Meanwhile, and elsewhere in Italy, there were other interesting and influential Renaissance Women . . .

 . . . including Eleanora of Aragon d'Este, Duchess of Ferrara.  Daughter of Ferdinand I of Naples and Isabella of Clermont, Eleanora (1450-1493) was married first into the Sforza family and then, at age 23,  to Ercole I d'Este, duke of Ferrara.  She was known for her bravery and leadership skills, and in 1485 when Ercole's nephew Niccolo` attempted a coup d'etat, she escaped the besieged palace with her children Isabella, Beatrice, and Alfonso, who was only a few weeks old.

     Eleanora was also known for commissioning a number of artworks and building projects (see post of Jan 22, 2013), and as we shall see, for inspiring her daughters to become powerful women in their own rights.

     Recently I visited the Castello Estense in Ferrara, where I was gratified to see Eleanora remembered for the contributions she made to the Court.  She used her considerable dowry monies to refurbish not only her own apartments, connecting staircases and terraces, but also a hanging garden.  Through the years it was enlarged and eventually became the Garden of the Oranges, a tribute to her Neapolitan roots. (source, a placard in the Castello Estense)