Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers
Encyclopedia
Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers ( or Luigi di Gonzaga-Nevers) (September 18, 1539 – October 23, 1595) was an Italian
-French
dignitary and diplomat in France
. He was the third child of Frederick II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and Margaret Palaeologina
.
, at 10 he was sent to Paris
to inherit the assets left by his grandmother, Anne d'Alençon, widow of Marquess William IX of Montferrat
. He entered Henry II of France
's army and fought in the battle of St. Quentin (1557)
, where he was taken prisoner by the Spanish
.
On March 4, 1565 he married Henriette of Cleves
, heiress to the Duchies of Nevers and Rethel (titles which Louis carried thenceforth), and granddaughter of Charles de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme through her mother Marguerite of Bourbon-La Marche. Their son Charles
became duke of Mantua in 1627, establishing the Gonzaga-Nevers line.
Louis died at Nesle
in 1595.
He is considered by many historians as one of the courtiers most responsible for the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre
in 1572. In conspiracy theories, such as the one promoted in The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail
, Louis been alleged to be the fifteenth Grand Master of the Priory of Sion.
had five children:
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
-French
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...
dignitary and diplomat in 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 the third child of Frederick II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and Margaret Palaeologina
Margaret Palaeologina
Margaret Palaeologa was an Italian ruler; Marchioness of Montferrat in her own right. She also married into the Gonzaga family, rulers of Mantua, making her Duchess of Mantua by her marriage to Federico II, Duke of Mantua...
.
Life account
Born in MantuaMantua
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...
, at 10 he was sent to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
to inherit the assets left by his grandmother, Anne d'Alençon, widow of Marquess William IX of 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...
. He entered Henry II of France
Henry II of France
Henry II was King of France from 31 March 1547 until his death in 1559.-Early years:Henry was born in the royal Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, near Paris, the son of Francis I and Claude, Duchess of Brittany .His father was captured at the Battle of Pavia in 1525 by his sworn enemy,...
's army and fought in the battle of St. Quentin (1557)
Battle of St. Quentin (1557)
The Battle of Saint-Quentin of 1557 was fought during the Franco-Habsburg War . The Spanish, who had regained the support of the English, won a significant victory over the French at Saint-Quentin, in northern France.- Battle :...
, where he was taken prisoner by the Spanish
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...
.
On March 4, 1565 he married Henriette of Cleves
Henriette of Cleves
Henriette of Cleves, Duchess of Nevers and Duchess of Rethel was a French noblewoman and heiress of the Cleves-Nevers family. She was also known as Henriette de La Marck...
, heiress to the Duchies of Nevers and Rethel (titles which Louis carried thenceforth), and granddaughter of Charles de Bourbon, Duke of Vendôme through her mother Marguerite of Bourbon-La Marche. Their son Charles
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 duke of Mantua in 1627, establishing the Gonzaga-Nevers line.
Louis died at Nesle
Nesle
Nesle is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:Nesle is situated at the junction of the D930 and D337 roads, some southwest of Saint-Quentin. The Ingon, a small stream, passes through the commune.-Population:...
in 1595.
He is considered by many historians as one of the courtiers most responsible for the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre
St. Bartholomew's Day massacre
The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre in 1572 was a targeted group of assassinations, followed by a wave of Roman Catholic mob violence, both directed against the Huguenots , during the French Wars of Religion...
in 1572. In conspiracy theories, such as the one promoted in The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail
The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail
The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail is a book by Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln....
, Louis been alleged to be the fifteenth Grand Master of the Priory of Sion.
Children
He and his wife Henriette of ClevesHenriette of Cleves
Henriette of Cleves, Duchess of Nevers and Duchess of Rethel was a French noblewoman and heiress of the Cleves-Nevers family. She was also known as Henriette de La Marck...
had five children:
- Catherine Gonzaga (21 January 1568 - 1 December 1629. Married Henry I, Duke of Longueville.
- Maria Henrietta Gonzaga (3 September 1571 - 3 August 1614). Married Henry of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne.
- Frederick Gonzaga (11 March 1573 - 22 April 1574).
- Francis Gonzaga (17 September 1576 - 13 June 1580).
- Charles I, Duke of MantuaCharles I, Duke of MantuaCharles 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:...
(6 May 1580 - 20 September 1637).