Eleonora d'Este (1515–1575) facts for kids

Eleonora d'Este was a noblewoman from Ferrara, Italy. She was born on July 4, 1515. Her parents were Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara and Lucrezia Borgia. Eleonora was named after her grandmother, Eleanor of Naples.

Her Life as a Princess

Eleonora grew up in the city of Ferrara. Her mother passed away when Eleonora was only four years old. Eleonora was special because she was the only daughter of Alfonso and Lucrezia who lived longer than both her parents. Later in her life, she became a nun at the Corpus Domini Monastery. She was buried there with her mother and other family members.

A Secret Composer?

In 1543, a book of 43 religious songs, called motets, was published in Venice. The book was titled Musica quinque vocum motetta materna lingua vocata. It didn't say who wrote the music.

A music professor named Laurie Stras from Southampton University thinks Eleonora might have been the composer! In those days, it was very unusual for a woman, especially a princess and a nun, to be named as a composer. This might be why her name was kept a secret.