Isabella Appiani
Isabella Appiani (1577 – 10 November 1661) was an Italian noblewoman as the daughter of and his wife, Isabella de Mendoza. She was Princess of Piombino from 1611 to 1628. Through her father, she was a descendent of Lorenzo de' Medici.
In 1589, Isabella's father died; he was succeeded by his son Jacob VII. In 1603, the young Jacob died childless, prompting fears of Spanish rule. Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor succeeded the same year; he ruled until 1611, until an invasion by the Appiani family which deposed Rudolf and replaced him with Isabella, as she was Jacob's closest surviving relative .
Isabella was the first ever Princess of Piombino, but was only the third female ruler after Paola Colonna and Caterina Appiani, who were both Lady of Piombino.
By her first husband Giorgio de Mendoza, Isabella had a son who died young and a daughter, Polissena who married Niccolò Ludovisi and had issue. Isabella later remarried to Paolo Giordano II Orsini, son of Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano.
In 1628, the Spanish invaded again and managed to conquer the principality; as a result, Isabella and Giordano were forced to flee Piombino. In 1634, the principality was assigned to Isabella's son-in-law Niccolò.
In 1633, Isabella became a grandmother when her daughter Polissena gave birth to a son, Gregorio Filippo.
Isabella died on 10 November 1661 in Rome aged eighty-three or eighty-four, having outlived her daughter and grandson.
References
Retrieved from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Appiani
