The origins of the family, probably of Frankish nobility, date back to the time of Charlemagne in the early 9th century when they settled in Lombardy. The first known member of the house was Margrave Adalbert I, known only as father of Otbert I, Count Palatine of Italy, who died around 975. Otbert's great-grandson Albert Azzo II, Margrave of Milan, (996-1097) built a castle at Este, near Padua, and named himself after it. He had three sons from two marriages, two of whom became the ancestors of the two branches of the family: We ...

See also:

Este, Este - Origins, Este - Younger branch, Este - External link

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