House of Este
In Late Antiquity, Este was devastated and reduced to a rural village because of barbarian invasions, especially that of Attila. It arose again only after the 10th century, when Azzo II d'Este built a castle there and named himself and his family after it, establishing the House of Este. The House of Este would hold the city until 1240, when it moved its capital to Ferrara. Este, meanwhile, was conquered twice by Ezzelino da Romano III, in 1238 and 1249. It was disputed during the 14th century by the Scaligeri, the Carraresi and the Visconti, until it surrendered spontaneously to Venice in 1405.