 In 984, Ferrara was given as a fief to Tedaldo, count of Modena and Canossa, nephew of Emperor Otto I. Ferrara afterwards became independent, but in 1101 was besieged and taken by Matilda of Tuscany.At this time it was mainly dominated by several great families, among them the prominent Adelardi (or Aleardi) family.In 1146, Guglielmo II of Adelardi, the last of the House of Adelardi, died, and his property passed, as the dowry of his niece "the Marchesella", to Obizzo I of Este.