Duchy of Mirandola
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification.(February 2015) |
Duchy of Mirandola Ducato della Mirandola(Italian) | |||||||||
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| 1310–1711 | |||||||||
 Coat of arms
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 The Duchy of Mirandola during the first half of the 18th century. | |||||||||
| Capital | Mirandola | ||||||||
| Common languages |
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| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||||||
| Government | Absolute monarchy | ||||||||
| Lord,CountandDuke | |||||||||
• 1311–1321 | Francesco I Pico(first lord) | ||||||||
• 1691–1708 | Francesco Maria Pico della Mirandola(last duke) | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
• Established | 1310 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 1711 | ||||||||
| Currency | Moneta di Mirandola (from 1510) | ||||||||
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TheLordship,thenCounty,Principalityand finallyDuchy of Mirandola(Italian:Ducato della Mirandola) was a state which existed inNorthern Italyfrom 1310 until 1711, centered inMirandolain what is now theprovince of Modena,inEmilia-Romagna,and ruled by theHouse of Pico.
History[edit]
TheHouse of Pico della Mirandolawere a noble family first known for one Hugh, a vassal ofMatilda of Tuscanyin the 11th century. In the following centuries, members of the family werepodestàinModenaandReggio Emilia,until, in 1311, Francesco Pico received from EmperorHenry VIIthe fiefs ofQuarantoliandSan Possidonioin reward of his help during the war against theEste.In 1353 Paolo Pico obtained from thebishops of Reggiothe fief ofSan Martino Spino,and in the following year EmperorCharles IVfreed the Pico from the dominance of the bishops, placing Mirandola directly under imperial suzerainty.
In 1432 Giovanni Pico received from EmperorSigismundthe title of Count ofConcordia. The city was strongly fortified, and, in the course of theItalian Wars,it was allied withFrance.It wasbesiegedtwo times byPapaltroops underPope Julius II(1511), who personally attacked its walls, andPope Julius III(1551–1552). In the second occasion, the fortress resisted successfully under the command of Ludovico Pico andPiero Strozzi.In 1597, after returning under the imperial umbrella, Mirandola obtained the title of city and the Picos were named Princes of Mirandola and Marquesses of Concordia. In 1617 Alessandro I was finally declared duke.
The main economic activities in Renaissance times were animal husbandry, agriculture and, starting from the 17th century, silk clothes. The duchy however suffered from internal crisis and the numerous military operations in the area, such as in 1630 when it was ravaged by the imperial troops.
The last lord wasFrancesco Maria Pico,who was charged with treason after having been forced to cede the fortress to the French. The duchy was acquired by theDuchy of Modenaunder theHouse of Este,who bought it for 175,000 goldendoppie.
List of rulers[edit]
Lords of Mirandola[edit]
- 1311 - 1311:Francesco I
Lords of Mirandola and Concordia[edit]
- 1354 - 1399:Francesco II
- 1399 - 1429:Francesco IIIwithGiovanni Iand Aiace Pico
- 1429 - 1432:Francesco IIIwithGiovanni I
Lords of Mirandola, Counts of Concordia[edit]
- 1432 - 1451:Francesco IIIwithGiovanni I
- 1451 - 1461:Francesco III
- 1461 - 1467:Gianfrancesco I
- 1467 - 1499:Galeotto I(brother of philosopherGiovanni Pico della Mirandola)
- 1499 - 1502:Gianfrancesco II
- 1502 - 1504:Federico IwithLudovico I
- 1504 - 1509:Ludovico I
- 1509 - 1511:Galeotto II
- 1511 - 1511:Gianfrancesco II
- 1514 - 1533:Galeotto II
Counts of Mirandola and Concordia[edit]
- 1533 - 1550:Galeotto II
- 1550 - 1558:Ludovico II
- 1568 - 1592:Galeotto III
- 1592 - 1596:Federico II
Princes of Mirandola, Marquises of Concordia[edit]
- 1596 - 1602:Federico II
- 1602 - 1619:Alessandro I
Dukes of Mirandola, Marquises of Concordia[edit]
- 1619 - 1637:Alessandro I
- 1637 - 1691:Alessandro II
- 1691 - 1708:Francesco Maria
See also[edit]
External links[edit]
- Page at the Mirandola municipal website(in Italian)
