Maps Population Regents
   

 












 

Örjan Martinsson

Ferrara, Modena and Reggio

Northern Italy was in Medieval time divided into numerous small city-states and these were often dominated by so called "signores" who ruled the cities with a strong hand. The House of Este was one of the most significant and it gained control over both Ferrara and Modena in the 13th century. A third city, Reggio, was brought under their rule 1409. The Holy Roman Emperor made Borso duke of Modena and Reggio 1542. The overlord of Ferrara was not the emperor but the pope and he made Borso a duke over also this territory in 1471. When the main branch of the house of Este became extinct 1597 was Ferrara returned to the Papal states, but a collateral branch inherited Modena and Reggio. This territory was later expanded with the principality of Correggio (1636), the duchy of Mirandola (1710) and the duchy of Novellara (1737). The Revolutionary wars led to the occupation of these territories and the house of Este was 1797 forced to cede its Italian possessions in return for compensation in Germany. But the congress in Vienna decided 1814 that the duchies of Reggio and Modena should be restored. The house of Este had however become extinct during the intermediate period and its claim was taken over by a member of the house of Habsburg who was a grandson to the last duke. He founded the house of Habsburg-Este, which ruled Modena and Reggio until the unification of Italy in 1860.

House of Este
Ferrara 1242-1308, 1317-1597
Modena 1288-1306, 1336-1797
Reggio 1409-1797

1242-1264
1264-1293
1293-1308
1308
1308

1317-1335
1335-1344
1344-1352
1352-1361
1361-1388
1388-1393
1393-1441
1441-1450

1450-1471
1471-1505
1505-1534
1534-1559
1559-1597
1597-1628
1628-1644
1644-1658
1658-1662
1662-1694
1694-1737
1737-1780
1780-1796

1796-1797
1797-1802
1802-1805
1805-1814

Azzo VII Novello
Obizzo II
Azzo VIII
Aldobrandino II
Fresco

Rinaldo II
Nicolò I
Obizzo III
(also Parma 1344-46)
Aldobrandino III
Nicolò II
Alberto
Nicolò III
Leonello

Borso (1452 duke of M & R, 1471 of F)
Ercole I
Alfonso I
Ercole II
Alfonso II
Cesare
Alfonso III
Francesco I
Alfonso IV
Francesco II
Rinaldo III
Francesco III
Ercole III

Part of the Cispadane Republic
Part of the Cisalpine Republic
Part of the Italian Republic
Part of the Kingdom of Italy


House of Habsburg-Este
 
1814-1846
1846-1859
Francesco IV
Francesco V

Modena and Reggio is 1860 united with Sardinia, which 1861 become the kingdom of Italy