Montecchio Emilia

Montecchio Emilia is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Reggio Emilia in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) northwest of Bologna and about 15 kilometres (9 mi) west of Reggio Emilia. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 9,592 and an area of 24.7 square kilometres (9.5 sq mi). The municipality of Montecchio Emilia contains the frazioni (subdivisions, mainly villages and hamlets) Aiola, Braglia, Case Badodi, Case Gambetti, Case Pozzi, Cornocchio, Croce, and Spadarotta. Montecchio Emilia borders the following municipalities: Bibbiano, Montechiarugolo, Reggio Emilia, San Polo d'Enza, Sant'Ilario d'Enza. History Alfonso d'Este (Ferrara, 10 March 1527 – Ferrara, 1 November 1587) was an Italian nobleman. He was the illegitimate and fourth son of Alfonso I d'Este, Duke of Ferrara by his lover Laura Dianti. In 1523 his father gave him Montecchio and turned it into a feudal inheritance for cadet members of his family - in 1569 it was promoted to a marquessate by Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor. Cesare d'Este, Marquis of Montecchio was his son and the cousin of Alfonso II d'Este, duke of Ferrara and Modena. When the latter died without heirs in the October 1597, Cesare inherited the duchy and the title of marquis returned to the dukes from now on. The legitimacy of the succession was recognised by the Emperor Rudolph II but not by Pope Clement VIII: thus, as Ferrara was nominally a Papal fief, the city was returned to the Papal States, despite the attempts of the young duke, who sought help from the Major Powers to no avail. Title As a titular Duke of Modena, the current holder of the title of "Marquis of Montecchio" would be Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este. Demographic evolution References ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat. ^ a b http://www.comune.montecchio-emilia.re.it/Sezione.jsp?idSezione=69 External links www.comune.montecchio-emilia.re.it