Duke of Ferrara and of Modena
This is a list of rulers of the estates owned by the Este family, which main line of Marquesses rose in 1039 with Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan. The name "Este" is related to the city where the family came from, Este.
From the Lordship of Este to the Duchy of Ferrara-Modena-Reggio
The family was founded by Adalbert the Margrave, who might have been the true first margrave of Milan of this family. In 1209, Azzo VI was named the first marquess of Ferrara. The title passed to his descendants, and the marquisate was delegated to a cadet branch of the Este family. Later, they were also created marquesses of Modena and Reggio.In 1452 Borso d'Este, then marquis of Modena and Reggio, was raised by Emperor Frederick III with the title of duke of Modena and Reggio. In 1471, Pope Paul II formally elevated him in as Duke of Ferrara, over which the family had in fact long presided.
This latter territory was lost to the Papal States in 1597, while the House of Este continued to rule the Duchy of Modena and Reggio in the Emilia region until 1796, when it became part of Napoleon Bonaparte's Cispadane Republic. In 1814, the duchy was restored under the Habsburg grandson of the last Este duke, continuing until it was annexed by Piedmont-Sardinia in 1859.
Rulers
[House of Este]
Partitions of Este territories under Este rule
Table of rulers
Habsburg-Este dukes of Modena and Reggio, 1814–1859
'| Name | Portrait | Birth | Marriages | Death |
| Francesco IV 14 July 1814– 21 January 1846 | 6 October 1779 Milan son of Ferdinand, Duke of Breisgau and Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa | Maria Beatrice of Savoy 20 June 1812 Cagliari Cathedral four children | 21 January 1846 Modena aged 66 | |
| Francesco V''' 21 January 1846– 11 June 1859 | 1 June 1819 Modena son of Francis IV and Maria Beatrice of Savoy | Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria 20 March 1842 Kreuzkirche one daughter | 20 November 1875 Vienna aged 56 |