Calaone:
the awesome birthplace of Blessed Beatrice II d'Este, and the home where Matteo and Giovanna lived
Calaone is a delightful village in the Euganean Hills where the Este family had a mighty castle and where they took refuge when the castle of Este was destroyed and before they permanently moved to Ferrara. The castle was destroyed by the Paduans and was not rebuilt like the one in Este. However, the verses of the minstrels remain to remember it and they also praise the mother of Blessed Beatrice II: Giovanna of Puglia. Therefore, Blessed Beatrice was born here and spent her early years among these hills before moving to Ferrara. The Blessed was born around 1226, the year of the death of her aunt, who was also blessed and known as Blessed Beatrice I of Este. Both of them were founders of monasteries: the former founded it on Mount Gemmola and the latter in Ferrara. There is also Blessed Beatrice III, Queen of Hungary, who was also born in Calaone in 1215, who married Andrew II, King of Hungary, and who, upon his death, returned to Veneto and took refuge in the monastery of Mount Gemmola.
Calaone: The castle of Calaone is a place of primary importance in the history of the Este family and in particular in the life of Beatrice II d'Este. The Este family resided in Calaone for several reasons:
◦ Security: Calaone was considered safer than Este, especially after the destruction of the castle of Este in 1213 by the Paduans.... In 1225, Azzo VII only had jurisdiction over Este....
◦ Return of Azzo VII: Azzo VII, the father of Beatrice II, returned to Calaone in 1216 after being redeemed by Florentine bankers....
◦ Residence of Giovanna of Puglia: The mother of Beatrice II, Giovanna of Puglia, resided in Calaone....
◦ Cultural Environment: Calaone was a place of culture frequented by Provençal troubadours who celebrated Giovanna of Puglia....
◦ Period of Residence: The Este family lived in Calaone between 1222 and 1240, a period in which Ferrara had been taken from Azzo VII by the Salinguerra.... During this period, the family went to Ferrara occasionally, but did not reside there permanently....
Este: The castle of Este was an important residence for the Este family, but it suffered destruction and did not offer the security of Calaone.
◦ Destruction: The castle of Este was destroyed in 1213 by the Paduans.... Although Emperor Frederick II had ordered its reconstruction in 1220, the order was not carried out immediately....
◦ Jurisdiction: In 1225, Azzo VII only had jurisdiction over Este, indicating a situation of instability....
◦ Siege: The castle of Este again fell under the dominion of Ezzelino in 1249.
Rovigo: During the period in which Ezzelino da Romano forced Azzo VII to abandon Este in 1236, the Este family probably took refuge in Rovigo....
◦ Palazzo Estense: The Marquis of Este owned a palace in Rovigo, where the family may have lived....
◦ Temporary Residence: The stay in Rovigo was probably temporary, lasting about two years, until the family returned to the castle of Calaone.
Ferrara: The permanent transfer of the Este family to Ferrara took place after the reconquest of the city by Azzo VII.
◦ Siege of Ferrara (1240): Azzo VII laid siege to Ferrara in 1240, ending the dominion of the Ghibellines of Salinguerra....
◦ Transfer to the Marquis's Palace: After reconquering Ferrara, the Este family permanently moved to the Marquis's Palace located in the San Paolo district....
◦ Main Residence: After 1240, Azzo VII and his family resided mainly in Ferrara, as stated by Rolandino....
Abandonment of Este: The final abandonment of Este as the main residence took place with the permanent transfer to Ferrara.
◦ Loss of Importance: After the destruction of 1213, the limited jurisdiction in 1225 and the siege of 1249, Este progressively lost importance as the main residence for the Este family....
◦ Focus on Ferrara: After 1240, the Este family concentrated its power and administration on Ferrara....
In summary:
The Este family lived mainly in Calaone until about 1240, with an intermediate period in Rovigo from 1236 to 1238....
The permanent transfer to Ferrara took place in 1240, after the reconquest of the city by Azzo VII, when the family settled in the Marquis's Palace in the San Paolo district....
After the transfer to Ferrara, Este was no longer the main residence of the Este family, although it remained important in their history.
The sources therefore emphasize how security and political events influenced the housing choices of the Este family, leading them to settle in Ferrara after a period of instability