Gigliola da Carrara

Gigliola da Carrara (1379–1416) was the Marchioness of Ferrara, daughter of Francesco Novello da Carrara, lord of Padua, son of Francesco I da Carrara, and Taddea d'Este.

Life In 1386, marriage negotiations between Gigliola and a son of Albert II, Duke of Austria begun, with her dowry Feltre and Cividale de Belluna. The marriage never materialized however as Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan paid bribes to not make the betrothal go through.

Gigliola's father owing a debt of 10.000 ducats to Gian Galeazzo was proposed if he would marry his daughter to Gian Galeazzos illegitimate son Gabriele Visconti, the lord of Vincenza and Verona. Gigliola's husband was frequently unfaithful to her and fathered many illegitimate children.

After the Battle of Casalecchio in 1402, her brother Francesco Giacomowho were captured by enemy forces and was being taken to Pavia and Gian Galeazzo Visconti. Francesco managed to escape to the territory of his brother-in-law and husband to Gigliola. She supplied him with a horse and guards to get him home safely to Padua. leaving no children. Nicholò then married Parisina Malatesta whom he condemned to death for adultery with Ugo d'Este, and then Ricciarda di Saluzzo, with whom he had his children Ercole I d'Este and Sigismondo d'Este.