Lucrezia d’Este Bentivoglio

Lucrezia d’Este, the illegitimate daughter of Ercole I, married Annibale II Bentivoglio, first son of Giovanni II, on 29 January 1487 in Bologna. For the occasion Giovanni Sabadino degli Arienti composed the De Hymeneo. It was a memorable wedding, recorded in every detail by the chroniclers of the time and celebrated with sumptuous banquets in the family palace: as many as twenty eight courses were served and the food, on plates of gold and silver, was exhibited in the square before the palace before being served. On behalf of Cardinal Ippolito d’Este, Ariosto went on mission to Bologna in 1506 to see Lucrezia d’Este. Why he went is unknown, as the only document that testifies to the mission is an expenses slip. Despite the fact that Lucrezia was the sister of Duke Alfonso I this last could make no move to his advantage for fear of kindling the anger of the short-tempered Julius II and indeed, whilst the Church’s army was approaching Bologna, Alfonso went to Imola to revere the Pope. On 2 November 1506 Annibale Bentivoglio and Lucrezia d’Este were cast out of Bologna by the pontifical troops. To Lucrezia d’Este, sung also by the poets Camillo Paleotti and Guido Silvestri the Posthumous, is dedicated a passage in the Orlando furioso XLII, 88-89: "Lo scritto d’oro esser costei dichiara / Lucrezia Bentivoglia; e fra le lode / pone di lei, che ‘l duca di Ferrara / d’esserle padre si rallegra e gode. / Di costei canta con soave e chiara / voce un Camil che ‘l Reno e Felsina ode / con tanta attenzion, tanto stupore, / con quanta Anfrisio udì già il suo pastore; / et un per cui la terra, ove l’Isauro / le sue dolci acque insala in maggior vase / nominata sarà da l’Indo al Mauro, / e da l’austrine all’iperboree case, / via più che per pesare il romano auro, / di che perpetuo nome le rimase: / Guido Postumo, a cui doppia corona / Pallade quinci, e quindi Febo dona".