Maria Gonzaga, Duchess of Montferrat
Charles II, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat
Eleonora, Holy Roman Empress
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Maria Gonzaga |
Maria Gonzaga or Maria of Mantua (29 July 1609 – 14 August 1660) was a reigning duchess of Montferrat from 1612 until 1660, and regent in Mantua during the minority of her son from 1637 until 1647.
Biography
Maria was the eldest and only surviving child of Francesco IV Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat and Margaret of Savoy (1589–1655), daughter of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain.[1]
Maria's 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 exercised the regency of Mantua on behalf of her son for ten years, until 1647.
She died in 1660, aged 51.
Issue
Maria and Charles had:
- Maria Gonzaga
- Charles Gonzaga (1629–1665) married Archduchess Isabella Clara of Austria[1]
- Eleanor Gonzaga (1630–1686), who married in 1651 Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor[1]
See also
- House of Gonzaga
- Rulers of Mantua
- Rulers of Montferrat
References
- ^ a b c Parrott 1997, p. 22.
Sources
- Parrott, David (1997). "The Mantuan Succession, 1627–31: A Sovereignty Dispute in Early Modern Europe". The English Historical Review. CXII, Issue 445, February (445). Oxford Academic: 20–65. doi:10.1093/ehr/CXII.445.20.
External links
- (in Italian) Sardimpex.com : Gonzaga - Marchesi e Duchi sovrani di Mantova, indice L1[permanent dead link]
- (in English and Italian) Marek, Miroslav. "Gonzaga family". Genealogy.EU.
- v
- t
- e
- Federico I, Marquis of Mantua
- Gianfrancesco, Count of Sabbioneta
- Francesco
- Francesco III, Duke of Mantua
- Guglielmo, Duke of Mantua
- Louis, Duke of Nevers
- Federico, Cardinal Gonzaga
- Cesare, Duke of Amalfi
- Francesco, Cardinal Gonzaga
- Gian Vicenzo, Cardinal Gonzaga
- Francesco IV, Duke of Mantua
- Ferdinando, Duke of Mantua
- Margherita Gonzaga, Duchess of Lorraine
- Vincenzo II, Duke of Mantua
- Eleonora, Holy Roman Empress
- Charles, Duke of Nevers
- Marie Louise, Queen of Poland
- Anne, Countess Palatine of Simmern
- Cesare II, Duke of Guastalla
- Vincenzo, Viceroy of Sicily
- Andrea, Count of San Paolo
- Maria, Duchess of Montferrat
- Charles, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat
- Eleonora, Holy Roman Empress
- Vincenzo, Duke of Guastalla
- Ferrante III, Duke of Guastalla
- Vespasiano Vincenzo, Viceroy of Valencia