Lucrezia d'Este (1535–1598)

Lucrezia d'Este (Ferrara, December 16, 1535 – Ferrara, February 12, 1598) was an Italian noblewoman, a member of the House of Este and Duchess consort of Urbino. She was the third daughter of Ercole II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio, and Renée of France, daughter of Louis XII of France. Her siblings included Alfonso II d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, and Lucrezia Maria d'Este, Duchess of Urbino (wife of Francesco Maria II della Rovere).

Lucrezia was initially betrothed to Emanuele Filiberto, Duke of Savoy, but this arrangement was later cancelled. In 1570, she married Francesco Maria II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino, as his first wife. This marriage was intended to secure an heir for the Duchy of Urbino, but it proved childless.

The marriage was unhappy. Francesco Maria II’s melancholic and reclusive nature clashed with Lucrezia's vibrant personality and interest in courtly life. The Duke increasingly favored solitude, withdrawing to his estates outside Urbino. Their separation became effectively permanent, although they remained legally married.

Lucrezia remained in Ferrara, where she maintained her own court and became a significant patron of the arts and sciences. She was known for her refined taste and intellectual pursuits. She corresponded with prominent figures of the time and fostered a vibrant cultural environment.

Upon her death in 1598, Lucrezia d'Este was buried in the Corpus Domini Monastery in Ferrara, the same monastery that houses the tombs of other members of the Este family. Her life reflects the complexities of aristocratic marriages and the roles available to women within Renaissance Italian society.