Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua
Encyclopedia
Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga (1395 – 23 September 1444) was Marquess of Mantua from 1407 to 1444. He was also a condottiero.
and, indirectly, of the Republic of Venice
. In 1409 he married Paola Malatesta, daughter of Malatesta V Malatesta of Pesaro
, by whom he had a son, Ludovico
, who succeeded him as Marquess of Mantua. He was the first Gonzaga to bear the title of marquess, which he obtained by Emperor Sigismund
on September 22, 1433.
He fought for the Papal States
and the Malatesta
s in 1412 and 1417, respectively, and was capitano generale (commander-in-chief) of the Venetian Armies from 1432. Later he left the alliance with Venice and entered at the service of the Visconti
of Milan, starting an unsuccessful war against Venice which caused the lost of several Mantuan territories.
During his reign the famous humanist Vittorino da Feltre
was called in Mantua, as well as numerous artists like Pisanello
and others, starting the traditional role of the city as a capital of Italian Renaissance. He founded the first workshop in Italy for the manufacture of tapestries
.
Biography
Gianfrancesco inherited the rule of Mantua in 1407, when he was 12. In his first years he was under the patronage of his uncle Carlo MalatestaCarlo I Malatesta
Carlo I Malatesta was an Italian condottiero during the Wars in Lombardy and lord of Rimini, Fano, Cesena and Pesaro...
and, indirectly, of the 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...
. In 1409 he married Paola Malatesta, daughter of Malatesta V Malatesta of Pesaro
Pesaro
Pesaro is a town and comune in the Italian region of the Marche, capital of the Pesaro e Urbino province, on the Adriatic. According to the 2007 census, its population was 92,206....
, by whom he had a son, Ludovico
Ludovico
Ludovico is an Italian name given to males. It is sometimes spelled Lodovico.It may refer to:-In religion:* Ludovico Bertonio , Italian Jesuit missionary* Ludovico of Casoria , Italian Franciscan monk* Ludovico Donato Ludovico is an Italian name given to males. It is sometimes spelled Lodovico.It...
, who succeeded him as Marquess of Mantua. He was the first Gonzaga to bear the title of marquess, which he obtained by Emperor Sigismund
Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor
Sigismund of Luxemburg KG was King of Hungary, of Croatia from 1387 to 1437, of Bohemia from 1419, and Holy Roman Emperor for four years from 1433 until 1437, the last Emperor of the House of Luxemburg. He was also King of Italy from 1431, and of Germany from 1411...
on September 22, 1433.
He fought for the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
and the 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...
s in 1412 and 1417, respectively, and was capitano generale (commander-in-chief) of the Venetian Armies from 1432. Later he left the alliance with Venice and entered at the service of the Visconti
House of Visconti
Visconti is the family name of two important Italian noble dynasties of the Middle Ages. There are two distinct Visconti families: The first one in the Republic of Pisa in the mid twelfth century who achieved prominence first in Pisa, then in Sardinia where they became rulers of Gallura...
of Milan, starting an unsuccessful war against Venice which caused the lost of several Mantuan territories.
During his reign the famous humanist Vittorino da Feltre
Vittorino da Feltre
Vittorino da Feltre was an Italian humanist and teacher. He was born in Feltre, Belluno, Republic of Venice and died in Mantua. His real name was Vittorino Ramboldini....
was called in Mantua, as well as numerous artists like Pisanello
Pisanello
Pisanello , known professionally as Antonio di Puccio Pisano or Antonio di Puccio da Cereto, also erroneously called Vittore Pisano by Giorgio Vasari, was one of the most distinguished painters of the early Italian Renaissance and Quattrocento...
and others, starting the traditional role of the city as a capital of Italian Renaissance. He founded the first workshop in Italy for the manufacture of tapestries
Tapestry
Tapestry is a form of textile art, traditionally woven on a vertical loom, however it can also be woven on a floor loom as well. It is composed of two sets of interlaced threads, those running parallel to the length and those parallel to the width ; the warp threads are set up under tension on a...
.
See also
- Wars in LombardyWars in LombardyThe wars in Lombardy were a series of conflicts fought in central-northern Italy between the Republic of Venice and the Duchy of Milan, and their different allies. They lasted from 1425 until the signing of the Treaty of Lodi in 1454...