Borso d'Este

Borso d'Este (1413 – 20 August 1471) was the first Duke of Ferrara and Modena, ruling from 1450 until his death. A member of the House of Este, he secured his titles from both Emperor Frederick III in 1452 and Pope Paul II in 1471, strengthening the political status of the Este state. Borso was an illegitimate son of Niccolò III d'Este, Marquess of Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio, by his mistress Stella de' Tolomei. He is best known for his patronage of the arts and the lavish cultural life at his court in Ferrara. His most famous commission was the Bible of Borso d'Este, an illuminated manuscript regarded as a masterpiece of Renaissance book art. He supported the early Ferrarese School of painting and helped establish Ferrara as an important center of Renaissance culture in northern Italy.