Ferrara

A city of Italy, and the capital of one of the Æmilian provinces of the same name. It was subdued by the Lombards in the 8th century, and taken from them by Pepin, about 752, who gave it to Pope Stephen II. About 1208 it fell into the hands of the house of Este, and in 1598 Pope Clement VIII. obtained the sovereignty. The French under Ma éna took Ferrara in 1796; but it was restored to the pope in 1814. An Austrian garrison held it from 1849; it retired in June, 1859, and the people rose and declared for annexation to Sardinia, which was accomplished in March, 1860.