240px, Portrait of Gianfrancesco Gonzaga Gianfrancesco Gonzaga (1446 - 28 August 1496) was the third son of

Ludovico III Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua Ludovico III Gonzaga of Mantua, also spelled Lodovico (also Ludovico II; 5 June 1412 – 12 June 1478) was the ruler of the Italian city of Mantua from 1444 to his death in 1478. Biography Ludovico was the son of Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga and ...

and Barbara of Brandenburg. He was the first Count of

Sabbioneta Sabbioneta ( egl, label= Casalasco-Viadanese, Subiunèda) is a town and in the province of Mantua, Lombardy region, Northern Italy. It is situated about north of Parma, not far from the northern bank of the Po River. It was inscribed in the World ...

from 1479 until his death, originating the later Princely Gonzaga-Sabbioneta, Gonzaga-Bozzolo, Gonzaga-Gazzuolo and Gonzaga-San Martino lines of the

Gonzaga family ) , type = Noble house , country = , estates = Ducal Palace (Mantua) Ducal Palace (Nevers) , titles = * Prince of Arches * Duke of Montferrat * Duke of Mantua * Duke of Guastalla * Duke of Nevers * Duke ...

Biography

He was born in

Mantua Mantua ( ; it, Mantova ; Lombard language, Lombard and la, Mantua) is a city and ''comune'' in Lombardy, Italy, and capital of the Province of Mantua, province of the same name. In 2016, Mantua was designated as the Italian Capital of Culture ...

. in 1478, when his father Ludovico died, the Gonzaga lands between the Po and

Oglio The Oglio (; Latin ''Ollius'', or ''Olius''; Lombard ''Òi''; Cremonese ''Ùi'') is a left-side tributary of the river Po in Lombardy, Italy. It is long. In the hierarchy of the Po's tributaries, with its of length, it occupies the 2nd pla ...

rivers were inherited by his sons cardinal

Francesco Francesco, the Italian (and original) version of the personal name " Francis", is the most common given name among males in Italy. Notable persons with that name include: People with the given name Francesco * Francesco I (disambiguation), sev ...

and Gianfrancesco. When Francesco died, the latter became the only lord, adding to them the county of

Rodigo Rodigo ( Upper Mantovano: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy, located about east of Milan and about northwest of Mantua. Rodigo borders the following municipalities: Castellucchio, Ceresara ...

. Gianfrancesco chose

Gazzuolo Gazzuolo ( Mantovano: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy, located about southeast of Milan and about southwest of Mantua. The town had been a possession of Gonzaga family, the lord of Mantua, ...

as the seat of his court. The town was fortified and later became the seat of a marquisate (1565). He married Antonia Del Balzo, daughter of Pietro Del Balzo, duke of

Andria Andria (; Barese: ) is a city and ''comune'' in Apulia ( southern Italy). It is an agricultural and service center, producing wine, olives and almonds. It is the fourth-largest municipality in the Apulia region (behind Bari, Taranto, and Fogg ...

. He died at

Bozzolo Bozzolo ( Mantovano: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Mantua in the Italian region Lombardy, located about southeast of Milan and about southwest of Mantua. Bozzolo borders the following municipalities: Acquanegra sul Chiese ...

in 1496. His lands were inherited by his sons Pirro and

Ludovico Ludovico () is an Italian masculine given name. It is sometimes spelled Lodovico. The feminine equivalent is Ludovica. Persons with the name Ludovico Given name * Ludovico D'Aragona (1876–1961), Italian socialist politician * Ludovico Ariosto ...

External links

History of Sabbioneta
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzaga, Gianfrancesco Sabbioneta 1446 births 1496 deaths Gianfrancesco Sabbioneta Nobility of Mantua