La protezione spagnola su Ferrara estense: un tentativo (seconda metà del XVI secolo)

Abstract

The talks for the Spanish protection upon the Este dukedom (1570-72) were one of the most important negotiations of the Este diplomacy in the Seventies of the 16th century. Although failed, due especially to the hubris and opportunistic temporizing of duke Alphonse II of Este and the well-known prudence of Philip II, these negotiations are an interesting subject of study, because they show the main characteristics of the Este diplomacy in Spain between the peace of Cateau-Cambrésis (1559) and the devolution of the capital Ferrara to the Papacy (1598).