ESTE

este, one of the oldest of the former reigning houses of italy. it is in all probability of lombard origin, and descended, according to muratori, from the princes who governed in tuscany in carolingian times. the lordship of the town of este was first acquired by alberto azzo ii., who also bore the title of marquis of italy[1] (d. c. 1097); he married kunitza or kunegonda, sister of welf or guelph iii., duke of carinthia. welf died without issue, and was succeeded by welf iv., son of kunitza, who married a daughter of otto ii., duke of bavaria, and who obtained the duchy of bavaria in 1070. through him the house of este became connected with the princely houses of brunswick and hanover, from which the sovereigns of england are descended. the italian titles and estates were inherited by folco i. (1060-1135), son of alberto azzo by his second wife gersende, daughter of herbert i., count of maine.[2] the house of este played a great part in the history of medieval and renaissance italy, and it first comes to the front in the wars between the guelphs and ghibellines; as leaders of the former party its princes received at different times ferrara, modena, reggio and other fiefs and territories. obizzo i., son of folco, was the first to bear the title of marquis of este. he entered into the guelphic league against the emperor frederick