Isabella Appiani
Encyclopedia
Isabella Appiani was an Italian noblewoman as the daughter of Alessandro Appiani and his wife, Isabella de Mendoza. She was Princess of Piombino
from 1611 to 1628. Through her father, she was a descendent of Lorenzo de' Medici
.
Her full title was: Isabella, Princess of Piombino, Marchioness of Populonia
, Lady of Scarlino
, Populonia, Vignale
, Abbadia del Fango, Suvereto
, Buriano and the Islands of Elba
, Montecristo
, Pianosa
, Cerboli and Palmaionla.
. In 1603, Jacob died childless, prompting fears of Spanish rule. Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
succeeded the same year; he ruled until 1611, until an invasion by the Appiani family which deposed Rudolf and replaced him with Isabella, as she was Jacob's closest surviving relative .
Isabella was the first ever Princess of Piombino, but was only the third female ruler after Paola Colonna
and Caterina Appiani
, who were both titled Lady of Piombino.
Isabella firstly married at Geno
to Giorgio de Mendoza; they had a son who died young and a daughter, Polissena who married Niccolò Ludovisi
and had issue. Giorgio died in 1618. Isabella later married secondly in Rome
in 1622 to Paolo Giordano II Orsini, son of Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano. Following their marriage, Paolo commissioned Simon Vouet
to paint a portrait of Isabella.
In 1628, the Spanish invaded again and managed to conquer the principality; as a result, Isabella and Paolo were forced to flee Piombino. In 1634, the principality was assigned to Isabella's son-in-law Niccolò.
In 1633, Isabella became a grandmother when her daughter Polissena gave birth to a son, Gregorio Filippo.
Isabella died on 10 November 1661 in Rome
aged eighty-three or eighty-four, having outlived her daughter and grandson.
Principality of Piombino
The Principality of Piombino was a state of Italy, which existed from 1399 to 1805, when Napoleon absorbed it into the Principality of Lucca and Piombino...
from 1611 to 1628. Through her father, she was a descendent of Lorenzo de' Medici
Lorenzo de' Medici
Lorenzo de' Medici was an Italian statesman and de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance. Known as Lorenzo the Magnificent by contemporary Florentines, he was a diplomat, politician and patron of scholars, artists and poets...
.
Her full title was: Isabella, Princess of Piombino, Marchioness of Populonia
Populonia
Populonia or Populonia Alta today is a frazione of the comune of Piombino . As of 2009 its population was 17...
, Lady of Scarlino
Scarlino
Scarlino is a comune in the Province of Grosseto in the Italian region Tuscany, located about southwest of Florence and about northwest of Grosseto....
, Populonia, Vignale
Vignale
Vignale was an Italian automobile coachbuilder company. Carrozzeria Alfredo Vignale was established in 1948 at Via Cigliano, Turin by Alfredo Vignale in Grugliasco, near Turin ....
, Abbadia del Fango, Suvereto
Suvereto
Suvereto is a comune in the Province of Livorno in the Italian region Tuscany, located about 90 km southwest of Florence and about 60 km southeast of Livorno.- Technological sites:...
, Buriano and the Islands of Elba
Elba
Elba is a Mediterranean island in Tuscany, Italy, from the coastal town of Piombino. The largest island of the Tuscan Archipelago, Elba is also part of the National Park of the Tuscan Archipelago and the third largest island in Italy after Sicily and Sardinia...
, Montecristo
Montecristo
Montecristo is a small Italian islet, approximately 4.3 kilometers across at its widest point, located about halfway between Corsica and mainland Italy; south of Elba and west of Giglio. It is part of the Tuscan Archipelago...
, Pianosa
Pianosa
The small island of Pianosa , about in area, forms part of Italy's Tuscan Archipelago. Its name comes from the Italian pianura . Its highest point stands above sea level. Pianosa is part of the Elba island municipality. On clear days, Elbans see Pianosa as a dark blue line over the lighter blue sea...
, Cerboli and Palmaionla.
Life
In 1589, Isabella's father died; he was succeeded by his son Jacob VII. As the boy was in his minority, their mother acted as regentRegent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
. In 1603, Jacob died childless, prompting fears of Spanish rule. Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Rudolf II was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Hungary and Croatia , King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria...
succeeded the same year; he ruled until 1611, until an invasion by the Appiani family which deposed Rudolf and replaced him with Isabella, as she was Jacob's closest surviving relative .
Isabella was the first ever Princess of Piombino, but was only the third female ruler after Paola Colonna
Paola Colonna
Paola Colonna was the lady of Piombino from 1441 until 1445.She was born in Rome into one of the most powerful family of Rome. Her brother Giordano was shortly Prince of Salerno and Duke of Venosa, while her brother Oddo would become Pope Martin V. On June 18, 1396 she was married to Gherardo...
and Caterina Appiani
Caterina Appiani
Caterina Appiani was a lady of Piombino of the Appiani dynasty from 1445 until her death.She was born at Piombino, the first daughter of Gherardo Appiani, lord of that principality. She succeeded her mother Paola Colonna thanks to the army of her husband, the condottiero Rinaldo Orsini, whom she...
, who were both titled Lady of Piombino.
Isabella firstly married at Geno
Geno
Geno may refer to:*Geno , including a list of people with the name*"Geno" , a song by Dexys Midnight Runners*Geno , a compilation album by Dexys Midnight Runners*Geno's Steaks, a restaurant in Philadelphia...
to Giorgio de Mendoza; they had a son who died young and a daughter, Polissena who married Niccolò Ludovisi
Niccolò Ludovisi
Niccolò I Ludovisi was Prince of Piombino from 1634 until his death.-Family:He was the son of Orazio Ludovisi, patrician of Bologna and commander-in-chief of the Papal Army , and Lavinia Albergati. He was the nephew of later-Cardinal Niccolò Albergati-Ludovisi...
and had issue. Giorgio died in 1618. Isabella later married secondly in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1622 to Paolo Giordano II Orsini, son of Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano. Following their marriage, Paolo commissioned Simon Vouet
Simon Vouet
Simon Vouet was a French painter and draftsman, who today is perhaps best remembered for helping to introduce the Italian Baroque style of painting to France.-Life:...
to paint a portrait of Isabella.
In 1628, the Spanish invaded again and managed to conquer the principality; as a result, Isabella and Paolo were forced to flee Piombino. In 1634, the principality was assigned to Isabella's son-in-law Niccolò.
In 1633, Isabella became a grandmother when her daughter Polissena gave birth to a son, Gregorio Filippo.
Isabella died on 10 November 1661 in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
aged eighty-three or eighty-four, having outlived her daughter and grandson.