Archduchess Isabella Clara of Austria
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Isabella Clara Eugenia, sovereign of the Netherlands.
Isabella Clara of Austria (12 August 1629 – 24 February 1685) was the eldest surviving daughter of Leopold V, Archduke of Austria
and his wife Claudia de' Medici
. She was a member of the House of Habsburg and was an Archduchess of Austria.
and Maria Leopoldine of Austria
, wife of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
.
Her paternal grandparents were Charles II of Austria and his wife and niece Maria Anna of Bavaria. Her maternal grandparents were Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
and his wife Christina of Lorraine.
(Mantova, 31 October 1629 - 14 August 1665), became Duke of Mantua and Monferrato in 1637. The marriage between the two was to create an alliance between the Gonzaga
and Habsburg
families. As well as the marriage of Isabella and Charles, Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
married Charles' cousin Eleonora Gonzaga.
In response to this important alliance, Charles was able to remove the French from Casale
, then agreed with Louis XIV of France
that the Monferrato should not be controlled by Spain
but would remain with the Gonzaga family.
Charles kept a lover, Margaret Oak and sometimes neglected Isabella. They had one son, Charles IV, Duke of Mantua
(31 August 1652 – 5 July 1708).
Charles reached full power in 1670 and a year later, on the advice of his mother, he married Anna Isabella Gonzaga
of the Guastalla
branch.
Isabella retired to private life in the palace Goito
, subsequently, by order of the emperor on 16 December 1671, entered a convent where she remained throughout the rest of her life. Isabella died in 1685.
Isabella Clara of Austria (12 August 1629 – 24 February 1685) was the eldest surviving daughter of Leopold V, Archduke of Austria
Leopold V, Archduke of Austria
Leopold V, Archduke of Further Austria was the son of Archduke Archduke Charles II of Inner Austria, and the younger brother of Emperor Ferdinand II, father of Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Further Austria...
and his wife Claudia de' Medici
Claudia de' Medici
Claudia de' Medici was a daughter of Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany and Christina of Lorraine...
. She was a member of the House of Habsburg and was an Archduchess of Austria.
Family
Isabella was the third of five siblings. Her siblings included: Ferdinand Charles, Archduke of Further Austria, Archduke Sigismund Francis of AustriaArchduke Sigismund Francis of Austria
Sigismund Francis, Archduke of Further Austria was the ruler of Further Austria including Tyrol from 1662 to 1665.-Biography:...
and Maria Leopoldine of Austria
Maria Leopoldine of Austria
Maria Leopoldine was Holy Roman Empress as the spouse of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor.-Biography:...
, wife of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
.
Her paternal grandparents were Charles II of Austria and his wife and niece Maria Anna of Bavaria. Her maternal grandparents were Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Ferdinando I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1587 to 1609, having succeeded his older brother Francesco I.-Biography:...
and his wife Christina of Lorraine.
Marriage
Isabella married on 7 November 1649 to Charles III, Duke of MantuaCharles III, Duke of Mantua
Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat was the son of Charles of Gonzaga-Nevers of Rethel, Nevers, Mantua and Montferrat and Maria Gonzaga...
(Mantova, 31 October 1629 - 14 August 1665), became Duke of Mantua and Monferrato in 1637. The marriage between the two was to create an alliance between the Gonzaga
House of Gonzaga
The Gonzaga family ruled Mantua in Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708.-History:In 1433, Gianfrancesco I assumed the title of Marquis of Mantua, and in 1530 Federico II received the title of Duke of Mantua. In 1531, the family acquired the Duchy of Monferrato through marriage...
and Habsburg
Habsburg
The House of Habsburg , also found as Hapsburg, and also known as House of Austria is one of the most important royal houses of Europe and is best known for being an origin of all of the formally elected Holy Roman Emperors between 1438 and 1740, as well as rulers of the Austrian Empire and...
families. As well as the marriage of Isabella and Charles, Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
married Charles' cousin Eleonora Gonzaga.
In response to this important alliance, Charles was able to remove the French from Casale
Casale
Casale, Italian from the late Latin casalis for an isolated house, or group of houses, in the countryside, may refer to:-People:*Gerald Casale musician*Giovanni Casale , an Italian judoka*Giuseppe Casale Italian bishop...
, then agreed with Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
that the Monferrato should not be controlled by Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
but would remain with the Gonzaga family.
Charles kept a lover, Margaret Oak and sometimes neglected Isabella. They had one son, Charles IV, Duke of Mantua
Charles IV, Duke of Mantua
Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga was the only child of Duke Charles II of Mantua and Montferrat, and the last ruler of the Duchy of Mantua of the House of Gonzaga.-Biography:...
(31 August 1652 – 5 July 1708).
Widowhood
Charles III, suddenly died on 14 August 1665. Isabella assumed the regency on behalf of thirteen-year-old son, assisted in the affairs of government by Count Charles Bulgarini, a noble of Jewish origins of whom Isabella had long had an amorous relationship.Charles reached full power in 1670 and a year later, on the advice of his mother, he married Anna Isabella Gonzaga
Anna Isabella Gonzaga
Anna Isabella Gonzaga , was a Duchess consort of Mantua and Montferrat and heir of the Duchy of Guastalla and Luzzara Reggiolo; married in 1671 to Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat...
of the Guastalla
Guastalla
Guastalla is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.-Geography:Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River...
branch.
Isabella retired to private life in the palace Goito
Goito
Goito is a comune of Lombardy, Italy, in the Province of Mantua, from which it is some 20 km, on the road to Brescia. It is situated on the right bank of the Mincio River near the bridge.-History:...
, subsequently, by order of the emperor on 16 December 1671, entered a convent where she remained throughout the rest of her life. Isabella died in 1685.