he inherited the family lands from his father, obizzo ii, whom dante suggested in the "inferno" he had assassinated. the florentine poet cites him as half-son, but it is not clear if to stress azzo's bad acts or if he was truly illegitimate. the early part of his rule was spent in almost continuous warfare: war with padua at his accession and with parma and bologna in 1295–1299. he was accused of the assassination of the "podestà "of bologna, jacopo del cassero, who had opposed the este expansion plans.