In 1552 Adriano Thiene died in France and thereafter, when Marcantonio’s son Giulio became Marchese of Scandiano, family interests gradually shifted to Ferrara.
Poet Matteo Maria Boiardo, whose family ruled Scandiano in the fifteenth century;
Leonora Sanvitale (Contessa di Scandiano) (c. 1558–1582) was a noblewoman and singer at the Este court at Ferrara, and along with her stepmother Barbara Sanseverino, was among the most "brilliant" noblewomen at the court.
Boiardo was born at, or near, Scandiano (today's province of Reggio Emilia); the son of Giovanni di Feltrino and Lucia Strozzi, he was of noble lineage, ranking as Count of Scandiano, with seignorial power over Arceto, Casalgrande, Gesso, and Torricella.