Eleanor of Naples, Duchess of Ferrara

Eleanor of Naples (Leonora or Eleonora of Aragon) (June 22, 1450 – October 11, 1493) was, by marriage, the first Duchess of Ferrara.

Daughter of King Ferdinand I of Naples and Isabella of Taranto , she was firstly consort of Massimiliano Sforza, Duke of Bari.

On July 3, 1473, she married Ercole I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara.
In her journey to Ferrara she was accompanied by a group made up of some of the most important names in the Estense court.
The wedding ceremony with Ercole I was followed by a long series of celebrations in her honour, with dances, tournaments, processions and lunches.

Ercole and Eleanor had six children:

• Isabella (1474–1539), who would later prove to be one of the most powerful women of the Renaissance
• Beatrice (1475–1497), the patron of Leonardo da Vinci, and the spouse of Ludovico Sforza.
• Alfonso (1476–1534), who would later marry the infamous Lucrezia Borgia
• Ferrante (1477–1540),
• Ippolito (1479–1520), cardinal, army commander and patron of the arts
• Sigismondo (1480–1524)

She held firmly on to the reins of government during her husband's absences, showing herself to be decisive and authoritative, but also wise and level-headed.

Ancestry

External links

• Picture and pedigree