What did Isabella d'Este do?

Answer 1

(May 18, 1474- February 13, 1539)

Perhaps the strongest, most intelligent woman in Italian Renaissance. She mastered Greek and Latin, demonstrated skill in singing, dancing, and playing instruments. In 1490, she married Francesco Gonzage, Duke of Mantua. She was also Lucrezia Borgia's sister-in-law. After her husband was captured in battle she took over Mantua and ruled. The people of Mantua adored her.

To keep herself entertained, she read and played the lute, and soon wanted to try all the new instruments that were being made available. In addition to playing music she collected art, and sponsored painters, such as Titian, Raphaeland Da_Vinci. Being a leader of fashion, she bought the finest clothing, including furs as well as the newest distillations of perfume.

However, her role as a Marchesa required her serious attention, so she decided to learn the problems faced by a ruler of a city-state. To improve the well-being of her people she studied architecture, agriculture, and industry, and followed the principles that Niccolò_Machiavelli had set forth for rulers in his book The_Prince.

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Answer 2

Isabella d'Este was a political figure and leader in the Italian Renaissance. She controlled military forces when her husband was captured in 1509.