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____ Alberto Azzo II
Birth:          10 Jul  997 Este, Italy
Death:          1097 

Notes
died when "aged 100 years"
sent by Pope on mission to the Hungarians
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Azzo_II,_Margrave_of_Milan
Alberto Azzo II (997 or July 10, 1009, Modena – August 20, 1097, Modena), Margrave 
of Milan, and Liguria, Count of Gavello and Padua, Rovigo, Lunigiana, Monselice, and 
Montagnana, aka, Albertezzo II, was a powerful nobleman in the Holy Roman Empire. 
He is considered the founder of Casa d'Este (House of Este), having been head of the 
first family to be master of Este, a town of Padua.

Alberto Azzo II was the only son of Albert Azzo I, Margrave of Milan. He inherited his 
father's offices around 1020, and continually increased his properties in northern Italy. 
In 1069–1070, he tried to acquire Maine for his son Hugh, because his wife, Garsende, 
was a co-heiress of the previous counts of Maine. Hugh was declared count, but he 
could not prevail against Robert, the Duke of Normandy, who had been betrothed to 
the last heiress. In the Investiture Controversy between Henry IV, Holy Roman 
Emperor, and Pope Gregory VII, Azzo attempted to mediate, but later he joined the 
side of the pope. Around 1073 he made a castle at Este his residence, from which the 
House of Este, the dynasty to which he belonged, took its name. Before his building 
project, Este was little more than a village.

His son Welf (from his first marriage) moved first to Carinthia and then to Bavaria, 
giving rise to one of the most important families in European history, the Guelphs. 
Another son, Fulk I of Milan, (from his second marriage), made the first documented 
use of the title "Marquis d'Este."

Family[edit]

Azzo II married Kunigunde (also called Chuniza), the daughter of Welf II, Count of 
Altdorf, in 1036. They had one known child:
Welf (died November 6, 1101, Paphos) Duke of Bavaria from 1070 to 1077 and from 
1096 to his death who was the first member of the Welf branch of the House of Este.

His second marriage was to Garsende, daughter of Herbert I, Count of Maine, around 
1050. They had the following known sons:
Fulco I, Margrave of Milan (died 1128), ancestor of the Italian branch of the House of 
Este
Hugh V, Count of Maine (died 1131), had no issue.

Some sources say he also married Vitalia Orseolo, daughter of Peter Orseolo. They 
had a daughter: Itta.

He had an extra-marital affair with Matilda, sister of William, Bishop of Padua[citation 
needed], with whom he had a daughter named Adelasia who married Guglielmo 
Adelardi.

Parents
____ Alberto Azzo I (ABT  975 - 1029)
OF VENICE Adela (Valdrada) (ABT  975 - AFT 1012)

Siblings
____ Alberto Azzo II (10 Jul  997 - 1097)

Marriage To OF MAINE Gersinde (ABT 1019 - BEF 1096) m. Notes Parents ____ Herbert I ("Eveillechien") (ABT 984 - 13 Apr 1036) ----- ----- () Children by OF MAINE Gersinde ABT 1019 - BEF 1096
D'ESTE Hugh III (ABT 1049 - 1097)
Marriage To OF ALTDORF Kunigunde (ABT 1020 - 31 Aug 1054) m. 1035 Notes Parents ____ Welf (Guelph) II (ABT 985 - 10 Mar 1030) ____ Imiza (Irmtrud) ( 990 - 1055) Children by OF ALTDORF Kunigunde ABT 1020 - 31 Aug 1054
____ Welf (Guelph) IV (1037 - 6 Nov 1101)
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