Ludovico II Gonzaga (1334 – 4 October 1382) was an Italian politician who was

capitano del popolo Captain of the People ( it, Capitano del popolo, Lombard: ''Capitani del Popol'') was an administrative title used in Italy during the Middle Ages, established essentially to balance the power and authority of the noble families of the Italian ci ...

of Mantua. He was a member of the

House of Gonzaga ) , 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 the son of

Guido Gonzaga Guido Gonzaga (1290 – 22 September 1369) was an Italian condottiero, son of Ludovico I Gonzaga capitano del popolo of Mantua and imperial vicar. Biography He was elected ''podestà'' of Mantua in 1328, as well as of Reggio Emilia. In 1335 he bec ...

and Beatrix of Bar. Together with his brother Francesco, he set a plot against his elder brother

Ugolino Ugolino is an Italian masculine given name that is a diminutive form of Ugo. It may also refer to: Artists and musicians * Ugolino di Nerio (1280?–1349), Italian painter active in Siena and Florence * Ugolino di Tedice (died after 1277), Italian ...

, who had also been associated with power by their father, killing him on 14 October 1362 during a dinner. Despite the suspicions, Guido pardoned his sons. In 1368 Francesco also died in mysterious circumstances, and Ludovico became the only successor to Guido. When his father died, Ludovico set a policy of friendship with the nearby

Milan Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city h ...

and their rulers, the

House of Visconti Visconti is a surname which may refer to: Italian noble families * Visconti of Milan, ruled Milan from 1277 to 1447 ** Visconti di Modrone, collateral branch of the Visconti of Milan * Visconti of Pisa and Sardinia, ruled Gallura in Sardinia from ...

. He married Alda, daughter of

Obizzo III d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara Obizzo III d'Este (14 July 1294 – 20 March 1352) was the Marquess of Ferrara from 1317 until his death. He was the son of Aldobrandino II d'Este and Alda Rangoni. Life Obizzo was lord of Ferrara together with his brothers Rinaldo and Niccolò, ...

. Their son

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 ...

was married to

Agnese Agnese is a given name and a variant of Agnes. Its name day is 21 January in Italy. People with the name Agnese include: *Agnese Allegrini (born 1982), Italian badminton player *Agnese Bonfantini (born 1999), Italian football player * Agnese Kokl ...

, daughter of

Bernabò Visconti Bernabò or Barnabò Visconti (1323 – 19 December 1385) was an Italian soldier and statesman who was Lord of Milan. Along with his brothers Matteo and Galeazzo II, he inherited the lordship of Milan from his uncle Giovanni. Later in 1355, he an ...

. He also established trade links with the

Republic of Venice The Republic of Venice ( vec, Repùblega de Venèsia) or Venetian Republic ( vec, Repùblega Vèneta, links=no), traditionally known as La Serenissima ( en, Most Serene Republic of Venice, italics=yes; vec, Serenìsima Repùblega de Venèsia, ...

. Internally, Ludovico built or strengthened fortifications in his land, but also faced two plots, including one by Antonio Gonzaga in 1373. Ludovico died in 1382, and was buried in the church of San Francesco.

External links

Biography at the Gonzaga family website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzaga, Ludovico 02 1334 births 1382 deaths Ludovico 02 Lords of Mantua Burials in the Cappella Gonzaga, San Francesco, Mantua