Alberto Azzo II (997 or July 10, 1009, Modena – August 20, 1097, Modena),Margrave of Milan, and Liguria, Count of Gavello and Padua, Rovigo,Lunigiana, Monselice, and Montagnana, aka, Albertezzo II, was a powerfulnobleman in the Holy Roman Empire. He is considered the founder of Casad''Este (House of Este), having been head of the first family to be masterof Este, a town of Padua.
Alberto Azzo II was the only son of Albert Azzo I, Margrave of Milan. Heinherited his father''s offices around 1020, and continually increased hisproperties in northern Italy. In 1069–1070, he tried to acquire Maine forhis son Hugh, because his wife, Garsende, was a co-heiress of theprevious counts of Maine. Hugh was declared count, but he could notprevail against Robert, the Duke of Normandy, who had been betrothed tothe last heiress. In the Investiture Controversy between Henry IV, HolyRoman Emperor, and Pope Gregory VII, Azzo attempted to mediate, but laterhe joined the side of the pope. Around 1073 he made a castle at Este hisresidence, from which the House of Este, the dynasty to which hebelonged, took its name. Before his building project, Este was littlemore than a village.
His son Welf (from his first marriage) moved first to Carinthia and thento Bavaria, giving rise to one of the most important families in Europeanhistory, the Guelphs. Another son, Fulk I of Milan, (from his secondmarriage), made the first documented use of the title "Marquis d''Este."
Azzo II married Kunigunde (also called Chuniza), the daughter of Welf II,Count of Altdorf, in 1036. They had one known child:
Welf (died November 6, 1101, Paphos) Duke of Bavaria from 1070 to 1077and from 1096 to his death who was the first member of the Welf branch ofthe House of Este.
His second marriage was to Garsende, daughter of Herbert I, Count ofMaine, around 1050. They had the following known sons:
Fulco I, Margrave of Milan (died 1128), ancestor of the Italian branch ofthe House of Este
Hugh V, Count of Maine (died 1131), had no issue.
Some sources say he also married Vitalia Orseolo, daughter of PeterOrseolo. They had a daughter: Itta.
He had an extra-marital affair with Matilda, sister of William, Bishop ofPadua[citation needed], with whom he had a daughter named Adelasia whomarried Guglielmo Adelardi.
Alberto Azzo II was the only son of Albert Azzo I, Margrave of Milan. Heinherited his father''s offices around 1020, and continually increased hisproperties in northern Italy. In 1069–1070, he tried to acquire Maine forhis son Hugh, because his wife, Garsende, was a co-heiress of theprevious counts of Maine. Hugh was declared count, but he could notprevail against Robert, the Duke of Normandy, who had been betrothed tothe last heiress. In the Investiture Controversy between Henry IV, HolyRoman Emperor, and Pope Gregory VII, Azzo attempted to mediate, but laterhe joined the side of the pope. Around 1073 he made a castle at Este hisresidence, from which the House of Este, the dynasty to which hebelonged, took its name. Before his building project, Este was littlemore than a village.
His son Welf (from his first marriage) moved first to Carinthia and thento Bavaria, giving rise to one of the most important families in Europeanhistory, the Guelphs. Another son, Fulk I of Milan, (from his secondmarriage), made the first documented use of the title "Marquis d''Este."
Azzo II married Kunigunde (also called Chuniza), the daughter of Welf II,Count of Altdorf, in 1036. They had one known child:
Welf (died November 6, 1101, Paphos) Duke of Bavaria from 1070 to 1077and from 1096 to his death who was the first member of the Welf branch ofthe House of Este.
His second marriage was to Garsende, daughter of Herbert I, Count ofMaine, around 1050. They had the following known sons:
Fulco I, Margrave of Milan (died 1128), ancestor of the Italian branch ofthe House of Este
Hugh V, Count of Maine (died 1131), had no issue.
Some sources say he also married Vitalia Orseolo, daughter of PeterOrseolo. They had a daughter: Itta.
He had an extra-marital affair with Matilda, sister of William, Bishop ofPadua[citation needed], with whom he had a daughter named Adelasia whomarried Guglielmo Adelardi.
- 997 or July 10, 1009 - Birth - ; Modena
- 20 AUG 1097 - Death - ; Modena
PARENT (M) Alberto Azzo I, Margrave of Milan | |||
Birth | |||
Death | 1029 | ||
Marriage | to Adelaide | ||
Father | Otbert II, Margrave of Milan | ||
Mother | Railend | ||
PARENT (F) Adelaide | |||
Birth | |||
Death | |||
Marriage | to Alberto Azzo I, Margrave of Milan | ||
Father | ? | ||
Mother | ? | ||
CHILDREN | |||
M | Alberto Azzo II, Margrave of Milan | ||
Birth | 997 or July 10, 1009 | Modena | |
Death | 20 AUG 1097 | Modena | |
Marriage | ABT 1050 | to Garsinde du Maine | |
Marriage | to Vitalia Orseolo | ||
Marriage | mistress | to Matilda | |
Marriage | 1036 | to Kunigunde of Altdorf |
PARENT (M) Alberto Azzo II, Margrave of Milan | |||
Birth | 997 or July 10, 1009 | Modena | |
Death | 20 AUG 1097 | Modena | |
Marriage | ABT 1050 | to Garsinde du Maine | |
Marriage | to Vitalia Orseolo | ||
Marriage | mistress | to Matilda | |
Marriage | 1036 | to Kunigunde of Altdorf | |
Father | Alberto Azzo I, Margrave of Milan | ||
Mother | Adelaide | ||
PARENT (F) Garsinde du Maine | |||
Birth | |||
Death | |||
Marriage | ABT 1050 | to Alberto Azzo II, Margrave of Milan | |
Father | Herbert I, Count of Maine | ||
Mother | ? | ||
CHILDREN |
PARENT (M) Alberto Azzo II, Margrave of Milan | |||
Birth | 997 or July 10, 1009 | Modena | |
Death | 20 AUG 1097 | Modena | |
Marriage | ABT 1050 | to Garsinde du Maine | |
Marriage | to Vitalia Orseolo | ||
Marriage | mistress | to Matilda | |
Marriage | 1036 | to Kunigunde of Altdorf | |
Father | Alberto Azzo I, Margrave of Milan | ||
Mother | Adelaide | ||
PARENT (F) Vitalia Orseolo | |||
Birth | |||
Death | |||
Marriage | to Alberto Azzo II, Margrave of Milan | ||
Father | ? | ||
Mother | ? | ||
CHILDREN |
PARENT (M) Alberto Azzo II, Margrave of Milan | |||
Birth | 997 or July 10, 1009 | Modena | |
Death | 20 AUG 1097 | Modena | |
Marriage | ABT 1050 | to Garsinde du Maine | |
Marriage | to Vitalia Orseolo | ||
Marriage | mistress | to Matilda | |
Marriage | 1036 | to Kunigunde of Altdorf | |
Father | Alberto Azzo I, Margrave of Milan | ||
Mother | Adelaide | ||
PARENT (F) Matilda | |||
Birth | |||
Death | |||
Marriage | mistress | to Alberto Azzo II, Margrave of Milan | |
Father | ? | ||
Mother | ? | ||
CHILDREN |
PARENT (M) Alberto Azzo II, Margrave of Milan | |||
Birth | 997 or July 10, 1009 | Modena | |
Death | 20 AUG 1097 | Modena | |
Marriage | ABT 1050 | to Garsinde du Maine | |
Marriage | to Vitalia Orseolo | ||
Marriage | mistress | to Matilda | |
Marriage | 1036 | to Kunigunde of Altdorf | |
Father | Alberto Azzo I, Margrave of Milan | ||
Mother | Adelaide | ||
PARENT (F) Kunigunde of Altdorf | |||
Birth | |||
Death | |||
Marriage | 1036 | to Alberto Azzo II, Margrave of Milan | |
Father | Welf II, Count of Swabia | ||
Mother | Ermengarde of Luxembourg | ||
CHILDREN | |||
M | Welf I, Duke of Bavaria | ||
Birth | |||
Death | |||
Marriage | to Judith of Flanders, Countess of Northumbria |
1 Alberto Azzo II, Margrave of Milan b: 997 or July 10, 1009 d: 20 AUG 1097
+ Matilda