Maria Gonzaga
Encyclopedia
Maria Gonzaga or Maria of Mantua (29 July 1609 – 14 August 1660) was an Italian
princess of the House of Gonzaga
, and regent of Mantua.
and Margaret of Savoy (1589–1655), daughter of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy
and Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain.
Her father died aged 26 in 1612 when she was only three years old, and was succeeded as Duke of Mantua by his two brothers, who had no issue. This made Maria and her husband Charles of Nevers
in 1627 successors to the two Duchies. Maria was already Duchess of Montferrat since 1612.
This led to the War of Mantuan Succession.
The outcome was that, after the death of her husband Charles in 1631, his father Charles
became the new Duke of Mantua until his death in 1637.
Maria and Charles had two children:
Maria exercised the regency
of Mantua on behalf of her son for ten years, until 1647.
She died in 1660, aged 51.
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...
princess 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...
, and regent of Mantua.
Biography
Maria was the eldest and only surviving child of Francesco IV Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and MontferratRulers of Montferrat
The Marquises and Dukes of Montferrat were the rulers of a territory in Piedmont south of the Po and east of Turin called Montferrat. The March of Montferrat was created by Berengar II of Italy in 950 during a redistribution of power in the northwest of his kingdom. It was originally named after...
and Margaret of Savoy (1589–1655), daughter of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy
Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy
Charles Emmanuel I , known as the Great, was the Duke of Savoy from 1580 to 1630...
and Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain.
Her father died aged 26 in 1612 when she was only three years old, and was succeeded as Duke of Mantua by his two brothers, who had no issue. This made Maria and her husband Charles of Nevers
Charles II Gonzaga
Charles II Gonzaga was the son of Charles I, Duke of Mantua and Catherine of Mayenne, he was the Duke of Nevers and Rethel.In 1627 he married his cousin Maria Gonzaga, inheritor to the Duchy of Mantua and the Marquisate of Montferrat...
in 1627 successors to the two Duchies. Maria was already Duchess of Montferrat since 1612.
This led to the War of Mantuan Succession.
The outcome was that, after the death of her husband Charles in 1631, his father 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 the new Duke of Mantua until his death in 1637.
Maria and Charles had two children:
- Charles Gonzaga (1629–1665) married Archduchess Isabella Clara of AustriaArchduchess Isabella Clara of AustriaNot to be confused with Isabella Clara Eugenia, sovereign of the Netherlands.Isabella Clara of Austria was the eldest surviving daughter of Leopold V, Archduke of Austria and his wife Claudia de' Medici. She was a member of the House of Habsburg and was an Archduchess of Austria.- Family :Isabella...
and had issue; - Eleanor Gonzaga (1630–1686), who married in 1651 Ferdinand III, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand III, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
and had issue.
Maria exercised the regency
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of Mantua on behalf of her son for ten years, until 1647.
She died in 1660, aged 51.
Ancestry
| Maria Gonzaga | Father: Francesco IV Gonzaga Francesco IV Gonzaga Francesco IV Gonzaga , was Duke of Mantua and Duke of Montferrat between 9 February and 22 December 1612.-Biography:Born in Mantua, he was the eldest son of Duke Vincenzo I and Eleonora de' Medici.... |
Paternal Grandfather: Vincenzo I Gonzaga |
Paternal Great-Grandfather: Guglielmo I Gonzaga |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Eleonora of Austria Eleonora of Austria Archduchess Eleanor of Austria was the daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary.-Family:... |
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| Paternal Grandmother: Eleonora de' Medici Eleonora de' Medici Eleonora de' Medici was the eldest child of Francesco I de' Medici and Johanna of Austria. She was a family member of the famous House of Medici.-Family:... |
Paternal Great-Grandfather: Francesco I de' Medici |
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| Paternal Great-Grandmother: Johanna of Austria Johanna of Austria Joanna of Austria was born an Archduchess of Austria as the youngest daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary. By marriage, she was the Grand Princess of Tuscany and later the Grand Duchess of Tuscany... |
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| Mother: Margaret of Savoy Margarida of Savoy, Vicereine of Portugal Margaret of Savoy, Duchess Consort of Mantua and Montferrat was best known as the last Spanish Vicereine of Portugal... |
Maternal Grandfather: Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy Charles Emmanuel I , known as the Great, was the Duke of Savoy from 1580 to 1630... |
Maternal Great-Grandfather: Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy Emmanuel Philibert was Duke of Savoy from 1553 to 1580.... |
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| Maternal Great-Grandmother: Margaret of France Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry Margaret of Valois, Duchess of Berry was the daughter of King Francis I of France and Claude, Duchess of Brittany.-Early life:Margaret was born at the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye... |
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| Maternal Grandmother: Catherine Michelle of Spain |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Philip II of Spain Philip II of Spain Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count.... |
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| Maternal Great-Grandmother: Elisabeth of Valois Elisabeth of Valois Elisabeth of Valois was the eldest daughter of Henry II of France and Catherine de' Medici.-Early life:She was born in the Château de Fontainebleau... |