Virginia de' Medici

Virginia
Duchess of Modena and Reggio

Art critic Maike Vogt-Lüerssen believes this portrait by Bronzino, usually identified as Maria de' Medici, is actually of Virginia de' Medici.[1]
Born (1568-05-29)29 May 1568
Florence, Grand Duchy of Tuscany
Died 15 January 1615(1615-01-15) (aged 46)
Modena, Duchy of Modena
Spouse Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena
Issue Giulia d'Este
Alfonso III, Duke of Modena
Laura, Duchess of Mirandola
Luigi d'Este, Lord of Montecchio and Scandiano
Caterina d'Este
Ippolito d'Este
Niccolo d'Este
Borso d'Este
Foresto d'Este
Angela Caterina d'Este
Full name
Virginia de' Medici
House House of Medici (by birth)
House of Este (by marriage)
Father Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Mother Camilla Martelli

Virginia de' Medici (29 May 1568 15 January 1615) was an illegitimate daughter of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Camilla Martelli. She was the Duchess of Modena and Reggio by marriage to Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena.

Biography

Virginia was born on 29 May 1568, two years before her parents married. The only child of her parents' marriage, in 1581 she was promised in marriage to Francesco Sforza di Santa Fiora, but he chose instead to accept a Cardinal's hat from Pope Gregory XIII.

On 6 February 1586 Virginia married Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena, son of Alfonso d'Este, Lord of Montecchio, and Giulia della Rovere. They had ten children of whom three sons and a daughter would have progeny.

Virginia died on 15 January 1615; some said she was poisoned by her husband.

Issue

Notes

See also

This portrait is often identified as Marie de' Medici, queen of France, though art critic Maike Vogt-Lüerssen believes it is actually an adult portrait of Virginia de' Medici.
This portrait is often identified as Virginia de' Medici, though art critic Maike Vogt-Lüerssen believes it is actually a portrait of Archduchess Maria Magdalena of Austria-Tyrol (1656-1669).
Virginia de' Medici
Born: 29 May 1568 Died: 15 January 1615
Royal titles
Preceded by
Margherita Gonzaga
Duchess consort of Ferrara
27 October 1597 – 1598
To the Papal State
Duchess consort of Modena and Reggio
27 October 1597 – 15 January 1615
Vacant
Title next held by
Maria Caterina Farnese
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