Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga
Eleanora Luisa Gonzaga (13 November 1686 – 16 March 1741) was the Duchess of Rovere and Montefeltro as the wife of Francesco Maria de' Medici. She was the only child of Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla and Sabbioneta and his second wife, Maria Vittoria Gonzaga. She did not bear any children.
Biography
Eleanora Luisa Gonzaga married Francesco Maria de' Medici, Duke of Rovere and Montefeltro (titles inherited from his mother) on 14 July 1709. Her husband was forty-eight years old and morbidly obese. Before the marriage occurred, Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who instigated the marriage, sent agents to Guastalla to ascertain her physical appearance. They concluded that she had beautiful skin, eyes, mouth, and waist.[1] The House of Medici was desperately wanting in male heirs; Francesco Maria, previously a cardinal, was released from his vows through his brother's action to remedy this.
Eleanora Luisa was repulsed by her husband, refusing to fulfil her marital duties. Despite requisitioning the assistance of her old confessor from Guastalla, Cosimo III could not cajole her into submitting, as she allegedly feared contracting venereal diseases. Francesco Maria had her surmount this predicament and eventually the marriage was consummated. However, no heirs were born and as a result of this, Francesco Maria was devastated.[2]
On 2 February 1711, Francesco Maria died of dropsy, leaving behind exorbitant debts.[3] Eleanora Luisa lingered on at Tuscany's court until the death of her nephew-in-law Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. From there, she ventured to Padua in the Republic of Venice, where she died on 16 March 1741.
Titles and styles
- 13 November 1686 – 14 July 1709 Donna Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga
- 14 July 1709 – 2 February 1711 Her Highness The Duchess of Rovere
- 2 February 1711 – 16 March 1741 Her Highness The Dowager Duchess of Rovere
Ancestry
| Ancestors of Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga |
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16. Cesare I Gonzaga, Count of Guastalla |
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8. Ferrante II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla (=#24) |
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17. Camilla Borromeo |
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4. Andrea Gonzaga, Count of San Paolo |
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18. Giannettino Doria |
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9. Vittoria Doria (=#25) |
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19. Ginetta Centurione |
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2. Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla |
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5. Laura Crispano |
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10. 10. ?, Marquis de Fusara |
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24. Ferrante II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla (=#8) |
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12. Cesare II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla |
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25. Vittoria Doria (=#9) |
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6. Ferrante III Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla |
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26. Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano |
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13. Isabella Orsini |
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27. Flavia Damasceni-Peretti |
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3. Maria Vittoria Gonzaga |
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28. Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena |
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14. Alfonso III d'Este, Duke of Modena |
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29. Virginia de' Medici |
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7. Margarete d'Este |
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30. Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy |
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15. Isabella of Savoy |
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31. Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain |
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Citations
- ^ Acton, p 246
- ^ Acton, p 250
- ^ Acton, p 251
Bibliography
- Acton, Harold: The Last Medici, Macmillan, London, 1980, ISBN 0-333-29315-0
See also
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| 1st Generation |
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| 2nd Generation |
Federico I, Marquess of Mantua · Gianfrancesco, Count of Sobionetta · Francesco · Susanna · Dorothea · Rudolfo · Cecilia · Barbara, Duchess of Württemberg · Lodovico · Paola, Countess of Gorizia
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| 3rd Generation |
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| 4th Generation |
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| 5th Generation |
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| 6th Generation |
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| 7th Generation |
Francesco IV, Duke of Mantua · Ferdinando, Duke of Mantua · Guglielmo · Margherita Gonzaga, Duchess of Lorraine · Vincenzo II, Duke of Mantua · Eleonora, Holy Roman Empress · François, Duke of Rethel · Charles, Duke of Nevers · Ferdinand, Duke of Mayenne · Marie Louise, Queen of Poland · Benedetta · Anne, Countess Palatine of Simmern · Cesare II, Duke of Guastalla · Vincenzo, Viceroy of Sicily · Andrea, Count of San Paolo
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| 8th Generation |
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| 9th Generation |
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Tuscan princesses by marriage
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| 1st Generation |
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| 2nd Generation |
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| 3rd Generation |
none
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| 4th Generation |
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| 5th Generation |
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| 6th Generation |
none
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| 7th Generation |
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| 8th Generation |
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| 9th Generation |
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| 10th Generation |
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| 11th Generation |
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| 12th Generation |
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| 13th Generation |
Princess Laetitia of Arenberg* · Countess Margaret Kálnoky von Köröspatak* · Maria Espinosa de los Monteros^* · Countess Valerie of Podstatzky-Lichtenstein* · Freiin Eva Antonia von Hofmann* · Princess Anna Amelie of Schönburg-Waldenburg* · Countess Hedwig of Lichem-Löwenburg* · Freiin Edith von Sternbach*
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| 14th Generation |
Elyssa Edmonstone^* · Countess Marie Gabrielle of Waldstein*
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^did not have a royal or noble title by birth
* also an archduchess of Austria by marriage
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Gonzaga, Eleanora Luisa |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
13 November 1686 |
| Place of birth |
Guastalla, Duchy of Guastalla |
| Date of death |
16 March 1741 |
| Place of death |
Padua, Republic of Venice |