Este, Isabella d' (1474–1539)

Marchioness of Mantua. Name variations: Isabel, Isabeau; Isabella Gonzaga; Marchioness or Marchesa of Mantua. Born May 18, 1474, in Ferrara, Italy; died Feb 13, 1539, in Mantua, Italy; dau. of Ercole I d'Este (1431–1505), 2nd duke of Ferrara and Modena, and Leonora of Aragon (1450–1493); sister of Beatrice d'Este (1475–1497) and Alfonso I (1476–1534), 3rd duke of Ferrara, who m. Lucrezia Borgia; m. Francesco also known as Gianfrancesco Gonzaga (1466–1519), 4th marquis of Mantua (r. 1484–1519), Feb 11, 1490; children: Eleonora Gonzaga (1493–1543); Margherita (1496–1496); Frederigo also known as Federico (1500–1540), 5th marquis of Mantua (r. 1519–1540); Ippolita Gonzaga (1503–1570, became a nun); Ercole (1505–1563, a cardinal); Ferrante (1507–1557, prince of Guastalla); Paola Gonzaga (1508–1569, became a nun). Francesco Gonzaga also had two illeg. daughters.

Important leader of the Italian Renaissance as patron of the arts, as well as a politician who worked to advance her family's power and prestige; betrothed (1480); established court at Mantua (1490); corresponded regularly with sister; became a trusted companion and political associate of husband; mastered the endless diplomacies and intrigues which made up Italian politics and seemed to enjoy the responsibilities and burdens of rule; began artistic patronage (1495); during wartime, governed Mantua in husband's place (1495–1519); negotiated with the French in the interests of Milan; became famed across Europe for her patronage of the Renaissance's greatest artists, including Castiglione, Niccolo da Correggio, Bembo, Bellini, Michelangelo, and Titian; commissioned Leonardo da Vinci to sketch portrait (1499); arranged for husband's release from a Venice prison (1509), then continued acting as chief administrator of Mantua when he returned to war; following husband's death (1519), spent the next few years actively involved in the administration of her son's reign; created one of the finest libraries in Europe.

See also Julia Cartwright, Isabella D'Este: Marchioness of Mantua (1474–1539): A Study of the Renaissance in Two Volumes (Dent, 1903); George R. Marek, The Bed and the Throne: The life of Isabella D'Este (Harper, 1976); and Women in World History.