Maria Gonzaga or Maria of Mantua (29 July 1609 – 14 August 1660) was a reigning duchess of Montferrat from 1612 until 1660, and
regent
A regent (from Latin : ruling, governing) is a person appointed to govern a state ''pro tempore'' (Latin: 'for the time being') because the monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge the powers and duties of the monarchy, ...
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
Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was ...
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
)
, 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
* ...
*
Rulers of Mantua
During its history as independent entity, Mantua had different rulers who governed on the city and the lands of Mantua from the Middle Ages to the early modern period.
From 970 to 1115, the Counts of Mantua were members of the House of Canoss ...
*
Rulers of Montferrat
References
Sources
*
External links
Sardimpex.com : Gonzaga - Marchesi e Duchi sovrani di Mantova, indice L1*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzaga, Maria
1609 births
1660 deaths
Maria Gonzaga, Duchess of Montferrat
Regents of Mantua
Duchesses of Mantua
Duchesses of Montferrat
17th-century Italian women
17th-century Italian nobility
17th-century women rulers