Margaret Palaeologina
Encyclopedia
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. Margaret was the regent of Mantua as the guardian of her two sons from 1540 until 1556 in companionship with her brother-in-law.
to William IX of Montferrat and his wife Anne of Alençon
. Her mother was the third child of René
, Duke of Alençon and his second wife Margaret of Lorraine
, daughter of Frederick, Count of Vaudémont and Yolande of Anjou. Margaret's maternal grandfather died two days after the birth of Anne.
Margaret's paternal grandfather was Bonifacio III of Montferrat.
Margaret was the second of three children. Her elder sister was Maria Palaeologa and her brother was Boniface IV of Montferrat, who died when he was only eighteen years of age.
, who later became Marquis
and Duke
of Mantua
. The marriage contract was annulled, however, after Federico accused Maria of attempting to poison his mistress Isabella Boschetti
, wife of the Count of Calvisano
.
The death of their father rekindled Federico's interest in marrying Maria. But Maria died unexpectedly in September 1530. Federico's attentions turned to Margaret. Having weighed up the various proposals for Margaret's hand, Anne opted for the link with the House of Gonzaga
and the marriage was concluded in October 1531.
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
had wanted Federico to marry Guila of Aragon but the Gonzaga family refused the marriage.
On the death of her brother, Margaret became Marchioness of Montferrat in her own right, though it later merged with the Gonzaga inheritance.
The marriage lasted for nine years until Federico's death, at the age of 40. The couple's last child was born the year of his death. In total, Margaret and Federico had seven children:
and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary
. Margaret had her second son, Guglielmo married to Catherine's younger sister, Eleanor.
Francesco died one year after his marriage to Catherine in 1550, no children were born to their union.
Guglielmo then became Duke of Mantua. Margaret acted as his regent, with the help of her brother-in-law Ercole Gonzaga
.
Margaret lived to see three grandchildren, those of Guglielmo and Eleanor. After Margaret's death, five more grandchildren were born including Charles I, Duke of Mantua
.
Margaret died in Mantua
, 28 December 1566.
In 1574, Margaret's homeland of Montferrat
became part of the Duchy of Mantua, after the death of Margaret's brother. In Montferrat, Guglielmo was known as Guglielmo X.
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...
in her own right. She also married into the 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...
family, rulers of Mantua, making her Duchess of Mantua by her marriage to Federico II, Duke of Mantua. Margaret was the regent of Mantua as the guardian of her two sons from 1540 until 1556 in companionship with her brother-in-law.
Family
Margaret was born in CasaleCasale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato, population 36,058, is a town and comune in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy, part of the province of Alessandria. It is situated about 60 km east of Turin on the right bank of the Po, where the river runs at the foot of the Montferrato hills. Beyond the river lies the...
to William IX of Montferrat and his wife Anne of Alençon
Anne of Alençon
Anne d'Alençon , Lady of La Guerche, was a French noblewoman and a Marquise of Montferrat as the wife of William IX, Marquis of Montferrat...
. Her mother was the third child of René
René of Alençon
René of Alençon , was the son of John II of Alençon and Marie of Armagnac.-Restoration of title:...
, Duke of Alençon and his second wife Margaret of Lorraine
Margaret of Lorraine
Margaret of Lorraine was Duchess of Alençon, and a nun of the order of Poor Clares . She was beatified in 1921.-Marriage and children:...
, daughter of Frederick, Count of Vaudémont and Yolande of Anjou. Margaret's maternal grandfather died two days after the birth of Anne.
Margaret's paternal grandfather was Bonifacio III of Montferrat.
Margaret was the second of three children. Her elder sister was Maria Palaeologa and her brother was Boniface IV of Montferrat, who died when he was only eighteen years of age.
Marriage
In 1517, Margaret's elder sister, Maria, was betrothed to Federico II Gonzaga, son of Francesco II Gonzaga and Isabella d'EsteIsabella d'Este
Isabella d'Este was Marchesa of Mantua and one of the leading women of the Italian Renaissance as a major cultural and political figure. She was a patron of the arts as well as a leader of fashion, whose innovative style of dressing was copied by women throughout Italy and at the French court...
, who later became Marquis
Marquis
Marquis is a French and Scottish title of nobility. The English equivalent is Marquess, while in German, it is Markgraf.It may also refer to:Persons:...
and Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Mantua
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...
. The marriage contract was annulled, however, after Federico accused Maria of attempting to poison his mistress Isabella Boschetti
Isabella Boschetti
Isabella Boschetti or Boschetto was a Manutan noblewoman and lover of Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua. She was nicknamed 'La bella Boschetta' .-Life:...
, wife of the Count of Calvisano
Calvisano
Calvisano is a comune in the Italian province of Brescia, in Lombardy.It is the manufacturing base of Flyflot, the well known comfort shoe manufacturers.Agritech is a known fiberglass silos company....
.
The death of their father rekindled Federico's interest in marrying Maria. But Maria died unexpectedly in September 1530. Federico's attentions turned to Margaret. Having weighed up the various proposals for Margaret's hand, Anne opted for the link with 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...
and the marriage was concluded in October 1531.
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
had wanted Federico to marry Guila of Aragon but the Gonzaga family refused the marriage.
On the death of her brother, Margaret became Marchioness of Montferrat in her own right, though it later merged with the Gonzaga inheritance.
The marriage lasted for nine years until Federico's death, at the age of 40. The couple's last child was born the year of his death. In total, Margaret and Federico had seven children:
- Eleonora Gonzaga.
- Anna Gonzaga.
- Francesco III Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua (March 10, 1533 - February 22, 1550).
- Isabella Gonzaga. Married Francesco Ferdinando d'ÁvalosFrancesco Ferdinando d'ÁvalosFrancesco Ferdinando d’Ávalos d'Aquino, 5th marquis of Pescara and of Vasto was commander in chief of the Spanish army in Lombardy and Piedmont, governor of the State of Milan and viceroy of Sicily ....
. - Guglielmo I of Gonzaga (April 24, 1538 - August 14, 1587). Married Archduchess Eleanor of Austria
- Louis Gonzaga, Duke of NeversLouis Gonzaga, Duke of NeversLouis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers was an Italian-French dignitary and diplomat in France. He was the third child of Frederick II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and Margaret Palaeologina.-Life account:...
(October 22, 1539 - October 23, 1595). Married Henriette of ClevesHenriette of ClevesHenriette 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...
, by whom he had issue, including 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:...
. - Federico, Cardinal Gonzaga (1540 - February 21, 1565).
Widowhood
On Federico's death, their eldest son, Francesco became Duke of Mantua. Francesco was still only a minor aged eight, Margaret acted as his regent. Margaret had her son married to Catherine, daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558 and king of Bohemia and Hungary from 1526 until his death. Before his accession, he ruled the Austrian hereditary lands of the Habsburgs in the name of his elder brother, Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.The key events during his reign were the contest...
and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary
Anna of Bohemia and Hungary
Anna of Bohemia and Hungary, also sometimes known as Anna Jagellonica was, by marriage to Ferdinand I, King of the Romans and later Holy Roman Emperor, Queen of the Romans.-Family:She was the elder child and only daughter of king Vladislaus II of Bohemia and Hungary and his third...
. Margaret had her second son, Guglielmo married to Catherine's younger sister, Eleanor.
Francesco died one year after his marriage to Catherine in 1550, no children were born to their union.
Guglielmo then became Duke of Mantua. Margaret acted as his regent, with the help of her brother-in-law Ercole Gonzaga
Ercole Gonzaga
Ercole Gonzaga was an Italian Cardinal.-Biography:Born in Mantua, he was the son of the Marquess Francesco Gonzaga, and nephew of Cardinal Sigismondo Gonzaga...
.
Margaret lived to see three grandchildren, those of Guglielmo and Eleanor. After Margaret's death, five more grandchildren were born including 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:...
.
Margaret died in Mantua
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...
, 28 December 1566.
In 1574, Margaret's homeland 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...
became part of the Duchy of Mantua, after the death of Margaret's brother. In Montferrat, Guglielmo was known as Guglielmo X.