Virginia de' Medici was an illegitimate daughter of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany

Cosimo I de' Medici was Duke of Florence from 1537 to 1574, reigning as the first Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1569.-Biography:...

 and Camilla Martelli

Camilla Martelli

Camilla Martelli was the first lover and then second wife of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Cosimo I de' Medici. She was the mother of Virginia de' Medici, future Duchess of Modena.- Biography :...

. She was the Duchess of Modena and Reggio by marriage to Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena.

Biography

Virginia was born on 29 May 1568, two years before her parents married. The only child of her parents' marriage, in 1581 she was promised in marriage to Francesco Sforza di Santa Fiora, but he chose instead to accept a Cardinal's hat from Pope Gregory XIII

Pope Gregory XIII

Pope Gregory XIII , born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar, which remains the internationally-accepted civil calendar to this date.-Youth:He was born the son of Cristoforo Boncompagni and wife Angela...

.

On 6 February 1586 Virginia married Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena, son of Alfonso d'Este, Lord of Montecchio

Alfonso d'Este, Lord of Montecchio

Alfonso d'Este was an Italian nobleman. He was the illegitimate son of Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara by his lover Laura Dianti...

, and Giulia della Rovere. They had ten children of whom three sons and a daughter would have progeny.

Virginia died on 15 January 1615; some said she was poisoned by her husband.

Issue

• Giulia d'Este (1588–1645) died unmarried;
• Alfonso III d'Este, Duke of Modena (1591–1644), Duke of Modena from 1628; married Princess Isabella of Savoy and had issue;

Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena;

• Laura d'Este (1594–1630) married Alessandro I Pico, Duke of Mirandola and had issue, ancestress of Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina
  Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina
  Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina was the Duchess of Massa and the Princess of Carrara from 1731 until her death in 1790. She was the eldest child of her parents, Alderano I Cybo-Malaspina and his wife Ricciarda Gonzaga...
  
  , Duchess of Modena;
• Luigi d'Este, Lord of Montecchio and Scandiano (1593/1594–1664), had issue;
• Caterina d'Este (1595–1618) died unmarried;
• Ippolito d'Este (1599–1647) died unmarried;
• Niccolo d'Este (1601–1640) married Sveva d'Avalos, no issue;
• Borso d'Este (1605–1657) married Ippolita d'Este (daughter of his brother Luigi) and had issue;

Maria Angela Caterina d'Este

Maria Angela Caterina d'Este

Maria Angela Caterina d'Este was an Italian born Princess of Modena who was later the Princess of Carignano by marriage. She was the wife of Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Carignano. In France she was known as Angélique Catherine d'Este and in Modena and Savoy she was known as Maria...

 mother of Victor Amadeus of Savoy, Prince of Carignan

Victor Amadeus, Prince of Carignan

Victor Amadeus of Savoy was an Italian nobleman who was Prince of Carignano from 1709 to 1741. He was the son of Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy, Prince of Carignano and his wife, the Maria Angela Caterina d'Este.-Biography:...

• Foresto d'Este (1606–1639/1640);
• Angela Caterina d'Este (died 1651), died unmarried, a nun

See also

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