Francesco III d'Este, Duke of Modena facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Francesco III d'Este |
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| Duke of Modena and Reggio | |||||
| Reign | 26 October 1737 – 22 February 1780 | ||||
| Predecessor | Rinaldo d'Este | ||||
| Successor | Ercole III d'Este | ||||
| Born | 2 July 1698 Ducal Palace, Duchy of Modena and Reggio |
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| Died | 22 February 1780 (aged 81) Palazzo Estense, Duchy of Modena and Reggio |
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| Spouse |
Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans
(m. 1721; died 1761) |
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| Issue Detail |
Maria Teresa, Duchess of Penthièvre Ercole III, Duke of Modena Princess Matilde d'Este Maria Fortunata, Princess of Conti Benedetto Filippo, Abbot of Anchin |
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| House | Este | ||||
| Father | Rinaldo d'Este, Duke of Modena | ||||
| Mother | Charlotte of Brunswick-Lüneburg | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
Francesco III d'Este (born July 2, 1698 – died February 22, 1780) was an important ruler. He was the Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1737 until he passed away.
Who Was Francesco III d'Este?
Francesco III d'Este was born in Modena. His parents were Rinaldo d'Este, Duke of Modena and Duchess Charlotte of Brunswick-Lüneburg.
When Francesco was Duke, his lands faced tough times. The duchy became very poor because of several big wars. These included the Wars of the Spanish, Polish, and Austrian Successions.
Because of these money problems, Francesco had to sell many valuable artworks. These artworks were from the famous Estense Gallery. Even though he was a careful ruler, much of the duchy's money decisions were handled by an Austrian official named Beltrame Cristiani.
Francesco made some good changes to Modena. He helped improve the city's buildings and streets. He also oversaw the building of the Via Vandelli. This road connected Modena to Tuscany, making travel and trade easier.
From 1754 to 1771, Francesco also served as the temporary Governor of the Duchy of Milan. He died in 1780 at his home in Varese. His son, Prince Ercole, became the next Duke.
Francesco's Family Life
In 1721, Francesco married Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans. She was a French princess, the daughter of Philippe d'Orléans. Together, Francesco and Charlotte had ten children.
Francesco also helped his sister, Henrietta Maria d'Este. In 1728, he stood in for her at her wedding to Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma.
After Charlotte passed away, Francesco married two more times. These marriages were considered "morganatic." This means that even though he married, his new wives and any children from these marriages would not inherit his titles or royal status. His last marriages were to Teresa Castelbarco and Renata Teresa d'Harrach.
Francesco's granddaughter, Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa, was the very last ruler from the Este family in Modena.
Francesco's Children
Francesco III d'Este and Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans had several children who lived to adulthood:
- Maria Teresa Felicitas d'Este (born 1726 – died 1754): She married Louis Jean Marie de Bourbon, Duke of Penthièvre. They had children.
- Ercole III d'Este, Duke of Modena (born 1727 – died 1803): He became the next Duke of Modena. He married Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina, Duchess of Massa and had children.
- Matilde d'Este (born 1729 – died 1803): She never married.
- Maria Fortunata d'Este (born 1731 – died 1803): She married Louis François de Bourbon, Prince of Conti. They did not have children.
- Benedetto Filippo d'Este (born 1736 – died 1751): He died young and unmarried.
- Maria Elisabetta Ernestina d'Este (born 1741 – died 1774): She married Carlo Salomone, Count of Serravalle. They had children.
See also
In Spanish: Francisco III de Este para niños
