Background
He was the eighth child and sixth son of Alfonso I d'Este and his second wife Lucrezia Borgia. He grew up in Ferrara and lost his mother aged three when she died giving birth to Isabella Maria d'Este.
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Francesco d'Este
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Career
As was customary for a younger son, he was given a military education. He also took part in the 1541 Algiers expedition. The couple had no children but Francesco had two illegitimate daughters by one mother, whose name is unknown - Marfisa (c1554-16 August 1608) and Bradamante (1559-1624).
Both Marfisa and Bradamante were made legitimate a few years after their birth by pope Gregory XIII and by Alfonso II d'Este. Bradamante married count Ercole Bevilacqua. In 1544 pope Paul III nominated Francesco marquess of Massa Lombarda (also known as Massa), with instructions to pass the title onto his male heirs and a faculty to mint coins.
A mint has been found near the fortress at Massa, with intense activity that ended in 1573. He died on 12 February 1578 aged 62 and as stipulated in his will was buried in the church of San Paolo in Massa. He had no surviving male heir and so the marquisate was re-incorporated into the duchy of Ferrara.
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They were also authorized to hold an annual fair in Avellino by Charles V. Francesco was later in the service of Henry II of France, who made him his lieutenant and ordered him to defend the republic of Montalcino, last bulwark of the Republic of Siena.
