Ippolito d'Este
Encyclopedia
Ippolito d'Este (March 20, 1479 – September 3, 1520) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal, and Archbishop of Esztergom. He was a member of the House of Este.
, he was the son of Duke Ercole I d'Este and Eleonore of Aragon
and was immediately educated for the ecclesiastical career. In 1485, at the age of six, he was already at the head of an abbacy and two years later, thanks to his aunt Beatrix of Aragon who had married King Matthias Corvinus, he obtained the archbishopric of Esztergom in Hungary
. The latter election was not confirmed by Pope Innocent VIII
until he was eighteen; in the meantime Ippolito studied for seven years at the Hungarian court.
After Matthias' death, he travelled frequently to Italy. During one of these trips, he was created cardinal by Alexander VI, on September 20, 1493. Three years later he returned to Italy to escape the plague that was striking Hungary and arrived in Rome with a following of 250 people. He was appointed archbishop of Milan in 1497 and named cardinal in 1509, after which he resided in Rome governed the archdiocese of Milan through a vicar. From the tax reports of the Curia
for the year 1500, he was the fifth richest member. His influence grew further when his brother Alfonso
married Lucrezia Borgia
, Alexander VI's daughter, which granted him the title of archipresbyter of St. Peter's
. He remained in Rome until February 15, 1503, and later his relationship with the pope deteriorated due to Ercole's philo-French maneuvers.
After Alexander's death, Pius III appointed him as bishop of Ferrara, but Ippolito was again at short terms with his successor Julius II, and in 1507 he left the Curia. However, the following year Julius praised him for his conduct in the Bentivoglio
plot. In 1509 he successfully led a military contingent to regain the Polesine
territories that the Este had lost in the war with Venice
in 1484, winning the decisive battle of Polesella
. On July 27 the pope recalled him to Rome, but, feeling his life was unsafe, Ippolito fled to Hungary.
On May 16, 1511 he was among the cardinals who signed the appeal to the pope to speak at the schismatic Council of Pisa
. However, later his brother Alfonso convinced him to abandon the schism, and the pope authorized him to return to Ferrara. In 1513 Ippolito moved again to Hungary but, when in his absence Leo X Medici
was elected pope, he returned again to his native city. On April 22, 1514 he and his family were pardoned for all their past anti-papal acts.
In 1519 he left the archbishopric of Milan to his nephew Ippolito II d'Este
.
He was a famous patron of the arts. Among his protegée were the poet Ludovico Ariosto
and architect Biagio Rossetti
.
He died in Ferrara during his last return to Italy, from an indigestion of lobster
s. He was buried in the Cathedral of Ferrara. His estate, inherited by Alfonso I, amounted to some 200,000 ducati. Ippolito had two illegitimate children.
Biography
Born in FerraraFerrara
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...
, he was the son of Duke Ercole I d'Este and Eleonore of Aragon
Leonora of Naples
Eleanor of Naples was, by marriage, the first Duchess of Ferrara....
and was immediately educated for the ecclesiastical career. In 1485, at the age of six, he was already at the head of an abbacy and two years later, thanks to his aunt Beatrix of Aragon who had married King Matthias Corvinus, he obtained the archbishopric of Esztergom in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
. The latter election was not confirmed by Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII
Pope Innocent VIII , born Giovanni Battista Cybo , was Pope from 1484 until his death.-Early years:Giovanni Battista Cybo was born at Genoa of Greek extraction...
until he was eighteen; in the meantime Ippolito studied for seven years at the Hungarian court.
After Matthias' death, he travelled frequently to Italy. During one of these trips, he was created cardinal by Alexander VI, on September 20, 1493. Three years later he returned to Italy to escape the plague that was striking Hungary and arrived in Rome with a following of 250 people. He was appointed archbishop of Milan in 1497 and named cardinal in 1509, after which he resided in Rome governed the archdiocese of Milan through a vicar. From the tax reports of the Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
for the year 1500, he was the fifth richest member. His influence grew further when his brother Alfonso
Alfonso I d'Este
Alfonso d'Este was Duke of Ferrara during the time of the War of the League of Cambrai.-Biography:He was the son of Ercole I d'Este and Leonora of Naples....
married Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia [luˈkrɛtsia ˈbɔrʤa] was the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia...
, Alexander VI's daughter, which granted him the title of archipresbyter of St. Peter's
St. Peter's Basilica
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter , officially known in Italian as ' and commonly known as Saint Peter's Basilica, is a Late Renaissance church located within the Vatican City. Saint Peter's Basilica has the largest interior of any Christian church in the world...
. He remained in Rome until February 15, 1503, and later his relationship with the pope deteriorated due to Ercole's philo-French maneuvers.
After Alexander's death, Pius III appointed him as bishop of Ferrara, but Ippolito was again at short terms with his successor Julius II, and in 1507 he left the Curia. However, the following year Julius praised him for his conduct in the Bentivoglio
Bentivoglio
Bentivoglio was an Italian family of princely rank, long supreme in Bologna and responsible for giving the city its political autonomy during the Renaissance.-History:...
plot. In 1509 he successfully led a military contingent to regain the Polesine
Polesine
Polesine is a geographic and historic area in the north-east of Italy corresponding nowadays with the province of Rovigo; it is a strip of land about 100-km long and 18-km wide located between the lower courses of the Adige and the Po rivers.- Geography :...
territories that the Este had lost in the war with Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
in 1484, winning the decisive battle of Polesella
Battle of Polesella
The Battle of Polesella, fought on 22 December 1509, by forces of the Duchy of Ferrara and the Republic of Venice, was a naval battle on the River Po in the War of the League of Cambrai in the Italian Wars. It was an overwhelming victory for Ferrara....
. On July 27 the pope recalled him to Rome, but, feeling his life was unsafe, Ippolito fled to Hungary.
On May 16, 1511 he was among the cardinals who signed the appeal to the pope to speak at the schismatic Council of Pisa
Council of Pisa
The Council of Pisa was an unrecognized ecumenical council of the Catholic Church held in 1409 that attempted to end the Western Schism by deposing Benedict XIII and Gregory XII...
. However, later his brother Alfonso convinced him to abandon the schism, and the pope authorized him to return to Ferrara. In 1513 Ippolito moved again to Hungary but, when in his absence Leo X Medici
Medici
The House of Medici or Famiglia de' Medici was a political dynasty, banking family and later royal house that first began to gather prominence under Cosimo de' Medici in the Republic of Florence during the late 14th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of the Tuscan countryside,...
was elected pope, he returned again to his native city. On April 22, 1514 he and his family were pardoned for all their past anti-papal acts.
In 1519 he left the archbishopric of Milan to his nephew Ippolito II d'Este
Ippolito II d'Este
Ippolito d'Este was an Italian cardinal and statesman. He was a member of the House of Este, and nephew of the other Ippolito d'Este, also a cardinal.-Biography:...
.
He was a famous patron of the arts. Among his protegée were the poet 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...
and architect Biagio Rossetti
Biagio Rossetti
Biagio Rossetti was an Italian architect and urbanist from Ferrara. A military engineer since 1483, and the ducal architect of Ercole I d'Este, in 1492 Rossetti was assigned the project of enlarging the city of Ferrara....
.
He died in Ferrara during his last return to Italy, from an indigestion of lobster
Lobster
Clawed lobsters comprise a family of large marine crustaceans. Highly prized as seafood, lobsters are economically important, and are often one of the most profitable commodities in coastal areas they populate.Though several groups of crustaceans are known as lobsters, the clawed lobsters are most...
s. He was buried in the Cathedral of Ferrara. His estate, inherited by Alfonso I, amounted to some 200,000 ducati. Ippolito had two illegitimate children.
See also
- Giulio d'Este
- Alfonso I d'EsteAlfonso I d'EsteAlfonso d'Este was Duke of Ferrara during the time of the War of the League of Cambrai.-Biography:He was the son of Ercole I d'Este and Leonora of Naples....