Laura Martinozzi
Encyclopedia
Laura Martinozzi was a Duchess consort of Modena. On the death of her husband, she became the regent
of the Duchy in the name of her son, Francesco.
to Cardinal Mazarin's eldest sister, also named Laura
, and her husband Count Girolamo Martinozzi da Fano
, a Roman
noble of an ancient family.
She was one of the Mazarinettes
: the seven nieces of the Cardinal, that he brought to France
in order to arrange for them rich and politically advantageous marriages, including Hortense
and Olympia Mancini.
For two years Laura lived in France under the guardianship of her uncle and "quasi stepmother", Anne of Austria
. On her sixteenth birthday, 27 May 1655, she was married to the Duke of Modena, Alfonso IV d'Este. The wedding by proxy occurred at the Palace of Compiègne with the Count of Soissons acting as the Duke of Modena.
They had three children, two of which survived infancy.
Maria Beatrice d'Este
(1658–1718), who married the future King James II of England
, and Francesco
(1660–1694), who was the Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1662 to 1694.
Laura was abandoned by her son and died in Rome
in 1687, shortly before the birth of her grandson, James, Prince of Wales
.
The mentally and physically weak Francesco II came under the influence of his half-brother Cesare, and thus Laura moved to Rome with her mother. She was buried in the Este chapel of the Church of San Vincenzo at Modena
.
Regent
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...
of the Duchy in the name of her son, Francesco.
Biography
She was born in FanoFano
Fano is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 km southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea...
to Cardinal Mazarin's eldest sister, also named Laura
Laura Margherita Mazzarini
Laura Margherita Mazzarini was the daughter of Pietro Mazzarini and Ortensia Buffalini.On July 9, 1634, she was married to Count Girolamo Martinozzi...
, and her husband Count Girolamo Martinozzi da Fano
Fano
Fano is a town and comune of the province of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. It is a beach resort 12 km southeast of Pesaro, located where the Via Flaminia reaches the Adriatic Sea...
, a Roman
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...
noble of an ancient family.
She was one of the Mazarinettes
Mazarinettes
The Mazarinettes were the seven nieces of Cardinal Jules Mazarin, the Chief Minister of France during the youth of King Louis XIV. He brought them, together with three of his nephews, from Italy to France in the years 1647 and 1653. Afterwards, he arranged advantageous marriages for them to...
: the seven nieces of the Cardinal, that he brought to France
Kingdom of France
The Kingdom of France was one of the most powerful states to exist in Europe during the second millennium.It originated from the Western portion of the Frankish empire, and consolidated significant power and influence over the next thousand years. Louis XIV, also known as the Sun King, developed a...
in order to arrange for them rich and politically advantageous marriages, including Hortense
Hortense Mancini
Hortense Mancini, duchesse Mazarin , was the favourite niece of Cardinal Mazarin, chief minister of France, and a mistress of Charles II, King of England, Scotland and Ireland...
and Olympia Mancini.
For two years Laura lived in France under the guardianship of her uncle and "quasi stepmother", Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria
Anne of Austria was Queen consort of France and Navarre, regent for her son, Louis XIV of France, and a Spanish Infanta by birth...
. On her sixteenth birthday, 27 May 1655, she was married to the Duke of Modena, Alfonso IV d'Este. The wedding by proxy occurred at the Palace of Compiègne with the Count of Soissons acting as the Duke of Modena.
They had three children, two of which survived infancy.
Maria Beatrice d'Este
Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena was Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of King James II and VII. A devout Catholic, Mary became, in 1673, the second wife of James, Duke of York, who later succeeded his older brother Charles II as King James II...
(1658–1718), who married the future King James II of England
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
, and Francesco
Francesco II d'Este
Francesco II d'Este was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1662 to 1694.He was born in Modena to Alfonso IV d'Este, duke of Modena, and Laura Martinozzi, niece of Cardinal Mazarin. His sister, Mary of Modena, married the future James II of England in 1673 and became queen of England in 1685.He became...
(1660–1694), who was the Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1662 to 1694.
Laura was abandoned by her son and died 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 1687, shortly before the birth of her grandson, James, Prince of Wales
James Francis Edward Stuart
James Francis Edward, Prince of Wales was the son of the deposed James II of England...
.
The mentally and physically weak Francesco II came under the influence of his half-brother Cesare, and thus Laura moved to Rome with her mother. She was buried in the Este chapel of the Church of San Vincenzo at Modena
Modena
Modena is a city and comune on the south side of the Po Valley, in the Province of Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy....
.
Issue
- Francesco d'Este, Hereditary Prince of Modena (1657–1658) died in infancy;
- Maria Beatrice Anna Margherita Isabella d'EsteMary of ModenaMary of Modena was Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of King James II and VII. A devout Catholic, Mary became, in 1673, the second wife of James, Duke of York, who later succeeded his older brother Charles II as King James II...
(1658–1718) married James II of EnglandJames II of EnglandJames II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
and had issue; known as Mary of Modena; - Francesco d'Este, Duke of Modena (1660–1694) married Margherita Maria FarneseMargherita Maria FarneseMargherita Maria Farnese was an Italian noblewoman born into the House of Farnese. She was the Duchess of Modena and Reggio by marriage to her first cousin Francesco II d'Este, Duke of Modena...
, no issue.