Eleonora d'Aragona - Este

Daughter of the king of Naples Ferdinando I d’Aragona and Isabella di Chiaromonte she arrived in Ferrara in the summer of 1473 and married the Duke Ercole I d’Este. Eleonora was an example of virtue and energy, a great mother, devoted wife and capable governor. She took care of the state's business and, in many aspects, she was the one ruling the duchy, proving to be balanced and smart: when the Venetians sieged the city and the duke was not capable of guiding the troups, Eleonora gave courage to the people of Ferrara and convinced them to defend their city. She was also very religious and dedicated to charity activities. She lived for the first years in Ferrara in the Palazzo Ducale, then she moved with her children in the Marchesana Tower of the Estense Castle. She was also an attentive mother, organizing weddings that gave importance and prestige to the Este house: she chose the Gonzagas for Isabella, Milan for Beatrice and made Ippolito a cardinal.

She died under misterious circumstances and is buried under a simple marble tombstone in the Cloister of Corpus Domini, with her son Alfonso, Lucrezia Borgia, Alessandro d'Este and Isabella d'Este. Thanks to the duchess, the idea of leading women started spreading, an important factor in a society that was totally dominated by men.