Carlo Gonzaga of Milan
Encyclopedia
Carlo Gonzaga Lord of Sabbioneta
, was an Italian Guelph
nobleman of the Mantua
n House of Gonzaga
who rose to the position of Captain of the People in the Ambrosian Republic
of Milan
, and eventually ruled practically as an autocrat. He was the younger son of Gianfrancesco Gonzaga and Paola Malatesta
, as well as a friend of the humanist writer Francesco Filelfo
. His brother was the famous Ludovico II Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, and became a rival of his for Mantua and in the field of battle.
Carlo Gonzaga was born in Mantua
. He married twice, first to Lucia d'Este, daughter of Niccolò III d'Este
, who died childless, and then to Ringarda Manfredi, who gave him three daughters and a son.
After the death of his father in 1444 Ludovico became Marquis and removed all authority from Carlo. He went to Venice
and fought in her service against the Ambrosian Republic
until he defected with Francesco Sforza in 1447. He was appointed Captain of the People in November of that year. He eventually counseled Giovanni Appiano and Giovanni Ossona, the leaders of the Guelphs, in their term in leadership, becoming so powerful that he was raised in all but name to the status of a dictator. He had a lavish house and started replacing men in government to those in his favor. A Ghibelline conspiracy rose against him and his government, but he shattered it, and his Guelph underlings massacred many Ghibellines.
Gonzaga made attempts for peace first with Republic of Venice
, then with Francesco Sforza, offering the latter the city of Crema. Gonzaga was thrown into jail at first, but shortly after pardoned with many other Guelphs, and made head of a temporary government until the coronation of Sforza. Later, furious at Sforza for making an alliance with Ludovico, he plotted with Guglielmo of Montferrat in 1450 and was thrown into the Pavian prison. He was released when he conceded to give up his war spoils, Alessandria
and Tortona
.
Despite his fall from favor, he was hired by Sforza to fight the Venetian forces under his brother. He was defeated in 1453 at Goito
, but nevertheless with the Treaty of Lodi
in 1454 Ludovico was forced to give back all he stole from Carlo. Later he was made Lord of Sabbioneta
by Sforza. He died heirless, his only son presumably having fallen prey to death in years previous, and his lands passed to his brother Ludovico Gonzaga.
Sabbioneta
Sabbioneta is a town and comune in the province of Mantua, Lombardy region, northern Italy. It is situated about 30 km north of Parma, not far from the northern bank of the Po River...
, was an Italian Guelph
Guelph
Guelph is a city in Ontario, Canada.Guelph may also refer to:* Guelph , consisting of the City of Guelph, Ontario* Guelph , as the above* University of Guelph, in the same city...
nobleman of the Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
n House of 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...
who rose to the position of Captain of the People in the Ambrosian Republic
Ambrosian Republic
The Golden Ambrosian Republic was a short-lived government founded in Milan by members of the University of Pavia with popular support...
of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, and eventually ruled practically as an autocrat. He was the younger son of Gianfrancesco Gonzaga and Paola Malatesta
House of Malatesta
The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as other lands and towns in Romagna.Malatesta da Verucchio The House of Malatesta was an Italian family that ruled over Rimini from 1295 until 1500, as well as (in different periods) other lands and...
, as well as a friend of the humanist writer Francesco Filelfo
Francesco Filelfo
Francesco Filelfo was an Italian Renaissance humanist.-Biography:Filelfo was born at Tolentino, in the March of Ancona. He is believed to be a third cousin of Leonardo Da Vinci. At the time of his birth, Petrarch and the students of Florence had already brought the first act in the recovery of...
. His brother was the famous Ludovico II Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, and became a rival of his for Mantua and in the field of battle.
Carlo Gonzaga was born in Mantua
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
. He married twice, first to Lucia d'Este, daughter of Niccolò III d'Este
Niccolò III d'Este
Niccolò III d'Este was Marquess of Ferrara from 1393 until his death. He was also a condottiero.-Biography:...
, who died childless, and then to Ringarda Manfredi, who gave him three daughters and a son.
After the death of his father in 1444 Ludovico became Marquis and removed all authority from Carlo. He went to Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
and fought in her service against the Ambrosian Republic
Ambrosian Republic
The Golden Ambrosian Republic was a short-lived government founded in Milan by members of the University of Pavia with popular support...
until he defected with Francesco Sforza in 1447. He was appointed Captain of the People in November of that year. He eventually counseled Giovanni Appiano and Giovanni Ossona, the leaders of the Guelphs, in their term in leadership, becoming so powerful that he was raised in all but name to the status of a dictator. He had a lavish house and started replacing men in government to those in his favor. A Ghibelline conspiracy rose against him and his government, but he shattered it, and his Guelph underlings massacred many Ghibellines.
Gonzaga made attempts for peace first with Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
, then with Francesco Sforza, offering the latter the city of Crema. Gonzaga was thrown into jail at first, but shortly after pardoned with many other Guelphs, and made head of a temporary government until the coronation of Sforza. Later, furious at Sforza for making an alliance with Ludovico, he plotted with Guglielmo of Montferrat in 1450 and was thrown into the Pavian prison. He was released when he conceded to give up his war spoils, Alessandria
Alessandria
-Monuments:* The Citadel * The church of Santa Maria di Castello * The church of Santa Maria del Carmine * Palazzo Ghilini * Università del Piemonte Orientale-Museums:* The Marengo Battle Museum...
and Tortona
Tortona
Tortona is a comune of Piemonte, in the Province of Alessandria, Italy. Tortona is sited on the right bank of the Scrivia between the plain of Marengo and the foothills of the Ligurian Apennines.-History:...
.
Despite his fall from favor, he was hired by Sforza to fight the Venetian forces under his brother. He was defeated in 1453 at 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:...
, but nevertheless with the Treaty of Lodi
Treaty of Lodi
The Treaty of Lodi, also known as the Peace of Lodi was a peace agreement between Milan, Naples, and Florence signed on April 9, 1454 at Lodi in Lombardy, on the banks of the Adda...
in 1454 Ludovico was forced to give back all he stole from Carlo. Later he was made Lord of Sabbioneta
Sabbioneta
Sabbioneta is a town and comune in the province of Mantua, Lombardy region, northern Italy. It is situated about 30 km north of Parma, not far from the northern bank of the Po River...
by Sforza. He died heirless, his only son presumably having fallen prey to death in years previous, and his lands passed to his brother Ludovico Gonzaga.