Matilde d'Este

Matilde d'Este (7 February 1729 – 14 November 1803) was an Italian noblewoman and consort to King Pieter I of Brunant.

Matilde was born to Francesco III, Duke of Modena and his wife, having nine siblings. Matilde was engaged to marry King Pieter in 1748 following the death of his wife in 1744.

He and Matilde lived a happy enough marriage at first, but her inability to produce an heir soon kept them apart. She was unable to get pregnant until 1753, after which the child was a miscarriage. A number of false pregnancies ensued and after 1755 the couple would not sleep together. The couple's marriage was annulled in 1756, with (false) charges of unfaithfulness and unwillingness to bear child brought up as evidence.

Matilde retired to the countryside and lived in the companionship of a wealthy landowner until her death in 1803.