Azzo Correggio

Azzo Correggio was an Italian noble who, in 1341, recovered control of Parma. He was a friend of the poet Petrarch, who dedicated his work De remediis utriusque fortunae to him. Three years later, Azzo sold Parma to the Este family of Ferrara. The Correggio family were lords of Correggio, near Reggio Emilia, from the 11th to the 17th century. They were leaders of the Guelfs during the 13th century and dominated Parma's politics. Correggio itself was elevated to a countship in 1452 and a principality in 1616, before being ceded to the Este of Modena in 1634 due to the family's inability to pay a fine for minting counterfeit coins.1