Eleanor of Naples, Duchess of Ferrara

Eleanor of Naples
Duchess of Ferrara, of Modena and Reggio
Portrait of Eleonora d'Aragona, from a manuscript "Il modo di regere e di regnare" by Antonio Cornazzano.
Born	22 June 1450 Naples
Died	11 October 1493 (aged 43) Ferrara
Spouse	Sforza Maria Sforza, Duke of Bari Ercole I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara
House	House of Trastámara
Father	Ferdinand I of Naples
Mother	Isabella of Clermont

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

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

On 3 July 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. During her husband's absences, Eleanor would prove herself a talented ruler.

Issue

Ercole I d'Este and Duchess Eleanor had six children:

• Isabella (1474–1539), who married Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua, and became one of the most famous women of the Renaissance.
• Beatrice (1475–1497), who married Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.
• Alfonso (1476–1534), who married as his second wife, Lucrezia Borgia.
• Ferrante (1477–1540).
• Ippolito (1479–1520), cardinal, army commander and patron of the arts.
• Sigismondo (1480–1524).

Ancestry

Ancestors of Eleanor of Naples, Duchess of Ferrara

16. John I of Castile               8. Ferdinand I of Aragon                       17. Eleanor of Aragon               4. Alfonso V of Aragon                             18. Sancho Alfonso, 1st Count of Alburquerque               9. Eleanor of Alburquerque                       19. Infanta Beatrice of Portugal               2. Ferdinand I of Naples                                   10. Enrique Carlino                       5. Giraldona Carlino                             11. Isabel                       1. Eleanor of Naples                                         6. Tristan de Clermont, Count of Copertino                             3. Isabella of Clermont                                   28. Nicolo Orsini, 3rd Count of Nola               14. Raimondo del Balzo Orsini, Prince of Taranto                       29. Maria del Balzo               7. Caterina del Balzo Orsini                             30. John of Enghien, Count of Castro               15. Mary of Enghien, Countess of Lecce                       31. Sancia del Balzo

External links

• Picture and pedigree