Charles III, Duke of Mantua
Encyclopedia
Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat (October 3, 1629 – August 14, 1665) was the son of Charles of Gonzaga-Nevers (+ 1631) of Rethel, Nevers, Mantua
and Montferrat
and Maria Gonzaga
. He followed his grandfather Charles I, Duke of Mantua
in 1637 as rulers of these lands, the first 10 years under regency of his mother Maria Gonzaga.
He sold the Duchies of Nevers and Rethel in 1659 to Cardinal Jules Mazarin, the factual Regent of France, and they became part of France
. He was born Charles Gonzaga.
Charles II married on November 7, 1649 Isabella Clara of Austria (August 12, 1629 – February 24, 1665), a daughter of Leopold V, Archduke of Austria
, and thus into the imperial family.
The marriage was an act of diplomacy and they had only one child, his successor Ferdinand Charles, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat (1652–1708). The relationship between husband and wife effectively ended, and Charles continued a relationship with a noblewoman Margherita della Rovere, and also had affairs with men including the castrato
Atto Melani
. In his book "The Last Medici" Harold Acton records that his death occurred in the midst of lascivious intercourse (page 84)
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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...
and Montferrat
Montferrat
Montferrat is part of the region of Piedmont in Northern Italy. It comprises roughly the modern provinces of Alessandria and Asti. Montferrat is one of the most important wine districts of Italy...
and Maria Gonzaga
Maria Gonzaga
Maria Gonzaga or Maria of Mantua was an Italian princess of the House of Gonzaga, and regent of Mantua.-Biography:...
. He followed his grandfather Charles I, Duke of Mantua
Charles I, Duke of Mantua
Charles Gonzaga was Duke of Mantua and Duke of Montferrat from 1627 until his death. He was also Duke of Rethel and Nevers, as well as Prince of Arches.-Biography:...
in 1637 as rulers of these lands, the first 10 years under regency of his mother Maria Gonzaga.
He sold the Duchies of Nevers and Rethel in 1659 to Cardinal Jules Mazarin, the factual Regent of France, and they became part of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He was born Charles Gonzaga.
Charles II married on November 7, 1649 Isabella Clara of Austria (August 12, 1629 – February 24, 1665), a 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 thus into the imperial family.
The marriage was an act of diplomacy and they had only one child, his successor Ferdinand Charles, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat (1652–1708). The relationship between husband and wife effectively ended, and Charles continued a relationship with a noblewoman Margherita della Rovere, and also had affairs with men including the castrato
Castrato
A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty or one who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity.Castration before puberty prevents a boy's...
Atto Melani
Atto Melani
Atto Melani was a famous Italian castrato opera singer, also employed as a diplomat and a spy.-Life:...
. In his book "The Last Medici" Harold Acton records that his death occurred in the midst of lascivious intercourse (page 84)
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