Isabella d'Este

Isabella d'Este (19 May 1474 – 13 February 1539) was the <a href="/facts/Marchioness/43eH2HGv">Marchioness</a> of <a href="/facts/Mantua/qrJf7rqk">Mantua</a> and one of the leading women of the Italian <a href="/facts/Renaissance/4D9Bc6KU">Renaissance</a> as a major cultural and political figure.
She was a patron of the arts as well as a leader of fashion and her innovative style of dressing was emulated by many women. The poet Ariosto labeled her as the "liberal and magnanimous Isabella", while author Matteo Bandello described her as "supreme among women". Diplomat Niccolò da Correggio went even further by hailing her as "The First Lady of the world".
She served as the <a href="/facts/Regent/K0JDrJ6K">regent</a> of Mantua during the absence of her husband <a href="/facts/Francesco_II_Gonzaga%2c_Marquess_of_Mantua/pWz2NfxF">Francesco II Gonzaga</a> and during the minority of her son <a href="/facts/Federico_II%2c_Duke_of_Mantua/Mfyr29HR">Federico</a>. She was a prolific letter-writer and maintained a lifelong correspondence with her sister-in-law <a href="/facts/Elisabetta_Gonzaga/fWnFRER0">Elisabetta Gonzaga</a>. Isabella grew up in a cultured family in the city-state of <a href="/facts/Ferrara/667uBfAc">Ferrara</a>. She received a fine classical education and she met many famous humanist scholars and artists. Due to the vast amount of extant correspondence between Isabella and her family and friends, her life is extremely well documented.

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Isabella d'Este