The Tree of Europe · Person

Ercole II d’Este

His marriage to Renée of France connected Ferrara with the French monarchy. The duchess’s Reformed sympathies made the court a place of religious tension.

1508 – 1559DukeEste · ES

Explore this family · Spanish Atlas Back to people

This complete profile is available in English. Bibliographic titles retain their original language. Links marked ES open the Spanish edition.

Historical profile

Key details

Birth: 1508 Documented

Death: 1559 Documented

Role: Duke

Dynasty: Este · ES

Territories: Ferrara (ES) · Modena (ES)

Recorded governments and reigns

Duke · Ferrara · Duchy Documented1534–1559Effective rule

Duke · Modena · Duchy Documented1534–1559Effective rule

Family network

Recorded relationships

Parents

Alfonso I d’EstePending reviewLucrezia BorgiaPending review

Partners

Renée of France · ESPending review

Children

Anna d’Este · ES

Crowns and unions

Their titles over time

Follow the changing territories and offices of Ercole II d’Este. Each title retains its own status.

Period

Governments in 1534

FerraraDuke
View titles and jurisdictions
- Ferrara · ESDuke · Effective rule1534–1559
ModenaDuke
View titles and jurisdictions
- Modena · ESDuke · Effective rule1534–1559

Annual dates: overlap within one year does not prove that two offices were held on the same day. Regencies and co-rulerships retain their labels.

Documentation

Sources for this profile

Biographical and contextual references in their original language. Sources and methodology.

Evidence for this profile

7 recorded claims · 3 without a claim-specific source. Context references do not by themselves verify every fact.

Dates (2/2 with a precise source)

BirthDocumented
1508
The authority record gives the birth as 1508.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Ercole II., Ferrara, Herzog · Vital data: birth date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
DeathDocumented
1559
The authority record gives the death as 1559.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Ercole II., Ferrara, Herzog · Vital data: death date
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Family and relationships (0/3 with a precise source)

FatherPending review
Alfonso I d’Este
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
MotherPending review
Lucrezia Borgia
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·
Marriage or partnershipPending review
Renée of France
A precise source has not yet been added.
No individual review recorded ·

Governments (2/2 with a precise source)

GovernmentDocumented
Duke · Ferrara · 1534–1559
The authority record dates this office to 1534–1559.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Ercole II., Ferrara, Herzog · Biographical data: «Herzog von Ferrara, Modena und Reggio 1534-1559»
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·
GovernmentDocumented
Duke · Modena · 1534–1559
The authority record dates this office to 1534–1559.
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek · GND · Ercole II., Ferrara, Herzog · Biographical data: «Herzog von Ferrara, Modena und Reggio 1534-1559»
Reviewed on 2026-10-17 by El Árbol de Europa ·

Biographical and contextual references (4)

Editorial history

2026-10-12 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-08 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-04 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-10-03 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.
2026-09-30 · The duchy is limited to Dijon and Autun; each other fief now enters the map only under its dated ruler. John III of Namur and the Nevers/Rethel branch were added. The previous shape combined later counties and unrelated lands as if all belonged to the duchy from 1363.
2026-09-28 · Claim registry added; existing historical data kept. Specific sourcing remains to be reviewed.

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