Ludwika Maria Gonzaga
Encyclopedia
Marie Louise Gonzaga was queen consort
to two Polish kings: Władysław IV Vasa
, and John II Casimir Vasa. She was born in Paris
(or Nevers
) to Charles I, Duke of Mantua
, and Catherine of Guise.
, in 1627, but King Louis XIII of France
opposed the marriage and subsequently imprisoned her in the Vincennes fortress
and later in a convent
.
The first proposal that she marry the King of Poland, Władysław IV Vasa
, was made in 1634, but Władysław eventually married Cecilia Renata of Austria
.
In 1640, Marie Louise met Władysław's brother, John Casimir, and started her literary salon
in Paris.
Cecilia Renata died in 1644, and on 5 November 1645 Marie Louise married Władysław IV by proxy
, John Casimir representing his brother. She had to change her name from Marie Louise to Ludwika Maria in order for the marriage to take place, as in Poland the name Maria was at that time considered reserved only for Mary, mother of Jesus.
Marie Louise married Wladyslaw by proxy 4 November 1645. The proper wedding of Marie Louise and Władysław IV took place in Warsaw
on 10 March 1646. Two years later, on 20 May 1648, Marie Louise was widow
ed by the death of Władysław IV. John Casimir was eventually elected the next King of Poland, and married her on 30 May 1649.
Marie Louise was an active and energetic woman, with ambitious economic and political plans. The Polish nobility
were scandalized at the Queen's meddling into politics, nevertheless she played an instrumental role leading the Polish troops in repulsing the Swedish forces during the Deluge
. She wished to change the voting system of the Polish senate and grant the monarch more power.
She also founded the first Polish newspaper
, Merkuriusz Polski (The Polish Mercury, 1652), and the first Polish convent
of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary
(1654). She supported Tito Livio Burattini
, an Italian polymath (one of the first Egyptologists), who also designed "flying machines". He lived in Poland since the early 1650s. As a former salonist in France, she opened a literary salon in Poland, the first in the country. Rumours pointed her out as the mother of her successor as queen, Marysienka, through adultery, but there are no confirmation to these rumours.
She died in Warsaw
on 10 May 1667 and was buried in Kraków
at Wawel Cathedral
. Joh Casimir abdicated the Polish throne a year later.
Queen consort
A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king. A queen consort usually shares her husband's rank and holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles. Historically, queens consort do not share the king regnant's political and military powers. Most queens in history were queens consort...
to two Polish kings: Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa was a Polish and Swedish prince from the House of Vasa. He reigned as King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 8 November 1632 to his death in 1648....
, and John II Casimir Vasa. She was born in 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...
(or Nevers
Nevers
Nevers is a commune in – and the administrative capital of – the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne region in central France...
) to 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:...
, and Catherine of Guise.
Biography
After having spent her childhood with her mother, she was to have married Gaston, Duke of OrléansGaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston of France, , also known as Gaston d'Orléans, was the third son of King Henry IV of France and his wife Marie de Medici. As a son of the king, he was born a Fils de France. He later acquired the title Duke of Orléans, by which he was generally known during his adulthood...
, in 1627, but King Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
opposed the marriage and subsequently imprisoned her in the Vincennes fortress
Château de Vincennes
The Château de Vincennes is a massive 14th and 17th century French royal castle in the town of Vincennes, to the east of Paris, now a suburb of the metropolis.-History:...
and later in a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
.
The first proposal that she marry the King of Poland, Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa
Władysław IV Vasa was a Polish and Swedish prince from the House of Vasa. He reigned as King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 8 November 1632 to his death in 1648....
, was made in 1634, but Władysław eventually married Cecilia Renata of Austria
Cecilia Renata of Austria
Archduchess Cecilia Renata of Austria was Queen of Poland as consort to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth's King Władysław IV Vasa.-Biography:...
.
In 1640, Marie Louise met Władysław's brother, John Casimir, and started her literary salon
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
in Paris.
Cecilia Renata died in 1644, and on 5 November 1645 Marie Louise married Władysław IV by proxy
Proxy marriage
A proxy wedding or is a wedding in which the bride or groom is not physically present, usually being represented instead by another person...
, John Casimir representing his brother. She had to change her name from Marie Louise to Ludwika Maria in order for the marriage to take place, as in Poland the name Maria was at that time considered reserved only for Mary, mother of Jesus.
Marie Louise married Wladyslaw by proxy 4 November 1645. The proper wedding of Marie Louise and Władysław IV took place in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
on 10 March 1646. Two years later, on 20 May 1648, Marie Louise was widow
Widow
A widow is a woman whose spouse has died, while a widower is a man whose spouse has died. The state of having lost one's spouse to death is termed widowhood or occasionally viduity. The adjective form is widowed...
ed by the death of Władysław IV. John Casimir was eventually elected the next King of Poland, and married her on 30 May 1649.
Marie Louise was an active and energetic woman, with ambitious economic and political plans. The Polish nobility
Szlachta
The szlachta was a legally privileged noble class with origins in the Kingdom of Poland. It gained considerable institutional privileges during the 1333-1370 reign of Casimir the Great. In 1413, following a series of tentative personal unions between the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Kingdom of...
were scandalized at the Queen's meddling into politics, nevertheless she played an instrumental role leading the Polish troops in repulsing the Swedish forces during the Deluge
The Deluge (Polish history)
The term Deluge denotes a series of mid-17th century campaigns in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. In a wider sense it applies to the period between the Khmelnytsky Uprising of 1648 and the Truce of Andrusovo in 1667, thus comprising the Polish–Lithuanian theaters of the Russo-Polish and...
. She wished to change the voting system of the Polish senate and grant the monarch more power.
She also founded the first Polish newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
, Merkuriusz Polski (The Polish Mercury, 1652), and the first Polish convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary
Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary
The Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary or the Visitation Order is a Roman Catholic religious order for women. Members of the order are also known as Filles de Sainte-Marie, Visitandines, Salesian Sisters and, more commonly, Visitationists.- History of the order :The Order was founded in 1610 by...
(1654). She supported Tito Livio Burattini
Tito Livio Burattini
Tito Livio Burattini was an inventor, architect, Egyptologist, scientist, instrument-maker, traveller, engineer, and nobleman. He was born in Agordo, Italy, and studied in Padua and Venice...
, an Italian polymath (one of the first Egyptologists), who also designed "flying machines". He lived in Poland since the early 1650s. As a former salonist in France, she opened a literary salon in Poland, the first in the country. Rumours pointed her out as the mother of her successor as queen, Marysienka, through adultery, but there are no confirmation to these rumours.
She died in Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
on 10 May 1667 and was buried in Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
at Wawel Cathedral
Wawel Cathedral
The Wawel Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Stanisław and Vaclav, is a church located on Wawel Hill in Kraków–Poland's national sanctuary. It has a 1,000-year history and was the traditional coronation site of Polish monarchs. It is the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Kraków...
. Joh Casimir abdicated the Polish throne a year later.
Ancestry
See also
- Holy Cross ChurchHoly Cross Church, WarsawThe Church of the Holy Cross is a Roman Catholic house of worship in downtown Warsaw, Poland. Located on Krakowskie Przedmieście opposite the main Warsaw University campus, it is one of the most notable Baroque churches in Poland's capital....
- Kazimierzowski PalaceKazimierzowski PalaceThe Kazimierz Palace is a building in Warsaw, Poland, adjacent to the Royal Route, at Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28.Originally built in 1637-41, it was rebuilt in 1660 for King John II Casimir and again in 1765-68, by Domenico Merlini, for the Corps of Cadets established by King Stanisław August...
- Ujazdów CastleUjazdów CastleUjazdów Castle is a castle in the historic Ujazdów district, between Ujazdów Park and the Royal Baths Park , in Warsaw, Poland.-History:...
- Visitationist ChurchVisitationist ChurchChurch of St. Joseph of the Visitationists commonly known as the Visitationist Church is a Roman Catholic church in Warsaw, Poland, situated at Krakowskie Przedmieście 34...