First Lady of the Renaissance, 1474-1539

In the Renaissance Period women were mainly there to marry well, stay loyal to their husbands, and give birth to boys. However, Isabella d'Este was one woman who was an exception to all of this. At the young age of 16 years old Isabella was already able to speak Latin and Greek. She was extremely well educated and usually debated with people much older than herself. When her husband left, Isabella governed the city on her own, and after he died she took over his whole job. She showed great leadership skills in 1509 when she became Chief of State in Mantua.