Ferrante II Gonzaga
Encyclopedia
Ferrante II Gonzaga was Count of Guastalla and since 1621 Duke of Guastalla.
He was the son of Cesare I Gonzaga
, Count of Guastalla and Duke of Amalfi and Camilla Borromeo. He succeeded his father in 1575. On July 2, 1621 Guastalla was promoted to Duchy.
Ferrante played a part in the War of the Mantuan Succession
when, as a distant Gonzaga cousin, he claimed the Duchy of Mantua
after the extinction of the direct male line of the House of Gonzaga
in December 1627. He was nominally supported by Habsburg Emperor Ferdinand II, who really sought to re-attach the Duchy of Mantua to the Holy Roman Empire. His attempt failed as the French candidate Charles of Nevers
became the new Duke.
Ferrante II married Vittoria Doria (1569–1618), and had 3 children :
He was the son of Cesare I Gonzaga
Cesare I Gonzaga
Cesare I Gonzaga was count of Guastalla from 1557 until his death. He was a member of the House of Gonzaga, the first-born son of the imperial condottiero Ferrante Gonzaga and Isabella di Capua. From the latter he inherited also the title of Count of Amalfi. He was also Duke of Ariano and Prince...
, Count of Guastalla and Duke of Amalfi and Camilla Borromeo. He succeeded his father in 1575. On July 2, 1621 Guastalla was promoted to Duchy.
Ferrante played a part in the War of the Mantuan Succession
War of the Mantuan Succession
The War of the Mantuan Succession was a peripheral part of the Thirty Years' War. Its casus belli was the extinction of the direct male line of the House of Gonzaga in December 1627. Brothers Francesco IV , Ferdinando and Vincenzo II , the last three dukes of Gonzaga, had all died leaving no...
when, as a distant Gonzaga cousin, he claimed the Duchy of Mantua
Duchy of Mantua
The Duchy of Mantua was a duchy in Lombardy, Northern Italy, subject to the Holy Roman Empire.-History:After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Mantua was invaded by Byzantines, Longobards and Franks. In the 11th century it became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Toscana...
after the extinction of the direct male line of the 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...
in December 1627. He was nominally supported by Habsburg Emperor Ferdinand II, who really sought to re-attach the Duchy of Mantua to the Holy Roman Empire. His attempt failed as the French candidate Charles of Nevers
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:...
became the new Duke.
Ferrante II married Vittoria Doria (1569–1618), and had 3 children :
- Cesare II GonzagaCesare II GonzagaCesare II Gonzaga was Duke of Guastalla.He was the son of Ferrante II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla and Duke of Amalfi and of Vittoria Doria.He succeeded his father in 1630, but died 2 years later....
(1592–1632), next Duke of Guastalla, married Isabella Orsini - Vincenzo Gonzaga (1602–1697) Viceroy of Sicily (1677–1678)
- Andrea Gonzaga, Count of San Paolo (died 1686), father of Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla (1692–1714).