Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan

Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan
Alberto Azzo II and first wife Kunigunde
Spouse(s)	Kunigunde of Altdorf Garsende of Maine
Noble family	House of Este
Father	Albert Azzo I, Margrave of Milan
Mother	Adelaide
Born	997 or 1009 Modena
Died	August 20, 1097(1097-08-20) Modena

Albert Azzo II tomb – Vangadizza Abbey – Badia Polesine

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 powerful nobleman in the Holy Roman Empire. He is considered the founder of Casa d'Este (House of Este), having been head of the first family to be master of Este, a town of Padua.

Alberto Azzo II was the only son of Albert Azzo I, Margrave of Milan. He inherited his father's offices around 1020, and continually increased his properties in northern Italy. In 1069–1070, he tried to acquire Maine for his son Hugh, because his wife, Garsende, was a co-heiress of the previous counts of Maine. Hugh was declared count, but he could not prevail against Robert, the Duke of Normandy, who had been betrothed to the last heiress. In the Investiture Controversy between Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, and Pope Gregory VII, Azzo attempted to mediate, but later he joined the side of the pope. Around 1073 he made a castle at Este his residence, from which the House of Este, the dynasty to which he belonged, took its name. Before his building project, Este was little more than a village.

His son Welf (from his first marriage) moved first to Carinthia and then to Bavaria, giving rise to one of the most important families in European history, the Guelphs. Another son, Fulk I of Milan, (from his second marriage), made the first documented use of the title "Marquis d'Este."

Family

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 1077 and from 1096 to his death who was the first member of the Welf branch of the House of Este.

His second marriage was to Garsende, daughter of Herbert I, Count of Maine, around 1050. They had the following known sons:

• Fulco I, Margrave of Milan (died 1128), ancestor of the Italian branch of the House of Este
• Hugh V, Count of Maine (died 1131), had no issue.

Some sources say he also married Vitalia Orseolo, daughter of Peter Orseolo. They had a daughter: Itta.

He had an extra-marital affair with Matilda, sister of William, Bishop of Padua, with whom he had a daughter named Adelasia who married Guglielmo Adelardi.

References

Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan House of Este Born: 997 or 1009 Died: 20 August 1097
Preceded by Albert Azzo I	Margrave of Milan c. 1020–1097	Succeeded by Fulco I