To everyone's disappointment, she took over the government in an authoritarian manner, fuelling various conspiracies and ridiculing the unsuspecting Duke, who did not succeed in rebelling against her until fifteen years later, but fell into the net of disloyal advisors who induced him to ally with Spain against France with disastrous results.

Alexander II, in his will, appointed his sister Brigida as regent for his young nephew until he reached the age of 18, excluding his three cadet sons Galeotto, Giovanni, and Ludovico.

Princess Brigida, however, immediately made herself unpopular: as a first act, at the suggestion of some Jesuits who were always close to her, she completely replaced the members of the courtly council, causing the people to be displeased by her arrogance and haughtiness.

The situation, however, became untenable and the regent, in order to calm the waters, withdrew to Venice, delegating powers to another daughter of Alessandro II, Isabella Pico, who manfully coped with the problems.

In 1702, the French uprising convinced the Princess Regent that it would be a good idea to repair to Ferrara, then back to Venice, with her niece Isabella, the silverware and precious possessions of the Pico della Mirandola family.

[1] She was buried in Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, on the left wall of the Blessed Luca Belludi chapel: an epigraph celebrating her virtues of virginity, prudence, erudition and virile character was dedicated to her.