Eleanor of Naples, Duchess of Ferrara

Who was Eleanor of Naples, Duchess of Ferrara?

Eleanor of Naples 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, who would later prove to be one of the most powerful women of the Renaissance

⁕Beatrice, the patron of Leonardo da Vinci, and the spouse of Ludovico Sforza.

⁕Alfonso, who would later marry the infamous Lucrezia Borgia

⁕Ferrante,

⁕Ippolito, cardinal, army commander and patron of the arts

⁕Sigismondo

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.