House of Gonzaga

The House of Gonzaga (Template:IPAc-en;<ref>Template:Cite Merriam-Webster</ref> Template:IPA) is an Italian princely family that ruled Mantua in Lombardy, northern Italy from 1328 to 1708 (first as a captaincy-general, then margraviate, and finally duchy). They also ruled Monferrato in Piedmont and Nevers in France, as well as many other lesser fiefs throughout Europe. The family includes a saint, twelve cardinals and fourteen bishops. Two Gonzaga descendants became empresses of the Holy Roman Empire (Eleonora Gonzaga and Eleonora Gonzaga-Nevers), and one became Queen of Poland and Grand Duchess of Lithuania in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (Marie Louise Gonzaga).

History

The first members of the family of historical importance are known to have collaborated with the Guelph faction alongside the monks of the Polirone Abbey.<ref>Page at sapere.it</ref> Starting from the 12th century they became a dominant family in Mantua, growing in wealth when their allies, the Bonacolsi, defeated the traditional familiar enemy, the Casalodi. In 1328, however, Ludovico I Gonzaga overthrew the Bonacolsi lordship over the city with the help of the Scaliger, and entered the Ghibelline party as capitano del popolo ("people's captain") of Mantua and imperial vicar of Emperor Louis IV.<ref name="Brunelli">Template:Cite book</ref>

Ludovico was succeeded by Guido (1360–1369) and Ludovico II (1369–1382), while Feltrino, lord of Reggio until 1371, formed the cadet branch of the Gonzaga of Novellara, whose state existed until 1728. Francesco I (1382–1407) abandoned the traditional alliance with the Visconti of Milan, in order to align their rising power with the Republic of Venice.

• Ducal palace, Mantua.
  Ducal palace, Mantua.
• Ludovico III Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua and Barbara of Brandenburg with their children, fresco by Andrea Mantegna at San Giorgio Castle, Mantua, around 1470.
  Ludovico III Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua and Barbara of Brandenburg with their children, fresco by Andrea Mantegna at San Giorgio Castle, Mantua, around 1470.
• Arms of the Gonzaga-Nevers branch that inherited the Duchy of Mantua from the extinct senior line and ruled it from 1627 to 1708, when that branch died out in the male line.
  Arms of the Gonzaga-Nevers branch that inherited the Duchy of Mantua from the extinct senior line and ruled it from 1627 to 1708, when that branch died out in the male line.

In 1433, Gianfrancesco I assumed the title of Marquis of Mantua with the recognition of Emperor Sigismund, while obtaining recognition from the local nobility through the marriage of his daughter Margherita to Leonello d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara in 1435. In 1530 Federico II (1500–1540) received the title of Duke of Mantua. Also the two brothers of Federico II are historical characters of a certain importance: Ercole Gonzaga became a cardinal, presided over the Council of Trent and was almost elected Pope; Ferrante was a faithful ally of the Emperor Charles V who covered him with honors and positions, Ferrante was also the progenitor of the cadet branch of the Gonzaga of Guastalla. In 1531, the family acquired the Marquisate of Montferrat through marriage. Through maternal ancestors, the Gonzagas inherited also the Imperial Byzantine ancestry of the Paleologus, an earlier ruling family of Montferrat.

A cadet branch of the Mantua Gonzagas became dukes of Nevers and Rethel in France when Luigi (Louis) Gonzaga, a younger son of Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and Margherita Paleologa, married the heiress. The Gonzaga-Nevers later came to rule Mantua again when Louis's son Charles (Carlo) inherited Mantua and Montferrat, triggering the War of the Mantuan Succession.

Another cadet branch were first sovereign counts, later dukes of Guastalla. They descended from Ferrante, a younger son of Duke Francesco II of Mantua (1484–1519). Ferrante's grandson, Ferrante II, also played a role in the War of the Mantuan Succession. A further cadet branch was that of Sabbioneta, founded by Gianfrancesco, son of Ludovico III.

Marie Louise Gonzaga, daughter of Prince Charles Gonzaga-Nevers, was a queen consort of Poland and grand duchess consort of Lithuania from 1645 to her death in 1667.

Two daughters of the house, both named Eleanor Gonzaga, became Holy Roman Empresses, by marrying emperors Ferdinand II of Germany and Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor, respectively. From the latter Empress Eleonora, the current heirs of the Gonzaga descend.

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was a member of a junior branch of this family.

The House of Gonzaga is the inspiration for the play-within-the-play in Shakespeare's Hamlet. In Act 3 scene 2, they act out a play called The Murder of Gonzago (or The Mousetrap).

Gonzaga rule continued in Mantua until 1708 and in Guastalla until 1746. Both ruling lines going extinct until passing on to a minor Gonzaga-Vescovato branch, which is the only remaining existing branch.

Patronage of the arts

The House of Gonzaga was an important patron of the arts. This began when Gianfrancesco Gonzaga funded a school led by Vittorino da Feltre where music and art were core subjects along with mathematics, history, Greek and Latin, religion, and philosophy. The music theorist and composer Franchinus Gaffurius was trained at this school. Isabella d'Este, wife of Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, used her influence to financially support native composers at court (such as Bartolomeo Tromboncino and Marchetto Cara) which contributed to popularizing the frottola. Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga founded an ecclesiastical chapel which employed musicians and further advance the musical live of the region through sacred music composition and performance.<ref name="Grove">Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref>

Guglielmo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, himself a gifted composer, founded the Basilica palatina di Santa Barbara (construction began 1562) which became a cultural center for sacred art and music. He also brought several notable composers to the Mantua court, including Alessandro Striggio, Giovanni Giacomo Gastoldi, Giaches de Wert, Benedetto Pallavicino and Claudio Monteverdi. Through Monteverdi, the court witnessed some of the first operas ever staged, including L'Orfeo (1607) and L'Arianna (1608). Marco da Gagliano's La Dafne was staged in 1608.<ref name="Grove"/>

The Gonzaga House also sponsored theatre. The Mantua court staged Giovanni Battista Guarini's plays Il pastor fido and L'idropica. These plays included incidental music by several different composers, including Monteverdi, Gastoldi, Gagliano, Paolo Birt, and Salamone Rossi. Ferdinando Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua also supported the arts, but financial problems for the court led to a decline in support during his reign.<ref name="Grove"/>

Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat employed Antonio Caldara as maestro di cappella from 1701-1707.<ref name="Grove"/>

Rulers of the House of Gonzaga

House of Gonzaga

	Lordship of Bagnolo (1399–1509)
			Lordship of Mantua (1328–1433) Raised to: Marquisate of Mantua (1433–1530)				Marquisate of Ostiano (1st creation) (1444–1466)	Lordship of Luzzara (1444–1561) (brief reunion with Mantua 1460–1478) Raised to: Marquisate of Luzzara (1561–1794)
			Raised to: Duchy of Mantua (1530–1708) (with Montferrat since 1536)		County of Sabbioneta (1478–1577)		Marquisate of Ostiano (2nd creation) (1478–1495)
					Lordship of Bozzolo (1st creation) (1496–1529<ref>In Gazzuolo and San Martino dell'Argine the Bozzolo branch held rule until 1570 and 1555, respectively.</ref>)	Raised to: Duchy of Sabbioneta (1577–1637)			Lordship of Castiglione (1494–1593) Raised to: Marquisate of Castiglione (1593–1707)
Lordship of Novellara (1360–1501) Raised to: County of Novellara (1501–1737)		Lordship of Vescovato (1519–1559) Raised to: Marquisate of Vescovato (1559–1796)
					Lordship of Bozzolo (2nd creation) (1591–1668)	Marquisate of Ostiano (3rd creation) (1591–1703)
							Annexed to the Carafa and Guzmán families (1637–1689) Annexed to Spain
				County of Guastalla (1539–1621) (purchased from the Torelli family)
			Mantua annexed to Austria; Montferrat annexed to Savoy			Annexed to Austria (1703–08)			Annexed to Austria
				Raised to: Duchy of Guastalla (1621–1746)					Annexed to Austria
Annexed to the Duchy of Modena
				Annexed to the Duchy of Parma
								Annexed to Savoy

Ruler		Born	Reign	Ruling part	Consort	Death	Notes\
Ludovico I	File:Луиджи Гонзага.jpg	1268 Mantua Son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	16 August 1328 – 18 January 1360	Lordship of Mantua	Template:Ill 1312 four children Template:Ill c.1320 four children Template:Ill 1340 six children	18 January 1360 Mantua aged 91–92	With the help of Cangrande I della Scala, lord of Verona, Ludovico became Capitano del popolo of Mantua, and also the first effective ruler of his family.
Feltrino		c.1290 Mantua Third son of Ludovico I and Template:Ill	1335 – 28 December 1374	Lordship of Novellara-Bagnolo	Template:Ill c.1340 four children	28 December 1374 Padua aged 83–84?	Conquered the region of Reggio as early as 1335, and on 17 May 1371 sold to Milan all this land, with the exception of Novellara and Bagnolo.
Guido	File:Гвидо Гонзага.jpg	1290 Mantua Second son of Ludovico I and Template:Ill	18 January 1360 – 22 September 1369	Lordship of Mantua	Template:Ill c.1310/20? two children Template:Ill c.1330? no children Template:Ill 1340 six children	22 September 1369 Mantua aged 78–79	Elected in Mantua. Got firstly elected in Reggio Emilia in 1335.
Ludovico II	File:Лудовико II Гонзага.jpg	1334 Mantua Second son of Guido and Template:Ill	22 September 1369 – 4 October 1382	Lordship of Mantua	Template:Ill 1356 two children	4 October 1382 Mantua aged 47–48
Template:Ill<ref>This numbering II includes Guido, Lord of Mantua as Guido I</ref>		1 February 1340 Novellara Second son of Feltrino I and Template:Ill	28 December 1374 – 2 February 1399	Lordship of Novellara	Ginevra Malatesta 1374 four children	2 February 1399 Novellara aged 59
Francesco I	File:Francesco I gonzaga.jpg	1366 Mantua Son of Ludovico II and Template:Ill	4 October 1382 – 7 March 1407	Lordship of Mantua	Agnese Visconti 15 August 1375 (by proxy) 25 December 1380 (formal) one child Margherita Malatesta 1399 two children	7 March 1407 Cavriana aged 40–41
Template:Ill		c.1375 Novellara First son of Template:Ill and Ginevra Malatesta	2 February 1399 – 1441	Lordship of Novellara	Ippolita Pio five children	1441 Novellara aged 64–65	Children of Guido II, divided their inheritance.
Template:Ill		c.1375 Novellara Second son of Template:Ill and Ginevra Malatesta	2 February 1399 – 1424	Lordship of Bagnolo	Antonia Gonzaga of Mantua four children	1424 aged 48–49?
Regency of Carlo I Malatesta, Lord of Rimini (1407–1409)							On 22 September 1433, the lordship was officially raised to a Marquisate, as Gian Francesco purchased his title from Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor.
Gian Francesco	File:Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga.jpg	1 June 1395 Mantua Son of Francesco I and Margherita Malatesta	7 March 1407 – 25 September 1444	Lordship of Mantua (1407–1433) Marquisate of Mantua (1433–1444)	Paola Malatesta 22 August 1409 Pesaro six children	25 September 1444 Mantua aged 49
Template:Ill		c.1410? Novellara Second son of Template:Ill and Antonia Gonzaga of Mantua	1424 – 1456	Lordship of Bagnolo	Unmarried	1456 aged 45–46?
Template:Ill		c.1420 Novellara First son of Template:Ill and Ippolita Pio	1441 – 8 February 1484	Lordship of Novellara	Costanza Strozzi seven children	8 February 1484 Novellara aged 53–54
Ludovico III the Turk	File:Лудовико III Гонзага.jpg	5 June 1412 Mantua First son of Gian Francesco and Paola Malatesta	25 September 1444 – 11 June 1478	Marquisate of Mantua	Barbara of Brandenburg 12 November 1433 Mantua fourteen children	11 June 1478 Goito aged 66	Children of Gian Francesco, divided the land. After Alessandro's death, Ostiano returned to Mantua, only to be partitioned off again in the next generation.
Carlo		1415 Mantua Second son of Gian Francesco and Paola Malatesta	25 September 1444 – 21 December 1456	Lordship of Luzzara	Template:Ill 1437 no children Ringarda Manfredi two children	21 December 1456 Ferrara aged 40–41
Template:Ill		26 August 1427 Mantua Third son of Gian Francesco and Paola Malatesta	25 September 1444 – 16 January 1466	Template:Ill	Template:Ill 1446 no children	16 January 1466 Mantua aged 38
Regency of Ringarda Manfredi (1456–1466)							After his death, Luzzara returned to Mantua, only to be later partitioned off again and given to his cousin Rodolfo.
Template:Ill		1452 Mantua Son of Carlo and Ringarda Manfredi	21 December 1456 – c.1470	Lordship of Luzzara	Unmarried	c.1470? aged 17–18?
Template:Ill		c.1420 Novellara Second son of Template:Ill and Ippolita Pio	1456 – 1487	Lordship of Bagnolo	Paola Schianteschi two or four children Alda Torelli at least four children	1487 Novellara aged 56–57?
Federico I	File:Federico I Gonzaga.jpg	25 June 1441 Mantua Second son of Ludovico III and Barbara of Brandenburg	11 June 1478 – 14 July 1484	Marquisate of Mantua	Margaret of Bavaria 6 June 1463 Mantua six children	14 July 1484 Mantua aged 43	Children of Ludovico III, divided the land.
Gian Francesco	File:Gianfrancesco Gonzaga-Rodigo.jpg	4 October 1446 Mantua Fourth son of Ludovico III and Barbara of Brandenburg	11 June 1478 – 27 August 1496	County of Sabbioneta	Template:Ill 17 July 1479 eleven children	27 August 1496 Bozzolo aged 49
Rodolfo I	File:Rodolfo Gonzaga.jpg	18 April 1452 Mantua Fifth son of Ludovico III and Barbara of Brandenburg	11 June 1478 – 6 July 1495	Lordship of Luzzara	Template:Ill 11 January 1481 no children Caterina Pico della Mirandola 1484 six children	6 July 1495 Fornovo aged 43
Template:Ill		21 August 1460 Mantua Sixth son of Ludovico III and Barbara of Brandenburg	11 June 1478 – 19 January 1511	Template:Ill	Unmarried	19 January 1511 Gazzuolo aged 50
Ostiano annexed to Sabbioneta
Template:Ill		1469 Novellara First son of Template:Ill and Costanza Strozzi	8 February 1484 – 18 November 1515	Lordship of Novellara (1484–1501) County of Novellara and Bagnolo (1501–1515)	Caterina Torelli c.1495 eight children	18 November 1515 Novellara aged 45–46	On 7 July 1501, obtained the comital title from Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor.
Francesco II	File:Francesco II Gonzaga2.jpg	10 August 1466 Mantua First son of Federico I and Margaret of Bavaria	14 July 1484 – 29 March 1519	Marquisate of Mantua	Isabella d'Este 11 February 1490 (by proxy) 15 February 1490 Pesaro (formal) eight children	29 March 1519 Mantua aged 52
Template:Ill		c.1470? First son of Template:Ill and Alda Torelli	1487 – 1510	Lordship of Bagnolo (until 1509; at Vescovato since 1494)	Latina Ubaldini three children	After 1510	Children of Giorgio, ruled jointly. Despite losing Bagnolo in 1509 (which merged again in Novellara), they kept rulership at Vescovato which they ruled from 1494. Cristoforo gave up his part in Vescovato in 1510. This feud was then sold in 1519 to Mantua, and given to a collateral line.
Template:Ill		c.1470? Second son of Template:Ill and Alda Torelli	1487 – 1519		Unmarried	After 1519
Template:Ill		c.1470? Third son of Template:Ill and Alda Torelli	1487 – 1509		Unknown four children	1509 aged c.38–39?
Template:Ill		c.1470? Fourth son of Template:Ill and Alda Torelli	1487 – 1519		Laura Martinengo six children	1519 aged 48–49?
Bagnolo reannexed to Novellara
Regency of Caterina Pico della Mirandola (1495–1502)							Children of Rodolfo, divided officially their inheritance on 30 January 1511. Gian Francesco abdicated to his son shortly before his own death.
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto di Gianfrancesco Gonzaga (1488-1524).jpg	2 February 1488 Luzzara First son of Rodolfo I and Caterina Pico della Mirandola	6 July 1495 – 11 October 1524	Lordship of Luzzara	Laura Pallavicino c.1510 eight children	18 December 1524 Luzzara aged 36
Aloisio	File:Ritratto di Aloisio Gonzaga 1494-1549.jpg	20 April 1494 Luzzara Second son of Rodolfo I and Caterina Pico della Mirandola	6 July 1495 – 19 July 1549	Lordship of Luzzara (until 1511) Lordship of Castiglione (from 1511)	Template:Ill 24 July 1519 Mantua no children Caterina Anguissola December 1540 three children	19 July 1549 Castel Goffredo aged 55
Ludovico	File:Ludovico di Gianfrancesco Gonzaga.jpg	1481 Bozzolo First son of Gian Francesco and Template:Ill	27 August 1496 – 1 July 1540	County of Sabbioneta	Template:Ill 1497 eleven children	1 July 1540 Bozzolo aged 58–59	Children of Gian Francesco, divided the land, but given Federico's lack of descendants, the patrimony was inherited by Pirro. After Pirro's death Bozzolo (only) was annexed to Sabbioneta. Gazzuolo lived on until the next generation.
Template:Ill	File:Federico Gonzaga von San Martino.PNG	c.1480 Bozzolo Second son of Gian Francesco and Template:Ill	27 August 1496 – 28 December 1527	Lordship of Bozzolo	Template:Ill 1503 Asola no children	28 December 1527 Todi aged c.46–47
Pirro I	File:Ritratto di Pirro II Gonzaga.jpg	1490 Bozzolo Third son of Gian Francesco and Template:Ill	27 August 1496 – 22 January 1529	Lordship of Bozzolo (at Gazzuolo 1496–1529; at Bozzolo proper 1527–1529)	Template:Ill c.1500? seven children	22 January 1529 Gazzuolo aged 38–39
Bozzolo (only) briefly annexed to Sabbioneta (1529–1591)
Template:Ill		1496 Novellara First son of Template:Ill and Caterina Torelli	18 November 1515 – 26 February 1530	County of Novellara and Bagnolo	Template:Ill 1518 four children	August 1530 Naples aged 33–34	Abdicated shortly before his death.
Regency of Isabella d'Este (1519–1521)							On 8 April 1530, the marquisate was officially raised to a Duchy, as Federico II obtained his title from Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor.
Federico II	File:Федерико II Гонзага.jpg	17 May 1500 Mantua First son of Francesco II and Isabella d'Este	29 March 1519 – 28 June 1540	Marquisate of Mantua (1519–1530) Duchy of Mantua (1530–1540)	Margherita Palaiologina of Montferrat 3 October 1531 Mantua seven children	28 June 1540 Mantua aged 40
Giovanni	File:Giovanni Gonzaga.PNG	1474 Mantua Third son of Federico I and Margaret of Bavaria	29 March 1519 – 23 September 1525	Template:Ill	Template:Ill 20 June 1491 Bologna eight children	23 September 1525 Mantua aged 50–51	Youngest child of Federico I of Mantua, inherited Vescovato at the same time as his nephew, Federico II was inheriting Mantua.
Regency of Laura Pallavicino (1524–1527)							Fought with his brother Template:Ill, who wanted a condominium in Luzzara. Massimiliano won the war, and his brother eventually got a separate property at Poviglio, given by the Guastalla branch. In 1561 Massimiliano's lordship was elevated to a Marquisate.
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto di Massimiliano Gonzaga.jpg	1513 Luzzara Son of Template:Ill and Laura Pallavicino	11 October 1524 – 4 March 1578	Lordship of Luzzara (until 1561) Marquisate of Luzzara (from 1561)	Caterina Colonna 1548 five children	4 March 1578 Luzzara aged 64–65
Template:Ill	File:Marchese Alessandro Gonzaga del Vescovato.png	1497 Third son of Giovanni and Template:Ill	23 September 1525 – 17 September 1527	Template:Ill	Ippolita Sforza one child	17 September 1527 Template:Ill aged 29–30	Left a son, but was succeeded by his brother in the lordship.
Template:Ill		1499 Fifth son of Giovanni and Template:Ill	17 September 1527 – December 1530	Template:Ill	Antonia Pallavicino 1529 two children	December 1530 aged 30–31
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto di Federico Gonzaga di Gazzuolo.jpg	c.1520 Gazzuolo (?) First son of Pirro I and Template:Ill	22 January 1529 – 1570	Lordship of Bozzolo (at Gazzuolo only)	Lucrezia d'Incisa 1550 two children.	1570 Gazzuolo aged 49–50	Children of Pirro I. Having lost Bozzolo, got control of the remaining territories. However, after their deaths these territories were also lost.
Template:Ill	File:Portrait of Charles Gonzaga.png	1523 Gazzuolo Second son of Pirro I and Template:Ill	22 January 1529 – 13 June 1555	Lordship of Bozzolo (at San Martino dall'Argine)	Template:Ill c.1500? seven children	13 June 1555 Gazzuolo aged 32–33
Gazzuolo and San Martino divided and annexed to Sabbioneta and Mantua
Regency of Template:Ill (1530–1540)							Children of Alessandro I, ruled jointly.
Template:Ill		16 January 1519 Novellara First son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	26 February 1530 – 1577	County of Novellara and Bagnolo	Caterina Torelli c.1495 eight children	1577 Mantua aged 45–46
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto di Camillo I Gonzaga.jpg	27 March 1521 Bologna Second son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	26 February 1530 – 24 April 1595	County of Novellara and Bagnolo	Barbara Borromeo (1538 – 1572) 1555 no children	24 April 1595 Novellara aged 74
Template:Ill		25 September 1529 Turin Fourth son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	26 February 1530 – 1 October 1589	County of Novellara and Bagnolo	Template:Ill 1567 thirteen children	1 October 1589 Novellara aged 60
Regency of Antonia Pallavicino (1530–1544)							During his rule the lordship was elevated to a marquisate.
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto di Sigismondo Gonzaga-Vescovato.jpg	1530 Luzzara Son of Template:Ill and Antonia Pallavicino	December 1530 – 1567	Template:Ill (until 1559) Template:Ill (from 1559)	Lavinia Rangoni five children	1567 aged 36–37
Ferrante I (Ferdinando I)	File:Cristofano dell'Altissimo, Ferrante Gonzaga, ante 1568.jpeg	28 January 1507 Mantua Third son of Francesco II, Marquis of Mantua and Isabella d'Este	3 October 1539 – 15 November 1557	County of Guastalla	Template:Ill 1530 Naples eleven children	15 November 1557 Brussels aged 50	Guastalla was sold to the Gonzagas in 1539 by Ludovica Torelli.
Regency of Margherita Palaiologina of Montferrat, Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga and Ferrante I, Count of Guastalla (1540–1550)							Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother.
Francesco III	File:Francesco III Gonzaga.jpg	10 March 1533 Mantua First son of Federico II and Margherita Palaiologina of Montferrat	28 June 1540 – 21 February 1550	Duchy of Mantua	Catherine of Austria 22 October 1549 Mantua no children	21 February 1550 Mantua aged 16
Regency of Giulia Gonzaga, Countess of Rodigo (1540–1545)							In 1577, the county was elevated to a duchy, obtained from Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor.
Vespasiano	File:Portrait of Vespasiano I Gonzaga, Duke of Sabbioneta (1531–1591), attributed to Bernardino Campi.jpg	6 December 1531 Fondi Son of Luigi Gonzaga Rodomonte, Heir of Sabbioneta and Isabella Colonna	1 July 1540 – 26 February 1591	County of Sabbioneta<ref>Obtained the personal title of marquis in 1565, and the title of Prince of the Holy Roman Empire in 1574. The land he ruled was elevated to a Duchy in 1577.</ref> (1540–1577) Template:Ill (1577–1591)	Template:Ill April 1550 Piacenza no children Template:Ill 8 May 1564 Madrid three children Template:Ill 1581 no children	26 February 1591 Sabbioneta aged 59
Regencies of Caterina Anguissola (1549–1550) and Template:Ill (1550–1565)							Children of Aloisio, divided the land.
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto di Alfonso Gonzaga 1541-1592.jpg	November 1541 Castel Goffredo First son of Template:Ill and Caterina Anguissola	19 July 1549 – 19 July 1549	Lordship of Castiglione (at Castel Goffredo)	Template:Ill 1568 Milan seven children	7 May 1593 Template:Ill aged 51
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto di Ferrante Gonzaga 1544-1586.jpg	28 July 1544 Castel Goffredo Second son of Template:Ill and Caterina Anguissola	19 July 1549<ref>Officially invested on 20 March 1559.</ref> – 15 February 1586	Lordship of Castiglione (until 1579; at Castiglione proper) Template:Ill (from 1579)	Template:Ill 15 November 1566 eight children	15 February 1586 Milan aged 41
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto di Orazio Gonzaga 1545-1587.jpg	1545 Castel Goffredo Third son of Template:Ill and Caterina Anguissola	19 July 1549 – 13 January 1587	Lordship of Castiglione (at Solferino)	Template:Ill 1568 no children	13 January 1587 Mantua aged 41–42
Castel Goffredo and Solferino merged again in Castiglione
Regency of Margherita Palaiologina of Montferrat, Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga and Ferrante I, Count of Guastalla (1550–1556)
Guglielmo	File:Гульельмо I Гонзага.jpg	24 April 1538 Mantua Second son of Federico II and Margherita Palaiologina of Montferrat	21 February 1550 – 14 August 1587	Duchy of Mantua	Eleanor of Austria 26 April 1561 Mantua three children	14 August 1587 Goito aged 49
Cesare I	File:Ritratto di Cesare I Gonzaga.png	6 September 1536 Mantua Son of Ferrante I and Template:Ill	15 November 1557 – 17 February 1575	County of Guastalla	Template:Ill 12 March 1560 two children	17 February 1575 Guastalla aged 38
Template:Ill	File:Carlo Gonzaga di Vescovato.jpg	20 April 1551 Vescovato First son of Template:Ill and Charlotte de Choiseul	1567 – 9 January 1614	Template:Ill	Emilia Olimpia Ferrero Fieschi (d.1630) seven children	9 January 1614 Siena aged 62
Regency of Template:Ill (1575–1579)							On 2 July 1621 the County was raised to a Duchy. With this new dignity Ferrante claimed for himself (unsuccessfully) the main Duchy of Mantua during the War of Mantuan Succession.
Ferrante II (Ferdinando II)	File:Porträt von Ferrante Gonzaga.jpg	1563 Guastalla Son of Cesare I and Template:Ill	17 February 1575 – 5 August 1630	County of Guastalla (1575–1621) Duchy of Guastalla (1621–1630)	Template:Ill 1587 eleven children	5 August 1630 Guastalla aged 66–67
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto Prospero Gonzaga.PNG	1543 Luzzara Son of Template:Ill and Caterina Colonna	4 March 1578 – 25 September 1614	Marquisate of Luzzara	Isabella Gonzaga of Bozzolo 1576 thirteen children	25 September 1614 Mantua aged 70–71	Son-in-law of Pirro II of Bozzolo.
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto di Ferrante Gonzaga 1544-1586.jpg	7 March 1569 Castiglione delle Stiviere Second son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	15 February 1586 – 3 January 1593	Template:Ill	{Template:Ill 29 October 1588 four children	3 January 1593 Castel Goffredo aged 23	Left no male descendants.
Vincenzo I	File:Vincenzo I Gonzaga Anziano.png	21 September 1562 Mantua Son of Guglielmo and Eleanor of Austria	14 August 1587 – 18 February 1612	Duchy of Mantua	Margherita Farnese 2 March 1581 Piacenza (annulled 26 May 1583) no children Eleonora de' Medici 29 April 1584 Mantua six children	18 February 1612 Mantua aged 49
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto di Isabella Gonzaga (1565-1637).png	12 January 1565 Sabbioneta Daughter of Vespasiano and Template:Ill	26 February 1591 – 10 February 1637	Template:Ill	Template:Ill 29 November 1584 Bozzolo one child	10 February 1637 Naples aged 72	Survived her son; after her death, the duchy was inherited by her granddaughter, Template:Ill, and then to the House of Guzmán.
Sabbioneta inherited by the Carafa family and the House of Guzmán
Template:Ill	File:Pirro II Gonzaga.jpg	3 May 1540 San Martino dall'Argine First son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	1591 – 15 June 1592	Lordship of Bozzolo	Francesca Guerrieri two children	15 June 1592 San Martino dall'Argine aged 52	Possibly for compensation, Bozzolo was returned to this branch after Vespasiano of Sabbioneta's death.
Template:Ill	File:Giulio Cesare Gonzaga.png	1552 San Martino dall'Argine Sixth son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	1591 – 23 June 1609	Lordship of Bozzolo	Flaminia Colonna 1587 two children	23 June 1609 Bozzolo aged 52
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto di Francesco Gonzaga 1577-1616.jpg	27 April 1577 Castiglione delle Stiviere Fifth son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	3 January 1593 – 23 October 1616	Template:Ill (at Castiglione proper)	Template:Ill 5 February 1598 Prague eight children	23 October 1616 Toscolano-Maderno aged 39	Brothers of Rodolfo II, divided the land once more.
Template:Ill		30 September 1580 Castiglione delle Stiviere Sixth son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	3 January 1593 – September 1630	Template:Ill (at Solferino)	Template:Ill December 1605 three children	September 1630 Solferino aged 49–50
Template:Ill		25 May 1581 Novellara Third son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	24 April 1595 – 1640 10 September 1644 – 8 November 1650	County of Novellara and Bagnolo	Caterina d'Avalos (1586–1618) 13 January 1605 nine children	8 November 1650 Novellara aged 69	Abdicated to his son, but given his premature death he eventually resumed government.
Template:Ill	File:Ritratto del venerabile Francesco Gonzaga.jpg	31 July 1546 Gazzuolo Third son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	23 June 1609 – 11 March 1620	Template:Ill	Unmarried	11 March 1620 Mantua aged 73	Bishop of Mantua, recovered the property of his family at Ostiano. Left no descendants, and Ostiano was inherited by his nephew, the lord of San Martino dell'Argine.
Regency of Isabella Gonzaga of Novellara (1609–1613)							Nephew of Giulio Cesare, Pirro II and Francesco-Annibale. Reunited Bozzolo with Ostiano.
Template:Ill	File:Scipione Gonzaga.PNG	1595 San Martino dall'Argine Son of Template:Ill and Isabella Gonzaga of Novellara	23 June 1609 – 12 May 1670	Lordship of Bozzolo	Maria Mattei (d.1658) 1640 three children	12 May 1670 San Martino dall'Argine aged 74–75
			11 March 1620 – 12 May 1670	Template:Ill
Bozzolo annexed to Ostiano
Francesco IV	File:Portrait de Duc François IV Gonzague.png	7 May 1586 Mantua First son of Vincenzo I and Eleonora de' Medici	18 February – 22 December 1612	Duchy of Mantua	Margherita of Savoy 19 February 1608 Turin three children	22 December 1612 Mantua aged 40	After his death his possessions were divided.
Ferdinando	File:Portrait de duc Ferdinand I Gonzague.png	26 April 1587 Mantua Second son of Vincenzo I and Eleonora de' Medici	22 December 1612 – 29 October 1626	Duchy of Mantua (at Mantua)	Caterina de' Medici 3 October 1531 Mantua no children	29 October 1626 Mantua aged 39	Brother and daughter of Francesco IV, divided the inheritance.
Regency of Margherita of Savoy (1612–1627)
Maria	File:Maria Gonzaga.jpg	29 July 1609 Mantua Daughter of Francesco IV and Margherita of Savoy	22 December 1612 – 14 August 1660	Duchy of Mantua (at Montferrat)	Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers 25 December 1627 Mantua two children	14 August 1660 Porto Mantovano aged 51
Template:Ill		10 April 1593 Vescovato Son of Template:Ill and Emilia Olimpia Ferrero Fieschi	9 January 1614 – 31 August 1636	Template:Ill	Camilla Ponzoni (d.1635) 1617 four children Ottavia Cecilia Flameni (d.1640) c.1635 no children	31 August 1636 Vescovato aged 43
Template:Ill		20 May 1591 Vicenza Son of Template:Ill and Isabella Gonzaga of Bozzolo	25 September 1614 – 3 August 1630	Marquisate of Luzzara	Elisabetta Gonzaga of Poviglio (d.1620) seven children Fulvia di Basilio c.1625? one child	3 August 1630 Treviso aged 39	Son-in-law of Luigi, who was a son of Rodolfo Gonzaga of Poviglio.
Regencies of Template:Ill and Cardinal Gian Giacomo Teodoro Trivulzio (1616–1621) and Template:Ill (1621–1629)							Left no male descendants. The marquisate passed to his brother.
Template:Ill	File:Probable Portrait of Luigi Gonzaga (1611-1636).png	1611 Castiglione delle Stiviere Second son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	23 October 1616 – 22 February 1636	Template:Ill (at Castiglione proper)	Template:Ill January 1630 Palermo four children	22 February 1636 Palermo aged 24–25
Vincenzo II	File:Vincenzo II Gonzaga.jpg	7 January 1594 Mantua Third son of Vincenzo I and Eleonora de' Medici	29 October 1626 – 25 December 1627	Duchy of Mantua	Isabella Gonzaga of Novellara 23 August 1616 Mantua no children	25 December 1627 Mantua aged 40
Carlo I	File:Carlo I Gonzaga.jpg	6 May 1580 Paris Third son of Ludovico Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers and Henriette of Cleves	25 December 1627 – 22 September 1637	Duchy of Mantua (at Mantua)	Catherine of Mayenne 1 February 1599 Soissons no children	22 September 1637 Mantua aged 57	Grandson of Federico II, won the War of the Mantuan Succession. From 1627 onwards, the Dukes of Mantua were also Dukes of Nevers, hence the branch name Gonzaga-Nevers.
Template:Ill		1602 Luzzara Second son of Template:Ill and Elisabetta Gonzaga of Poviglio	3 August 1630 – 3 November 1666	Marquisate of Luzzara	Elena Gonzaga of Vescovato (d.1620) nine children	3 November 1666 Luzzara aged 63–64
Cesare II	File:Cesare II Gonzaga di Guastalla.jpg	1592 Mantua First son of Ferrante II and Template:Ill	5 August 1630 – 26 February 1632	Duchy of Guastalla	Isabella Orsini (1598–1623) 1612 two children	26 February 1632 Vienna aged 39–40
Ferrante III (Ferdinando III)	File:Ferrante III Gonzaga duca di Guastalla.png	4 April 1618 Mantua First son of Cesare II and Isabella Orsini	26 February 1632 – 11 January 1678	Duchy of Guastalla	Template:Ill 24 June 1647 Guastalla two children	11 January 1678 Guastalla aged 59
Guastalla annexed to Milan (1678–1693)
Template:Ill		7 August 1614 Castiglione delle Stiviere Third son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	22 February 1636 – 23 April 1675	Template:Ill (at Castiglione proper)	Template:Ill December 1644 three children	23 April 1675 Castiglione delle Stiviere aged 60	Left no male descendants. The marquisate went to his cousin, the marquis of Solferino.
Template:Ill		2 June 1618 Vescovato First son of Template:Ill and Camilla Ponzoni	31 August 1636 – 19 September 1695	Template:Ill	Unmarried	19 September 1695 Vescovato aged 77	Children of Francesco Giovanni, ruled jointly.
Template:Ill		11 February 1625 Vescovato Second son of Template:Ill and Camilla Ponzoni	31 August 1636 – 31 December 1694		Elena Sforza Amigoni 1673 three children	31 December 1694 Mantua aged 69
Regency of Maria, Duchess of Montferrat (1637–1647)							Grandson of Carlo I. Also Duke of Nevers as Charles III.
Carlo II	File:Ritratto di Carlo II Gonzaga Nevers.png	31 October 1629 Mantua Son of Carlo II Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers and Maria, Duchess of Montferrat	22 September 1637 – 14 August 1665	Duchy of Mantua (in Mantua only until 1660; in Mantua and Montferrat from 1660)	Isabella Clara of Austria 7 November 1649 Mantua one child	14 August 1665 Mantua aged 35 government.
Template:Ill		1611 Novellara First son of Template:Illand Caterina d'Avalos	1640 – 10 September 1644	County of Novellara and Bagnolo	Caterina Torelli c.1495 eight children	10 September 1644 Novellara aged 32–33	His father abdicated for him, but he died four years later, with no descendants; his father returned to government.
Template:Ill	File:Porträt des Graf Alfonso II Gonzaga von Novellara.png	20 April 1616 Novellara Second son of Template:Illand Caterina d'Avalos	8 November 1650 – 25 July 1678	County of Novellara and Bagnolo	Template:Ill 1648 four children	25 July 1678 Novellara aged 62
Regency of Isabella Clara of Austria (1665–1671)							Left no descendants. After his death Mantua and Montferrat fell under Austrian control.
Ferdinando Carlo	File:Portrait painting of the Duke of Mantua (Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga) by Hyacinthe Rigaud.jpg	31 August 1652 Revere Son of Carlo II and Isabella Clara of Austria	14 August 1665 – 5 July 1708	Duchy of Mantua	Anna Isabella Gonzaga of Guastalla July 1671 Mantua no children Suzanne Henriette of Lorraine 8 November 1704 Tortona no children	5 July 1708 Padua aged 55
Mantua-Montferrat annexed to Austria
Template:Ill	File:Federico Gonzaga di Luzzara.jpg	1636 Luzzara First son of Template:Ill and Elena Gonzaga of Vescovato	3 November 1666 – 8 March 1698	Marquisate of Luzzara	Luigia Ludovica Gonzaga of Castiglione (1653–1715) 1667 fourteen children	8 March 1698 Luzzara aged 61–62
Template:Ill		1 December 1643 First son of Template:Ill and Maria Mattei	12 May 1670 – 1672	Template:Ill	Maria Mattei (d.1658) 1640 three children	1672 aged 28–29
Template:Ill		20 February 1646 San Martino dall'Argine Second son of Template:Ill and Maria Mattei	1672 – 24 April 1703	Template:Ill	Unmarried	24 April 1703 San Martino dall'Argine aged 57
Ostiano annexed to Mantua (1703–1708) and then to Guastalla
Template:Ill	File:Rivista italiana di numismatica 1893 (page 314 crop).jpg	3 May 1616 Castiglione delle Stiviere First son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	September 1630 – 23 April 1675 23 April 1675 – 21 May 1680	Template:Ill (at Solferino until 1675; in all Castiglione from 1675)	Template:Ill 1643 eight children	21 May 1680 Solferino aged 64	From 23 April 1675, reunited once more the marquisates of Solferino and Castiglione.
Template:Ill	File:Gennari Benedetto Junior - Portrait of Camillo III Gonzaga - between 1650 and 1699 - Museo Civico Gonzaga.jpg	23 August 1649 Novellara First son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	25 July 1678 – 16 August 1727	County of Novellara and Bagnolo	Template:Ill c.1495 eight children	16 August 1727 Novellara aged 77
Template:Ill	File:Rivista italiana di numismatica 1893 (page 363 crop).jpg	28 August 1648 Solferino First son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	21 May 1680 – 21 January 1707	Template:Ill	Template:Ill 28 February 1680 four children	11 February 1723 Venice aged 74	In 1707, after an attack in Castiglione, he escaped to Venice alongside Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga of Mantua.
Castiglione annexed to Austria
Vincenzo	File:Porträt des Herzog Vincenzo Gonzaga von Guastalla.png	18 May 1634 Guastalla Son of Andrea Gonzaga of San Paolo and Laura Crispiano	1693 – 28 April 1714	Duchy of Guastalla	Teodora Porzia Guidi di Bagno (?–1672) c.1670? no children Template:Ill 1679 five children	28 April 1714 Guastalla aged 79	Grandson of Ferrante II, married Maria Vittoria, daughter of Ferrante III.
Template:Ill		1673 Vescovato First son of Template:Ill and Elena Sforza Amigoni	19 September 1695 – 24 July 1735	Template:Ill	Anna Goldoni Vidoni (1677–1730) 1696 one child	24 July 1735 Vescovato aged 61–62
Template:Ill		19 September 1679 Luzzara Second son of Template:Ill and Caterina Pico della Mirandola	8 March 1698 – 12 June 1738	Marquisate of Luzzara	Charlotte de Choiseul (1679–1734) 1703? seven children	12 June 1738 Luzzara aged 58
Antonio Ferrante (Antonio Ferdinando)	File:Antonio Ferrante Gonzaga.jpg	9 December 1687 Guastalla First son of Vincenzo and Template:Ill	28 April 1714 – 16 April 1729	Duchy of Guastalla	Margherita Cesarini (1695–1725) c.1720? no children Template:Ill 29 July 1727 Darmstadt no children	16 April 1729 Guastalla aged 41
Template:Ill	File:Porträt des Grafen Filippo Alfonso Gonzaga.png	3/4 December 1700 Novellara Son of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	16 August 1727 – 13 December 1728	County of Novellara and Bagnolo	Eleonora Tanara no children	13 December 1728 Massa aged 28	Left no descendants. The county passed to his sister.
Template:Ill	File:Ricciarda Gonzaga.jpg	22 February 1698 Novellara Second daughter of Template:Ill and Template:Ill	13 December 1728 – 12 October 1737	County of Novellara and Bagnolo	Template:Ill 29 April 1715 Milan three children	24 November 1768 Massa aged 70	Sister of Filippo Alfonso, ruled the county after the extinction of the male line. In 1737, after the War of the Polish Succession, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor passed the county to Rinaldo d'Este.
Novellara annexed to Modena
Giuseppe Maria	File:Ritratto di Giuseppe Maria Gonzaga.jpg	20 April 1690 Guastalla Second son of Vincenzo and Template:Ill	16 April 1729 – 15 August 1746	Duchy of Guastalla	Template:Ill 29 March 1731 Lilienfeld no children	15 August 1746 Padua aged 56	From 1739 until his death, his mental illness caused his wife to assume the reins of the duchy. Left no descendants.
Regency of Template:Ill (1739–1746)
Guastalla annexed to Parma
Template:Ill		1702 Vescovato Only son of Template:Ill and Anna Goldoni Vidoni	24 July 1735 – 1779	Template:Ill	Carlotta Barisoni (1700–1738) 1724 four children	1779 Venice aged 76–77	Left no surviving male offspring. After his death the marquisate was inherited by a distant cousin.
Template:Ill		26 September 1711 Luzzara Third son of Template:Ill and Charlotte de Choiseul	12 June 1738 – 29 May 1782	Marquisate of Luzzara	Maria Borromeo (d.1761) c.1735? seven children	29 May 1782 Luzzara aged 70	None of the children survived him. He was succeeded by his brother.
Template:Ill		26 December 1731 Vescovato First son of Template:Ill and Giulia Isolani	1779 – 4 September 1783	Template:Ill	Olimpia Scotti 1756 five children	4 September 1783 Mantua aged 72	Great-great-grandson of Template:Ill, brother of Carlo I.
Template:Ill		4 July 1721 Luzzara Fifth son of Template:Ill and Charlotte de Choiseul	29 May 1782 – 3 April 1794	Marquisate of Luzzara	Teresa Anguissola (1745–1819) 1716 two children	3 April 1794 Mantua aged 72	Left no male descendants. After his death Luzzara was annexed to Savoy.
Luzzara annexed to Savoy
Template:Ill		21 October 1763 Vescovato First son of Template:Ill and Olimpia Scotti	4 September 1783 – 1796	Template:Ill	Giulia Cavriani (1767–1846) 1716 two children	17 December 1832 Venice aged 69	In 1796 he was dispossessed of the marquisate, but retained the title.
Vescovato occupied by France

Family tree

The branches of the Gonzaga family, showing marquises and (subsequently) dukes of Mantua in bold, dukes of Nevers and Rethel in italics and the Guastalla line to the right. Template:Tree chart/start Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart Template:Tree chart/end

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

• Aloysius Gonzaga, SJ 1568–1591, canonized by the Catholic Church in 1726

Roman Catholic cardinals

• Francesco Gonzaga (1444–1483)
• Sigismondo Gonzaga (1469–1525)
• Pirro Gonzaga (1490–1529)
• Ercole Gonzaga (1505–63)
• Francesco Gonzaga (1538–66)
• Federico Gonzaga (1540–65)
• Giovanni Vincenzo Gonzaga (1540–91)
• Scipione Gonzaga (1542–93)
• Francesco Gonzaga (1546–1620)
• Ferdinando Gonzaga (1587–1626), became Duke of Mantua, as Ferdinando I, in 1612
• Vincenzo Gonzaga (1594–1627), became Duke of Mantua, as Vincenzo II, in 1626

See also

• Duchy of Mantua, a list of House of Gonzaga rulers
• Duchy of Guastalla
• Duchy of Sabbioneta
• County of Novellara and Bagnolo

Bibliography

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:Cite web
• Template:Cite web
• Albero genealogico dei Gonzaga