Duchy of Mantua

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Vincenzo II of Gonzaga, by Peter Paul Rubens.

The Duchy of Mantua was an Italian state that was ruled by the Gonzaga family from 1328 to 1708. The Gonzaga family ruled initially as "Captains General of the People." In 1433, Gianfrancesco Gonzaga assumed the title of Marquis of Mantua. In 1530, Federico II received the title of Duke of Mantua. In 1531, the family acquired the Marquisate of Montferrat through marriage.

[edit] Gonzaga rulers

Luigi (ruled 1328–1360)
Guido (ruled 1360–1369), son of Luigi
Ludovico I (1369–1382)
Francesco I (ruled 1382–1407), son of Ludovico I
Gianfrancesco I (ruled 1407–1444), son of Francesco I
Ludovico II (ruled 1444–1478), son of Gianfrancesco I
Federico I (ruled 1478–1484), son of Ludovico II
Francesco II (ruled 1484–1519)
Federico II (ruled 1519–1540), son of Francesco II
Francesco III (ruled 1540–1550), son of Federico II
Guglielmo I (ruled 1550–1587), brother of Francesco III
Vincenzo I (ruled 1587–1612), son of Guglielmo I

his daughter, Eleonora Gonzaga (1598–1655) married Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor

Francesco IV (ruled 1612), son of Vincenzo I
Ferdinando I (ruled 1612–1626), brother of Francesco IV
Vincenzo II (ruled 1626–1627), brother of Ferdinando I

The Duchy of Mantua then fell to the junior branch of Gonzaga-Nevers.

Carlo I (ruled 1627–1637)
Carlo III (ruled 1637–1665), grandson of Carlo I (Carlo II predeceased his father)

his sister, Eleonora of Mantua married Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor

Ferdinando Carlo IV (ruled 1665–1708), son of Carlo III

In 1708, Mantua was seized by the Habsburgs, ending Gonzaga rule. Montferrat's territories were ceded to Duke of Savoy. The emperor compensated the Duke of Lorraine, heir in female line of the Gonzaga, for loss of Montferrat by ceding Duchy of Teschen to the Lorraine.

[edit] Gonzaga family tree (1360–1708)

Luigi I
|
+-Guido
  |
  +-Luigi II
    |
    +-Francesco I
      |
      +-Gianfrancesco
        |
        +-Luigi III
          |
          +-Federico I
            |
            +-Francesco II
              |
              +-Federico II/I
                |
                +-Francesco I
                |
                +-Guglielmo
                | |
                | +-Vincenzo I
                |   |
                |   +-Francesco II
                |   |
                |   +-Ferdinando
                |   |
                |   +-Vincenzo II
                |
                +-(Luigi di Nevers)
                  |
                  +-Carlo I
                    |
                    +-(Francesco)
                    |
                    +-(Carlo)
                      |
                      +-Carlo II
                        |
                        +-Ferdinando Carlo