Azzo VI of Este
Encyclopedia
Azzo VI (1170 – November 1212), known as Azzolino, was the Marquis of Este (marchio Eystensis) from the death of his father, Azzo V, in 1190 until his death. He was heavily involved in the Guelph
politics of Lombardy
in the first decade of the 13th century, serving as podestà
of Ferrara
(1196, 1205, and 1208), Padua
(1199), Verona
(1206–1207), and Mantua
(1207–1208 and 1210–1211). On 20 January 1210 he was created Marquis of Ancona
and Count of Loreto
by the Emperor Otto IV. On 10 May 1212 this was reaffirmed by Pope Innocent III
.
Azzo's court was a cultural centre in northern Italy, drawing poets and artists from afar. He played host and patron to the troubadour
s Aimeric de Peguilhan
, Peire Raimon de Tolosa
, and Rambertino Buvalelli
. Rambertino celebrated Azzo's daughter Beatrice
in all of his love songs
, an overtly political act in the climate of the times.
In his capacity as a leading Guelph condottiero Azzo fought a prolonged war with Salinguerra Torelli. In 1205 he conquered and razed the castle of Frotta, residence of Salinguerra. His opponent responded by allying with Ezzelino II da Romano and drove Azzo away, but the next year (1206) he had reconquered Frotta and held it until 1209.
Azzo's first wife Elisa, a daughter of a count Aldobrandino, was dead by 1192, by which time he had remarried to a daughter of Humbert III of Savoy
, named either Sophia or Eleanor (as per the epitaph of their daughter Beatrice). She died on 3 December 1202. On 22 February 1204 Azzo married for the third time to Alice (also called Alix), daughter of Reynald de Châtillon, Prince of Antioch. While Alberic de Trois-Fontaines calls Aleydem marchionis Eystensis in Italia as the third of the three daughters of Raynaldus de Castellione uxor ... relictam principis Raymundi, that is, by Reynald's first wife, the daughter of Raymond of Antioch
, it is unlikely that Alice could have been born before 1167, the latest possible date for Reynald's first wife's death. She was more likely the daughter of Reynald's last wife, Stephanie de Milly.
By his first wife, Azzo had a son, Aldobrandino I, who succeeded his father in 1212. By his second wife he had his only daughter, the aforementioned Beatrice, later Abbess of Monte Gemmola. By his third and last wife he left a son, Azzo VII, who eventually succeeded his elder brother and became head of the family.
In a contemporary vernacular vita of his daughter, the biography sums up Azzo's character and reputation: "he was beautiful of form, almost more than all other men. A prudent yet daring man, valiant in feats of arms and of perspicacious learning: a wise and marvellous conversationalist." Azzo is also mentioned in the third canto of Ludovico Ariosto
's Orlando Furioso
, where the sorceress is telling Bradamant of his illustrious descendants:
Guelphs and Ghibellines
The Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively, in central and northern Italy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the split between these two parties was a particularly important aspect of the internal policy of the Italian city-states...
politics of Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
in the first decade of the 13th century, serving as podestà
Podestà
Podestà is the name given to certain high officials in many Italian cities, since the later Middle Ages, mainly as Chief magistrate of a city state , but also as a local administrator, the representative of the Emperor.The term derives from the Latin word potestas, meaning power...
of Ferrara
Ferrara
Ferrara is a city and comune in Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, capital city of the Province of Ferrara. It is situated 50 km north-northeast of Bologna, on the Po di Volano, a branch channel of the main stream of the Po River, located 5 km north...
(1196, 1205, and 1208), Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
(1199), Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
(1206–1207), and Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
(1207–1208 and 1210–1211). On 20 January 1210 he was created Marquis of Ancona
March of Ancona
The March of Ancona or marca Anconitana was a frontier march centred on the city of Ancona and, then, Macerata in the Middle Ages...
and Count of Loreto
Loreto (AN)
Loreto is a hilltown and comune of the Italian province of Ancona, in the Marche. It is mostly famous as the seat of the Basilica della Santa Casa, a popular Catholic pilgrimage site.-Location:...
by the Emperor Otto IV. On 10 May 1212 this was reaffirmed by Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
.
Azzo's court was a cultural centre in northern Italy, drawing poets and artists from afar. He played host and patron to the troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
s Aimeric de Peguilhan
Aimeric de Peguilhan
Aimeric or Aimery de Peguilhan, Peguillan, or Pégulhan was a troubadour , born in Peguilhan the son of a cloth merchant....
, Peire Raimon de Tolosa
Peire Raimon de Tolosa
Peire Raimon de Tolosa or Toloza was a troubadour from the merchant class of Toulouse. He is variously referred to as lo Viellz and lo Gros , though these are thought by some to refer to two different persons. On the other hand, lo Viellz could refer to his being of an early generation of...
, and Rambertino Buvalelli
Rambertino Buvalelli
Rambertino di Guido Buvalelli , a Bolognese judge, statesman, diplomat, and poet, was the earliest of the podestà-troubadours of thirteenth-century Lombardy. He served at one time or other as podestà of Brescia, Milan, Parma, Mantua, Genoa, and Verona. Ten of his Occitan poems survive, but none...
. Rambertino celebrated Azzo's daughter Beatrice
Beatrice d'Este (died 1226)
Blessed Beatrice d'Este was the daughter of Azzo VI of the Este family by his second wife, Sophia Eleanor, daughter of Humbert III, Count of Savoy. She was the aunt of Saint Beatrice d'Este....
in all of his love songs
Canso (song)
The canso is a song style used by the troubadours. It consists of three parts. The first stanza is the exordium, where the composer explains his purpose. The main body of the song occurs in the following stanzas, and usually draw out a variety of relationships with the exordium. The canso can end...
, an overtly political act in the climate of the times.
In his capacity as a leading Guelph condottiero Azzo fought a prolonged war with Salinguerra Torelli. In 1205 he conquered and razed the castle of Frotta, residence of Salinguerra. His opponent responded by allying with Ezzelino II da Romano and drove Azzo away, but the next year (1206) he had reconquered Frotta and held it until 1209.
Azzo's first wife Elisa, a daughter of a count Aldobrandino, was dead by 1192, by which time he had remarried to a daughter of Humbert III of Savoy
Humbert III of Savoy
Umberto III , surnamed the Blessed, was Count of Savoy from 1148 to 1189. His parents were Amadeus III of Savoy and Mahaut of Albon, the sister of Guy IV of Dauphinois. His memorial day is March 4.According to CopeHis first wife died young; his second marriage ended in divorce...
, named either Sophia or Eleanor (as per the epitaph of their daughter Beatrice). She died on 3 December 1202. On 22 February 1204 Azzo married for the third time to Alice (also called Alix), daughter of Reynald de Châtillon, Prince of Antioch. While Alberic de Trois-Fontaines calls Aleydem marchionis Eystensis in Italia as the third of the three daughters of Raynaldus de Castellione uxor ... relictam principis Raymundi, that is, by Reynald's first wife, the daughter of Raymond of Antioch
Raymond of Antioch
Raymond of Poitiers was Prince of Antioch 1136–1149. He was the younger son of William IX, Duke of Aquitaine and his wife Philippa, Countess of Toulouse, born in the very year that his father the Duke began his infamous liaison with Dangereuse de Chatelherault.-Assumes control:Following the...
, it is unlikely that Alice could have been born before 1167, the latest possible date for Reynald's first wife's death. She was more likely the daughter of Reynald's last wife, Stephanie de Milly.
By his first wife, Azzo had a son, Aldobrandino I, who succeeded his father in 1212. By his second wife he had his only daughter, the aforementioned Beatrice, later Abbess of Monte Gemmola. By his third and last wife he left a son, Azzo VII, who eventually succeeded his elder brother and became head of the family.
In a contemporary vernacular vita of his daughter, the biography sums up Azzo's character and reputation: "he was beautiful of form, almost more than all other men. A prudent yet daring man, valiant in feats of arms and of perspicacious learning: a wise and marvellous conversationalist." Azzo is also mentioned in the third canto of Ludovico Ariosto
Ludovico Ariosto
Ludovico Ariosto was an Italian poet. He is best known as the author of the romance epic Orlando Furioso . The poem, a continuation of Matteo Maria Boiardo's Orlando Innamorato, describes the adventures of Charlemagne, Orlando, and the Franks as they battle against the Saracens with diversions...
's Orlando Furioso
Orlando Furioso
Orlando Furioso is an Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto which has exerted a wide influence on later culture. The earliest version appeared in 1516, although the poem was not published in its complete form until 1532...
, where the sorceress is telling Bradamant of his illustrious descendants:
Here is another Azzo; Verona shall be his, with its fair territory; and to him shall the Fourth Otto and Honorius II grant the title of Marquis of Ancona. It would tak me all too long were I to show you every one of your descendants who shall be standard-bearer at the Consistory, or were I to relate every exploit accomplished by them for the Church of Rome.
External links
- Foundation for Medieval Genealogy: Medieval Lands Project — Modena/Ferrara, D. Marchesi d'Este