The Biblioteca Estense ( Estense Library ), was the family library of the marquises and dukes of the House of Este . The exact date of the library's birth is still under speculation, however it is known for certain that the library was in use during the fourteenth century. Whilst it was greatly enriched during the Renaissance years in Ferrara , the library was concretely established in Modena in the beginning of the seventeenth century. It is known as one of the most important libraries in Italy . The library is located, along with the Galleria Estense directly below its collection of artworks, in the Palazzo dei Musei (Piazza Sant'Agostino 337) in Modena.
11-650: On the ascension of the Marquis Niccolò III d'Este to the Ferrarese duchy in 1393, he inherited an important humanistic library, rich in works of literary, historical and artistic content. Its collection grew considerably during the Renaissance period with manuscripts and printed editions considered today to be of fundamental value, thanks to the refined and attentive patronage of the Este dukes. In 1598,
22-653: A descendant of Obizzo II d'Este , who contested Niccolò's right to rule in Ferrara due to his illegitimate birth, even though Niccolò had been legitimated by his father. However, Azzo's mercenary forces were defeated in the battle and Azzo himself was taken prisoner and subsequently imprisoned by Astorre I Manfredi , commander of the Regency Council forces, thus removing the threat to Niccolò's rule. In 1397 Niccolò married Gigliola da Carrara , daughter of Francesco II da Carrara , lord of Padua . In 1403 he joined
33-655: The Biblioteca Estense. The library holds many medieval manuscripts, among them biblical manuscripts: Codex Mutinensis , Minuscule 358 , 359 , 585 , 586 , 618 , ℓ 111 . Also known worldwide is its collection of musical manuscripts and printed books, the Raccolta musicale estense . 44°38′53″N 10°55′16″E / 44.6481°N 10.9211°E / 44.6481; 10.9211 Niccol%C3%B2 III d%27Este, Marquis of Ferrara Niccolò III d'Este (9 November 1383 – 26 December 1441)
44-693: The Estense Library merged with the University Library, which brought with it an important collection of philosophical, juridical and scientific texts. Thus was born the Estense University Library, considered today as a modern institute of national interest. Today the Library's collection contains more than 500,000 printed works, about 11,000 codexes , more than 100,000 manuscript leaves, and 1,662 incunabula . Among
55-476: The Library followed the dynasty when the capital was transferred from Ferrara to Modena. In the following centuries, the Estense Library continued to be enriched with local and international works, funded by the acquisitions of suppressed religious institutions as well as enriched by the elevated tastes of famous librarians Ludovico Antonio Muratori and Girolamo Tiraboschi . After the Unification of Italy ,
66-415: The ambitions of Filippo Maria Visconti , he ceded to him the possession of Parma . In 1425 Niccolò had both his wife Parisina and his illegitimate son Ugo executed on charges of adultery, as well as decreeing that all women within his domains found to be guilty of adultery were to be put to death. He had to rescind this order once it was determined that this action would depopulate Ferrara. In that year he
77-680: The league formed against Gian Maria Visconti , Duke of Milan, being appointed Captain General of the Papal Army by Pope Boniface IX . In 1405 he ceded the ancestral family lands near Este to Venice. In 1410 the fighting master Fiore dei Liberi dedicated his treatise, the Fior di Battaglia , to him. In 1413 he made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land . In 1418 he remarried Parisina Malatesta , daughter of Andrea Malatesta . Two years later, fearing
88-463: The manuscripts, the most famous is the 1,200-page Bible of Borso d'Este , extensively bordered with miniatures. The relic would be recovered and returned to Modena following the First World War . Bought at an auction, it was gifted to Italy on behalf of Senator Giovanni Treccani . The Bible is today excluded from public view for reasons of conservation, a 1963 replica now takes its place in
99-528: The plague in 1416. They had no known children. He married secondly Parisina Malatesta , daughter of Andrea Malatesta . He had her executed on 21 May 1425 for allegedly having an affair with his illegitimate son Ugo d'Este . They had three children: He married thirdly Ricciarda of Saluzzo in 1429. She was a daughter of Thomas III of Saluzzo and Marguerite of Pierrepont . They had two children: He also had eleven illegitimate children: Este, Veneto Too Many Requests If you report this error to
110-623: Was Marquess of Ferrara from 1393 until his death. He was also a condottiero . Born in Ferrara , the son of Alberto d'Este and Isotta Albaresani, he inherited the rule of the city in 1393 when only 10 years old. As a minor he was guided by a Regency Council supported by the Republics of Venice , Florence and Bologna . In 1395 the troops of the Regency Council were attacked at the Battle of Portomaggiore by Niccolò's relative Azzo X d'Este ,
121-596: Was again commander-in-chief of the anti-Visconti league. In 1429 his illegitimate son was named heir of the Marquisate. The role of Niccolò as a prestigious leader in Italy was confirmed when his city was chosen as the seat of a council in 1438. Niccolò had children with at least eleven different women. He married first Gigliola da Carrara , daughter of Francesco II da Carrara , lord of Padua in June 1397. She died of
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