Ferrara. Upon the death of Alfonso II d’Este, Cesare d’Este proclaimed himself Duke of Ferrara on October 29, 1597, despite a papal clause forbidding it. The Pope was greatly annoyed and sent an army of thirty thousand soldiers. Cesare d’Este was forced to bow his head (literally, because he kissed his feet) and cede Ferrara to the Pope, to save Modena and Reggio. Cesare d’Este was the one who, upon leaving Ferrara on January 29, 1598, designated Modena, rather than Reggio, as the capital of the duchy. The reason is unclear, but one theory (Danilo Bertani) is that it was due to a previous trade agreement with Modena that allowed salt to be transported to Modena via the rivers (Po, Panaro, Naviglio), without paying duties.
