A Jacobite Gazetteer - Modena

Chiesa di San Vincenzo


This church is located at Corso Canalgrande, 75 (on the main north-south street on the east side of the city). The church contains a number of tombs of members of the Royal Family. 1

In the right transept is the funerary monument of Queen Mary III and II (died 1840) erected by her son King Francis I. It was designed by Adeodata Malatesta and sculpted in marble by Luigi Mainoni. 2 At the centre is an angel standing guard in front of the queen's sarcophagus. On the wall behind is a relief portrait of the queen in profile. In the arch above is a relief of God the Father. Below the sarcophagus is a relief showing the virtues Faith, Hope, and Charity. The monument is surrounded by a wrought-iron fence designed by Mainoni and executed by Giuseppe Cavani. There is a Latin inscription: 3

MEMORIAE · ET · VIRTVTI
MARIAE · BEATRICIS · VICTORIAE · SABAVDICAE
FILIAE · VICTORI · EMMANVELIS · I · REGIS · SARDINIAE
CONJVGIS · FRANCISCI · IV · ATEST · ARCHID · AVSTR · DVCIS · MVTINEN ·
FRANCISCVS · V · ATEST · ARCHID · AVSTR · DVX · MVT · REG · MIR · MASS · CARR · VAST · FILIVS
PIETATIS · CAVSSA · F · C · ANNO · M · DCCC · L
 
To the memory of
Maria Beatrice Victoria of Savoy,
daughter of Victor Emanuel I, King of Sardinia,
wife of Francis IV Este, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Modena:
[her] son, Francis V Este, Archduke of Austria, Duke of Modena, Reggio, Mirandola, Massa, Carrara, and Guastalla,
desired to make [this] on account of his filial piety, 1850.

Monument to Queen Mary III and II
Monument to Queen Mary III and II

On the other side of the church, next to the pulpit, is the funerary monument of Prince Ferdinand (died 1849), younger son of Queen Mary III and II and father of Queen Mary IV and III. The monument, sculpted by Paolo Aleotti in 1859, 4 was originally placed in the Chiesa della Cittadella (closed in 1871).

The relief shows the Prince Ferdinand visiting the hospital where he contracted the cholera from which he died. Below the relief is a Latin inscription which records the incident:

FERDINANDO KAROLO VICTORIO AVSTRIACO ATESTINO ARCHIDVCI AVSTR.
PRINCIPI REGIO HVNGARIAE ET BOHEMIAE DVCTORI ORDINVM IN EXERCITV AVG. AVSTRIACO
QVI RELIGIONE IN DEVM AC EFFVSA IN EGENTES CALAMITOSOS BENIGNITATE
INDE A TENERIS FLORENS
PRAECLARA MAJORVM EXEMPLA AEMVLATVS PRO AVG. DOMO AVSTR.
PARATVS VEL. IN ACIE OCCVMBERE
DIFFICILI MALGHERIAE OPPVGNATIONI AN. MDCCCXLIX VLTRO ALACER INTERVIT
ET DVM PIETATIS OFFICIIQVE MVNIA VITAE PRAEPONENS SVAE
MILIT. NOSOCOMIA QVAE TYPHOIDE FEBRE
INFECTA NOVERAT NOCTV INVISIT
MORTIFERO MORBO CONTRACTO IPSO HEV IN EVVENTAE FLORE
BRVNII IN MORAVIA SANCTE DECESSIT XVIII KAL. JAN. ANNO MDCXCCXXLIX
ANNOS NATVS XXVIII M. IV D. XXVI TANTUM FRANCISCVS V AVSTRIACVS
ATESTINVS ARCHID. AVSTR. DVX MVTINAE FRATRI DESIDERATISSIMO
HONORIS VIRTVTISQVE CAVSSA MONVMENTVM P. C.

Monument to Prince Ferdinand
Monument to Prince Ferdinand

To the left of the monument to Queen Mary III and II is a door which leads towards the sacristy and the octagonal Cappella Funebre degli Estensi e degli Austro-Estensi. Outside the funerary chapel is a memorial to Duchess Laura of Modena, mother-in-law of King James II and VII; it bears a Latin inscription:

V.     +     I.
MORTALES EXUVIÆ LAVRÆ MARTINOTIÆ
ALPHONSI IV. MUTINÆ REGGIJ ETC. DUCIS IX UXORIS,
IACOBI II ANGLIÆ REGIS SOCRUS,
PRINCIPIS PIJSSIMÆ, ÆQVE AC GENEROSISSIMÆ,
ARTIS REGNANDI PERITISSIMÆ,
NON POTESTATE TANTUM SECULARI, SED RELIGIONIS PROFESSIONE SUBLIMIS,
TOTO ORBI CHRISTIANO SPECTABILIS,
ATQVE VESTIGIJS IN TRIPLICI VITÆ GRADU IMPERIO DIGNIS PASSIM RELICTIS
AB URBE, UBI SUORUM LACRYMIS DIRA LACCHESIS ARRIPUIT,
EXIMIA RAYNALDI I. REGNANTIS PIETATE HUC RESTITUTÆ IACENT
MONIALES VISITATIONIS S. MARIÆ, UT IN EARUM CORDIBUS PERPETUO VIVAT
QUÆ EARUMDEM MUNIFICENTISSIMÆ FUNDATRICIS, MATRISQ. AMOROSISSIMÆ
NOMEN MERITO VINDICAVIT.
M. H. P.
A.D.CI)I)CCIX.

Monument to Duchess Laura of Modena
Monument to Duchess Laura of Modena

The funerary chapel was built in 1836 by Duke Francis IV of Modena (husband of Queen Mary III and II) for the mortal remains of his family and those of the Este dukes of Modena. Here are located the tombs of Queen Mary III and II (died 1840), her husband Duke Francis IV of Modena (died 1846), her younger son Prince Ferdinand (died 1849), and her granddaughter (only daughter of King Francis I) Princess Anna (died 1849).

Cappella Funebre
Cappella Funebre

The tomb of Queen Mary III and II is marked with the following Latin inscription:

A  ·    ·  Ω
HEIC · CONDITA · IACET
MARIA · BEATRIX · VICTORIA · SABAVDICA
VICTORII · EMANVELIS · REGIS · SARDINIAE
ET · MARIAE · THERESIAE · ATEST · ARCHIDVC · AVSTR · FILIA
QVAE
XII · KAL · IVLIAS · ANNO · M · DCCC · XII
FRANCISCO · IIII · ATESTINO · ARCHID · AVSTR ·
PRINCIPI · REGIO · HVNGARIAE · ET · BOHEMIAE
AVITVM · DEIN · DVCATVM · MVT · REG · MIRAND ·
IDIBVS · IVLIIS · ANNO · M · DCCC · XIIII · INDEPTO · FELICITER · NVPTA
ANNOS · XXVIII · CVM · EO · CONCORDISSIME · FECIT · EVNDEMQVE · FILIIS · QVATVOR · AVXIT
INTEGRA · PIA · BENIGNA · PRVDENS · MAGNANIMA
VIXIT · ANNOS · XXXXVII · M · VIIII · D · VIIII · TANTVM
DIVTINI · VIM · MORBI · STRENVE · PERPESSA
LUCTVS · ET · MOEROR · PVBLICVS · REGIO · IN · PRAETORIO · CATTAI
SANCTE · DEC · XVII · KAL · OCTOBR · ANN · M · DCCC · XXXX
XIII · KAL · EASDEM · ELATA · RITE · COMPOSITA · EST

Tomb of Queen Mary III and II
Tomb of Queen Mary III and II

The tomb of Duke Francis IV of Modena (husband of Queen Mary III and II) is marked with the following Latin inscription:

HEIC · SITVS · EST
FRANCISCVS · IIII · ARCHID · AVSTR ·
PRINCEPS · REG · HVNGARIAE · ET · BOHEMIAE
DVX · MVTINENS · REGIENS · MIRAND · MASS · CARRAR ·
FILIVS · FERDINANDI · ARCHID · AVSTR · ET · MARIAE · BEATRICIS · ATEST ·
RESTITVTOR · ATESTINAE · PROSAPIE
QVI
AVITAE · DITIONIS · IVRA · VII · IDVS · FEBRVARIAS · POSTLIMINIO · INDEPTVS
EANDEM · IDIB · IVL · RECIPERATAM · ANNOS · XXXI · MENS · VI · DIES · VI
SVMMA · SAPIENTIA · ET · FORTITVDINE · REXIT
PRINCEPS · RELIGIONE · OMNIQVE · VIRTVTE · IN · AEVVM · COMMEMERANDVS
VIXIT · ANNOS · LXVI · M · III · D · XV · TANTVM
SANCTE · DECESSIT · MVTINAE · XII · KAL · FEBR · ANN · M · DCCC · XLVI
EXSVVIAE · EIVS · VII · KAL · EASDEM · HVC · INLATAE
AD · LOCVLVM · REGIAE · CONIVGIS · MARIAE · BEATRICIS · SABAVDAE
RITE · COMPOSITAE · ADQVIESCVNT

Tomb of Duke Francis IV of Modena
Tomb of Duke Francis IV of Modena

The tomb of Prince Ferdinand (younger son of Queen Mary III and II) is marked with the following Latin inscription:

A  ·    ·  Ω
HEIC · SITVS · EST
FERDINANDVS · KAROLVS · VICTORIVS
AVSTRIACVS · ATESTINVS
ARCHIDVX · AVSTR · PRINCEPS · REG · HVNGAR · ET · BOHEM ·
FILIVS · FRANCISCI · IV · ATEST · ARCHID · AVSTR · DVCIS · MVTIN ·
ET · MARIAE · BEATRICIS · VICTORIAE · SABAVDICAE
DVCTOR · ORDINVM · IN · EXERCITV · AVG · AVSTRIACO
TRIBVNVS · LEGIONIS · XXVI · AVG · AVSTR · CVI · AB · IPSO · NOMEN · FACTVM
TRIBVNVS · VELITVM · ATESTINORVM · PER · PROVINC · FRINIAN ·
EQVES · VELLERE · AVREO · AVSTR · EQVES · AQVILA · NIGRA · BORVSSICA
QVI
CVM · RELIGIONE · IN · DEVM · EXIMIA · ADFECTV · IN · SVOS · MIRIFICO
BENIGNITATE · IN · OMNES · CALAMITOSOS · IN · PRIMIS · ET · EGENOS · INSIGNI
ATQVE · REI · BELLICAE · SCIENTIA · ET · VSV · APPRIME · FLORERET
ET · PER · DIFFICILLIMA · TEMPORA · AVGVSTAE · DOMVI · AVSTRIACAE ·
FIDEM · VIRTVTEMQVE · PROBASSET · SVAM
TYPHOIDE · FEBRI
DVM · PIETATIS · ET · OFFICII · MVNIA · VITAE · PRAEPONENS · SVAE
NOSOCOMIA · MILITARIA · SOLLERS · INVISIT · CONTRACTA ·
SANCTE · DECESSIT · BRVNII · IN · MORAVIA
XVIII · KAL · IANVAR · AN · M · DCCC · XLIX · ANNOS · NATVS · XXVIII · MENS · IV · DIES · XXVI · TANTVM
SVSCEPTA · FILIOLA · MARIA · THERESIA · DOROTHEA · HENRICILLA · QVINQVEMESTRI
EX · ELISABETHA · FRANCISCA · MARIA · FILIA · JOSEPHI · ANTONII · ARCHID · AVSTR · PALAT ·
VXORE · QVAM · IV · NONAS · OCTOBR · ANN · M · DCCC · XLVII · DVXERAT
MORTALES · EIVS · EXSVVAE · BRVNNIO · MVTINAM · ADVECTAE · VI · KAL · IANVARIAS
HEIC · AD · PARENTVM · CINERES · VTI · PRAEOPTAVIT
CVRA · FRATRIS · EIVS · FRANCISCI · V · D · N ·
RITE · DEPOSITAE · QVIESCVNT

Tomb of Prince Ferdinand
Tomb of Prince Ferdinand

The tomb of Princess Anna (only daughter of King Francis I) is marked with the following Latin inscription:

A      Ω
OSSA · HIC · IACENT
ANNAE · BEATRICIS · THERESIAE · MARIAE
FILIAE · PRIMOGENITAE
FRANCISCI · V · AVSTRIACI · ATESTINI
PRINCIPIS · REGII · HVNGARIAE · ET · BOHEMIAE
ET · ADELGVNDAE · AVGUSTAE · KAROLINAE
PRINCIPIS · REGIAE · BAVARIAE
ARCIDVCUM · AVSTRIAE
DVCVM · MVT · REG · MIR · CARR · VAST ·
QVAE
MATRE · A · FINIBVS · DITIONIS · SVAE · OB · ITALICI · BELLI · TVMVLTVS · EXTORRE
NATA · EST · GRIESII · AD · BOLZANVM
XIV · KAL · NOVEMBR · ANN · MDCCCXLVIII · HORA · A · MERIDIE · SEPTIMA
MVTINAM · DELATA · POSTRID · KAL · IVN · ANN · MDCCCXLIX
CVM · INTEGRA · FRVENS · VALETVDINE · FAVSTE · SVCCRESCERET
VIII · IDVS · IVLIAS · ANNI · SVPRASCRIPTI · HORA · A · MEDIA · NOCTE · SECVNDA
REPENTINA · MORBI · VI · ABREPTA · ANGELIS · ADDITA · EST
PARVVLAE · EIVS · EXSVVIAE · V · IDVS · EASDEM · RITE · HVC · INLATAE · SVNT

Tomb of Princess Anna
Tomb of Princess Anna

Also buried here are the parents of Queen Mary Beatrice (wife of King James II and VII): Duke Alfonso IV of Modena (died 1662) and his wife Duchess Laura Martinozzi (died 1687; her remains were moved here in 1925 from the former convent of the Salesians).

In his will King Francis I left a bequest to the Church for five masses to be said for his soul each year. 5

Notes

1 Patrizia Belloi and Elis Colombini, Guida di Modena: manuale per l'uso storico artistico della città utile al modenese e al viaggiatore (Modena: Elis Colombini, 1992), http://www.colombinieditore.it/GdM/GdM.html.

2 Luigi Mainoni was born in Scandiano in 1804 and died in Modena in 1853. For over twenty years he was professor of sculpture at the Accademia Atestina di Belle Arti in Modena.

3 The text of this inscription and of the others in the Chiesa di San Vincenzo is taken from Alois Jahn, Die Grabstätten der Habsburger und der mit Ihnen Verwandten Häuser ausserhalb Österreichs, Das Haus Habsburg, Band II, Teil 3 (Privately printed, 2001).

4 Paolo Aleotti was born in 1813, and died in 1881.

5 Teodoro Bayard De Volo, Vita di Francesco V, Duca di Modena (l8l9-l875) (Modena : Tipografia dell' Imaculata Concezione, 1878).

Image 1 (Monument to Queen Mary III and II): © Noel S. McFerran 2004.

Image 2 (Monument to Prince Ferdinand): © Noel S. McFerran 2004.

Image 3 (Monument to Duchess Laura of Modena): © Noel S. McFerran 2004.

Image 4 (Cappella Funebre): unknown source.

Image 5 (Tomb of Queen Mary III and II): © Noel S. McFerran 2004.

Image 6 (Tomb of Duke Francis IV of Modena): © Noel S. McFerran 2004.

Image 7 (Tomb of Prince Ferdinand): © Noel S. McFerran 2004.

Image 8 (Tomb of Princess Anna): © Noel S. McFerran 2004.


This page is maintained by Noel S. McFerran (noel.mcferran@rogers.com) and was last updated September 2, 2008.
© Noel S. McFerran 2003-2008.