Duchy of Ferrara

Duchy of Ferrara
Ducatus Ferrariensis (Latin)
Ducato di Ferrara (Italian)
Ducà ad Frara (Emilian)
1471–1597
Flag of Ferrara
Flag
Coat of arms of Ferrara
Coat of arms
Territories of the House of Este in 1499 (shown in purple)
Territories of the House of Este in 1499 (shown in purple)
CapitalFerrara
Common languagesLatin (official)
Emilian (common)
Religion
Roman Catholicism
GovernmentNon-sovereign monarchy
Duke 
• 1471–1471(first)
Borso I
• 1559–1597 (last)
Alfonso II
History 
• Borso d'Este is elevated to Duke of Ferrara by Pope Paul II
1471
• House of Este loses Ferrara to Papacy
1597
CurrencyFerrara mint, Idra, Ducat
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Commune of Ferrara
Duchy of Modena and Reggio
Papal States
Today part ofItaly

The Duchy of Ferrara (Latin: Ducatus Ferrariensis; Italian: Ducato di Ferrara; Emilian: Ducà ad Frara) was a state in what is now northern Italy. It consisted of about 1,100 km2 south of the lower Po River, stretching to the valley of the lower Reno River, including the city of Ferrara. The territory that was part of the Duchy was ruled by the House of Este from 1146 to 1597.[1]

Borso d'Este, already Duke of Modena and Reggio, and lord of Ferrara, was raised to Duke of Ferrara by Pope Paul II. Borso and his successors ruled Ferrara as a quasi-sovereign state until 1597, when it came under direct papal rule.[2]

  1. ^ Tuohy, Thomas. Herculean Ferrara: Ercole d'Este (1471–1505) and the Invention of a Ducal Capital. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, with the assistance of the Istituto di Studi Rinascimentali, Ferrara.
  2. ^ Ducato di Ferrara (in Italian). p. 25.