Alfonso III d'Este, Duke of Modena

Born in Ferrara, he was the first son of Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena and Virginia de' Medici. In 1613 he took part in the war against Lucca and had a primary role in the assassination of count Ercole Pepoli, who was disputing the duchy with Cesare, at Ferrara (1617).

In 1608 he was married to Isabella of Savoy, daughter of Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy. Profoundly in love with her, when she died in 1626 he started to think to take religious vows. When his father died in 1628, Alfonso became Duke of Modena and Reggio. However, in July 1629 he announced his abdication from the Castle of Sassuolo. On September 8 of the same year he entered the Capuchin friars at Merano under the name of fra' Giambattista da Modena.

He was distinguished as a preacher and helper of dying people during the pestilence which struck the Duchy in 1630–1631. In the following year he returned to Modena, but his discourses against the costumes of the court made him unwelcome, so he retired to a convent in Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, built by his son, Duke Francesco I, where he died in 1644.

• Cesare d'Este (1609–1613), died in infancy;
• Francesco Ι d'Este (1610–1658), future Duke of Modena; married Maria Farnese, Vittoria Farnese and Lucrezia Barberini, all had issue;
• Obizzo d'Este (1611–1644), Bishop of Modena;
• Caterina d'Este (1613–1628), nun;
• Cesare d'Este (1614–1677), died unmarried;
• Alessandro d'Este (1615), died in infancy;
• Carlo Alessandro d'Este (1616–1679), died unmarried;;
• Rinaldo d'Este (1618–1672) Cardinal;
• Margherita d'Este (1619–1692), married Ferrante III Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla;
• Beatrice d'Este (1620), died in infancy;
• Beatrice d'Este (1622–1623), died in infancy;
• Filiberto d'Este (1623–1645);
• Bonifazio d'Este (1624), died in infancy;
• Anna Beatrice d'Este (1626–1690), married Alessandro II Pico della Mirandola and had issue; Isabella died giving birth to her.

• Media related to Alfonso III d'Este at Wikimedia Commons