October 1559 Ferrara aged 51	Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio	Renée of France 28 June 1528 Paris five children
Alfonso II		22 November 1533 Ferrara Son of Ercole II and Renée of France	3 October 1559 – 27 October 1597	27 October 1597 Ferrara aged 63	Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio	Lucrezia de' Medici 3 July 1558 Florence no children Barbara of Austria 5 December 1565 Innsbruck no children Margherita Gonzaga 24 February 1579 Ferrara no children	Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his cousin Cesare.
Filippo I		1537 Ferrara Son of Sigismondo II and Giustina Trivulzio	1561 – 13 December 1592	13 December 1592 Ferrara aged 54–55	Lordship of San Martino in Rio (1561–1588) Marquisate of San Martino in Rio (1588–1592)	Maria of Savoy 20 January 1570 Turin five children	During his rule the lordship was raised to a marquisate (1588). Acquired in 1580 the marquisate of Lanzo.
Carlo Filiberto I		1 November 1571 San Martino in Rio First son of Filippo I and Maria of Savoy	13 December 1592 – 26 May 1652	26 May 1652 Milan aged 80	Marquisate of San Martino in Rio	Luisa de Cárdenas 1606 no children Livia Marini Castagna no children	Children of Filippo I, divided their patrimony.
Sigismondo		26 June 1572 Turin Second son of Filippo I and Maria of Savoy	13 December 1592 – 26 August 1628	26 August 1628 Turin aged 56	Marquisate of Lanzo	Francesca Charledes d’Antel d’Hostel 1618 three children
Cesare		8 October 1562 Ferrara Son of Alfonso I, Marquess of Montecchio and Giulia della Rovere	1 November 1587 - 27 October 1597	11 December 1628 Modena aged 67	Marquisate of Montecchio	Virginia de' Medici 30 January 1586 Florence ten children	Cousin of Alfonso II. In 1598, the lack of recognition of his succession in Ferrara led to its annexation to the Papal States.
			27 October 1597 – 11 December 1628		Duchy of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio (1597–1598) Duchy of Modena and Reggio (1598–1628)
Ferrara definitively annexed by the Papal States
Montecchio briefly annexed to Modena (1597–1638)
Filippo II Francesco		1621 First son of Sigismondo, Marquis of Lanzo and Francesca Charledes d’Antel d’Hostel	26 August 1628 – 26 May 1652	1653 aged 31–32	Marquisate of Lanzo	Margaret of Savoy 30 November 1645 Turin three children	In 1652, reunited Lanzo and San Martino in Rio. Created, in 1646, the marquisate of Dronero.
			26 May 1652 – 1653		San Martino in Rio
Lanzo definitively annexed to San Martino in Rio
Alfonso III		22 October 1591 Ferrara Son of Cesare and Virginia de' Medici	11 December 1628 – 11 July 1629	26 May 1644 Castelnuovo di Garfagnana aged 52	Duchy of Modena and Reggio	Isabella of Savoy 22 February 1608 Turin fourteen children	In 1629, abdicated to his son, to enter in the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin.
Francesco I		6 September 1610 Modena Son of Alfonso III and Isabella of Savoy	11 July 1629 – 14 October 1658	14 October 1658 Santhià aged 48	Duchy of Modena and Reggio	Maria Caterina Farnese 11 January 1631 Parma nine children Vittoria Farnese 12 February 1648 Parma one child Lucrezia Barberini 14 October 1654 one child	Joined Florence and Venice against the Papal States in the Wars of Castro, hoping to reconquer Ferrara, with no success.
Luigi I		27 March 1594 Ferrara Son of Cesare and Virginia de' Medici	1643 - 1 January 1664	1 January 1664 Modena aged 69	Marquisate of Scandiano (with Marquisate of Montecchio)	Unmarried	Invested by his nephew with marquisate of Scandiano, and with it also came the old Marquisate of Montecchio. With no descendants of his own, he was succeeded by his nephews.
Carlo Emanuele		1622 Borgomanero Second son of Sigismondo, Marquis of Lanzo and Francesca Charledes d’Antel d’Hostel	26 May 1652 – 24 October 1695	24 October 1695 Vienna aged 72–73	Marquisate of Borgomanero	Paola Camilla Marliani 1645 one child	Inherited from his uncle, Carlo Filiberto I, the lands of Borgomanero and Porlezza, creating a new marquisate.
Sigismondo III		1647 First son of Filippo II Francesco and Margaret of Savoy	1653 – 28 August 1732	28 August 1732 Parma aged 84–85	Marquisate of San Martino in Rio	Maria Teresa of Monaco seven children	Children of Filippo II, divided the patrimony. In 1720, the title of "marquess of Lanzo" ceased to exist.
Carlo Filiberto		1649 Second son of Filippo II Francesco and Margaret of Savoy	1653 – 25 July 1703	25 July 1703 Parma aged 53–54	Marquisate of Dronero	Thérese de Mesmes de Marolles six children
Alfonso IV		14 October 1634 Modena Son of Francesco I and Maria Caterina Farnese	14 October 1658 – 16 July 1662	16 July 1662 Modena aged 27	Duchy of Modena and Reggio	Laura Martinozzi 27 May 1655 Compiègne two children
Regency of Laura Martinozzi (1662–1674)
Francesco II		6 March 1660 Modena Son of Alfonso IV and Laura Martinozzi	16 July 1662 – 6 September 1694	6 September 1694 Modena aged 34	Duchy of Modena and Reggio	Margherita Maria Farnese 14 July 1692 Parma no children
Luigi II		28 August 1648 Reggio Emilia First son of Borso d'Este and Ippolita d'Este	1 January 1664 – 26 May 1698	26 May 1698 Modena aged 49	Marquisate of Scandiano	Unmarried	Children of Borso, and nephews of Luigi I. Divided the inherited patrimony: Foresto abdicated of Montecchio to his younger brother Cesare Ignazio, but inherited his elder brother Luigi's property: after their deaths the patrimony was annexed to Modena.
Foresto		20 April 1652 Modena Second son of Borso d'Este and Ippolita d'Este	1 January 1664 – 23 May 1680	1725 aged 72–73	Marquisate of Montecchio
			26 May 1698 – 1725		Scandiano
Cesare Ignazio		1653 Third son of Borso d'Este and Ippolita d'Este	23 May 1680 – 27 October 1713	27 October 1713 Reggio Emilia aged 59–60	Marquisate of Montecchio
Montecchio was annexed to Modena
Scandiano was annexed to Modena
Rinaldo		26 April 1655 Modena Son of Francesco I and Lucrezia Barberini	6 September 1694 – 26 April 1737	26 April 1737 Modena aged 82	Duchy of Modena and Reggio	Charlotte Felicitas of Brunswick-Lüneburg 11 February 1696 Modena seven children	Albeit declaring neutrality on the War of the Spanish Succession, France invaded Modena and Rinaldo had to flee to Bologna. In 1707, German troops ousted the French and restored the throne to Rinaldo.
Carlo Filiberto		1646 Son of Carlo Emanuele and Paola Camilla Marliani	24 October 1695 – 1714	1714 aged 67–68	Marquisate of Borgomanero	Bibiana Gonzaga 1671 one child
Gabriele		1673 Turin Son of Carlo Filiberto and Thérese de Mesmes de Marolles	25 July 1703 – 1734	1734 Castelfranco Emilia aged 60–61	Marquisate of Dronero (with Marquisate of Borgomanero from 1716)	Clara Colomba Cobianchi two children	After his death Dronero was inherited by the Birago di Vische family, and Borgomanero reverted to Modena.
Borgomanero was annexed to San Martino in Rio
Dronero inherited by the Birago di Vische family
Carlo Filiberto II		16 March 1678 San Martino in Rio Son of Sigismondo III and Maria Teresa of Monaco	1732 – 30 April 1752	30 April 1752 San Martino in Rio aged 74	Marquisate of San Martino in Rio (1732–1747) Principality of San Martino in Rio (1747–1752)	Teresa Sfondrati (1710–1773) 1734 three children	In 1747 the marquisate was raised to a principality. However, as he didn't have male heirs, after his death, the lands he ruled went to Modena.
San Martino in Rio definitively annexed to Modena-Reggio
Francesco III		2 July 1698 Modena Son of Rinaldo and Charlotte Felicitas of Brunswick-Lüneburg	26 April 1737 – 22 February 1780	22 February 1780 Modena aged 81	Duchy of Modena and Reggio	Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans 21 June 1720 Modena ten children	As the duchy was bankrupted by the Wars of the Spanish, Polish, and Austrian Successions, Francesco sold artworks of the Estense Gallery. He was a careful administrator, but most of the duchy's financial policy was in the hands of the Austrian plenipotentiary, Beltrame Cristiani.
Ercole III		22 September 1727 Modena Son of Francesco III and Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans	22 February 1780 – 16 October 1796	14 October 1803 Treviso aged 75	Duchy of Modena and Reggio	Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina, Duchess of Massa 16 April 1741 Modena two children Chiara Marini 1795 (morganatic) one child	In 1785 he founded the Atesine Academy of Fine Arts: during his reign arts and culture flourished. The French invasion forced him to flee to Venice on 7 May 1796. Later, French soldiers captured him there, robbing 200,000 zecchini from his house. Then he moved to Treviso, where he died in 1803. The peaces of Treaty of Campo Formio (1797) and Lunéville had assigned him territories in Breisgau in exchange of the lost Duchy, but he never took possession of them.

Habsburg-Este Dukes of Modena and Reggio, 1814–1859

(from 1815 also Duke of Mirandola and from 1829 Duke of Massa and Prince of Carrara)

Name	Portrait	Birth	Marriages	Death
Francesco IV 14 July 1814– 21 January 1846		6 October 1779 Milan son of Ferdinand, Duke of Breisgau and Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa	Maria Beatrice of Savoy 20 June 1812 Cagliari Cathedral four children	21 January 1846 Modena aged 66
Francesco V 21 January 1846– 11 June 1859		1 June 1819 Modena son of Francis IV and Maria Beatrice of Savoy	Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria 20 March 1842 Kreuzkirche (Munich) one daughter	20 November 1875 Vienna aged 56

Habsburg-Este Dukes of Modena and Reggio, post monarchy

• Francesco V (1859–1875)
• Francis Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria-Este (1875–1914)
• Charles, Archduke of Austria-Este (1914–1917)
• Robert, Archduke of Austria-Este (1917–1996)
• Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este (1996–present)
• Heir apparent: Prince Amedeo of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este

See also

• List of Modenese consorts
• List of Ferrarese consorts