Maria Gonzaga, Duchess of Montferrat

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.

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
• Eleanor Gonzaga (1630–1686), who married in 1651 Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor

See also

• House of Gonzaga
• Rulers of Mantua
• Rulers of Montferrat

References

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
• (in English and Italian) Marek, Miroslav. "Gonzaga family". Genealogy.EU.

1. Margherita Gonzaga, Duchess of Ferrara
2. Margaret of Savoy, Vicereine of Portugal
3. Eleonora Gonzaga (1630–1686)
4. Maria Gonzaga
5. Charles II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat
6. Francesco IV Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
7. Anne Gonzaga
8. Anna Isabella Gonzaga
9. Charles I Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
10. Charles II Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers
11. Vincenzo I Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
12. Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
13. Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat
14. Margaret Paleologa
15. House of Gonzaga
16. Guglielmo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
17. Leopold, Duke of Lorraine
18. Archduchess Isabella Clara of Austria
19. List of rulers of Montferrat
20. Ferdinando Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua