Azzo VII d'Este

Azzo VII d'Este, called Novello (c. 1205–1264), inherited the Este titles as a boy in 1215 after his half-brother Aldobrandino I died; his mother ransomed him from Florentine bankers. He led the Guelphs of the March of Treviso and held several podestà posts before, in 1240, driving the Ghibelline Salinguerra Torelli out of Ferrara and becoming its lord.

His troops helped capture Ezzelino da Romano at Cassano d'Adda in 1259. His only son Rinaldo died a hostage of Frederick II in Apulia; when Azzo died in February 1264, his grandson Obizzo II succeeded him.