The House of Gonzaga ([1] pronounced as /it/) is an Italian princely family that ruled Mantua in Lombardy, northern Italy from 1328 to 1708 (first as a captaincy-general, then margraviate, and finally duchy). They also ruled Monferrato in Piedmont and Nevers in France, as well as many other lesser fiefs throughout Europe. The family includes a saint, twelve cardinals and fourteen bishops. Two Gonzaga descendants became empresses of the Holy Roman Empire (Eleonora Gonzaga and Eleonora Gonzaga-Nevers), and one became queen of Poland (Marie Louise Gonzaga).
The first members of the family of historical importance are known to have collaborated with the Guelph faction alongside the monks of the Polirone Abbey.[2] Starting from the 12th century they became a dominant family in Mantua, growing in wealth when their allies, the Bonacolsi, defeated the traditional familiar enemy, the Casalodi. In 1328, however, Ludovico I Gonzaga overthrew the Bonacolsi lordship over the city with the help of the Scaliger, and entered the Ghibelline party as capitano del popolo ("people's captain") of Mantua and imperial vicar of Emperor Louis IV.[3]
Ludovico was succeeded by Guido (1360–1369) and Ludovico II (1369–1382), while Feltrino, lord of Reggio until 1371, formed the cadet branch of the Gonzaga of Novellara, whose state existed until 1728. Francesco I (1382–1407) abandoned the traditional alliance with the Visconti of Milan, in order to align their rising power with the Republic of Venice.
In 1433, Gianfrancesco I assumed the title of Marquis of Mantua with the recognition of Emperor Sigismund, while obtaining recognition from the local nobility through the marriage of his daughter Margherita to Leonello d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara in 1435. In 1530 Federico II (1500–1540) received the title of Duke of Mantua. Also the two brothers of Federico II are historical characters of a certain importance: Ercole Gonzaga became a cardinal, presided over the Council of Trent and was almost elected Pope; Ferrante was a faithful ally of the Emperor Charles V who covered him with honors and positions, Ferrante was also the progenitor of the cadet branch of the Gonzaga of Guastalla. In 1531, the family acquired the Marquisate of Montferrat through marriage. Through maternal ancestors, the Gonzagas inherited also the Imperial Byzantine ancestry of the Paleologus, an earlier ruling family of Montferrat.
A cadet branch of the Mantua Gonzagas became dukes of Nevers and Rethel in France when Luigi (Louis) Gonzaga, a younger son of Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and Margherita Paleologa, married the heiress. The Gonzaga-Nevers later came to rule Mantua again when Louis's son Charles (Carlo) inherited Mantua and Montferrat, triggering the War of the Mantuan Succession.
Another cadet branch were first sovereign counts, later dukes of Guastalla. They descended from Ferrante, a younger son of Duke Francesco II of Mantua (1484–1519). Ferrante's grandson, Ferrante II, also played a role in the War of the Mantuan Succession. A further cadet branch was that of Sabbioneta, founded by Gianfrancesco, son of Ludovico III.
Marie Louise Gonzaga, daughter of Prince Charles Gonzaga-Nevers, was a Polish queen consort from 1645 to her death in 1667.
Two daughters of the house, both named Eleanor Gonzaga, became Holy Roman Empresses, by marrying emperors Ferdinand II of Germany and Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor, respectively. From the latter Empress Eleonora, the current heirs of the Gonzaga descend.
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was a member of a junior branch of this family.
The House of Gonzaga is the inspiration for the play-within-the-play in Shakespeare's Hamlet. In Act 3 scene 2, they act out a play called The Murder of Gonzago (or The Mousetrap).
Gonzaga rule continued in Mantua until 1708 and in Guastalla until 1746. Both ruling lines going extinct until passing on to a minor Gonzaga-Vescovato branch, which is the only remaining existing branch.
| < | ---Mantua---> | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| < | ---Novellara---> | < | ---Mantua---> | ||||
| < | ---Novellara---> | Lordship of Bagnolo (1399-1509) | |||||
| Lordship of Mantua (1328-1433) Raised to: Marquisate of Mantua (1433-1530) | Marquisate of Ostiano (1st creation) (1444-1466) | Lordship of Luzzara (1444-1561) (brief reunion with Mantua 1460-1478) Raised to: Marquisate of Luzzara (1561-1794) | |||||
| < | ---Mantua---> | ||||||
| Raised to: Duchy of Mantua (1530-1708) (with Montferrat since 1536) | County of Sabbioneta (1478-1577) | Marquisate of Ostiano (2nd creation) (1478-1495) | |||||
| < | ---Sabbioneta---> | ||||||
| Lordship of Bozzolo (1st creation) (1496-1529[4]) | Raised to: Duchy of Sabbioneta (1577-1637) | < | ---Luzzara---> | Lordship of Castiglione (1494-1593) Raised to: Marquisate of Castiglione (1593-1707) | |||
| < | ---Novellara1---> | < | ---Novellara2---> | < | ---Mantua---> | < | ---Sabbioneta---> |
| Lordship of Novellara (1360-1501) Raised to: County of Novellara (1501-1737) | Lordship of Vescovato (1519-1559) Raised to: Marquisate of Vescovato (1559-1796) | < | ---Mantua---> | < | ---Guastalla---> | ||
| < | ---Mantua---> | Lordship of Bozzolo (2nd creation) (1591-1668) | Marquisate of Ostiano (3rd creation) (1591-1703) | < | ---Sabbioneta---> | ||
| < | ---Mantua---> | Annexed to the Carafa and Guzmán families (1637-1689) Annexed to Spain | |||||
| < | ---Mantua---> | County of Guastalla (1539-1621) (purchased from the Torelli family) | |||||
| Mantua annexed to Austria; Montferrat annexed to Savoy | Annexed to Austria (1703-08) | Annexed to Austria | |||||
| Raised to: Duchy of Guastalla (1621-1746) | Annexed to Austria | ||||||
| Annexed to the Duchy of Modena | |||||||
| Annexed to the Duchy of Parma | |||||||
| Annexed to Savoy | |||||||
| Ruler | Born | Reign | Ruling part | Consort | Death | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ludovico I | 1268 Mantua Son of Guido Corradi da Gonzaga and Estrambina di San Martino | 16 August 1328 – 18 January 1360 | Lordship of Mantua | Richilda Ramberti 1312 four children Caterina Malatesta c.1320 four children Giovanna Malaspina of Fosdinovo 1340 six children | 18 January 1360 Mantua aged 91-92 | With the help of Cangrande I della Scala, lord of Verona, Ludovico became Capitano del popolo of Mantua, and also the first effective ruler of his family. | |
| Feltrino | c.1290 Mantua Third son of Ludovico I and Richilda Ramberti | 1335 – 28 December 1374 | Lordship of Novellara-Bagnolo | Antonia da Correggio c.1340 four children | 28 December 1374 Padua aged 83-84? | Conquered the region of Reggio as early as 1335, and on 17 May 1371 sold to Milan all this land, with the exception of Novellara and Bagnolo. | |
| Guido | 1290 Mantua Second son of Ludovico I and Richilda Ramberti | 18 January 1360 – 22 September 1369 | Lordship of Mantua | Agnese Pico di Mirandola c.1310/20? two children Camilla Beccaria c.1330? no children Beatrice of Bar 1340 six children | 22 September 1369 Mantua aged 78-79 | Elected in Mantua. Got firstly elected in Reggio Emilia in 1335. | |
| Ludovico II | 1334 Mantua Second son of Guido and Beatrice of Bar | 22 September 1369 – 4 October 1382 | Lordship of Mantua | Alda d'Este 1356 two children | 4 October 1382 Mantua aged 47-48 | ||
| Guido II[5] | 1 February 1340 Novellara Second son of Feltrino I and Antonia da Correggio | 28 December 1374 – 2 February 1399 | Lordship of Novellara | Ginevra Malatesta 1374 four children | 2 February 1399 Novellara aged 59 | ||
| Francesco I | 1366 Mantua Son of Ludovico II and Alda d'Este | 4 October 1382 – 7 March 1407 | Lordship of Mantua | Agnese Visconti 15 August 1375 (by proxy) 25 December 1380 (formal) one child Margherita Malatesta 1399 two children | 7 March 1407 Cavriana aged 40-41 | ||
| Giacomo | c.1375 Novellara First son of Guido II and Ginevra Malatesta | 2 February 1399 – 1441 | Lordship of Novellara | Ippolita Pio five children | 1441 Novellara aged 64-65 | Children of Guido II, divided their inheritance. | |
| Feltrino II | c.1375 Novellara Second son of Guido II and Ginevra Malatesta | 2 February 1399 – 1424 | Lordship of Bagnolo | Antonia Gonzaga of Mantua four children | 1424 aged 48-49? | ||
| Regency of Carlo I Malatesta, Lord of Rimini (1407-1409) | On 22 September 1433, the lordship was officially raised to a Marquisate, as Gian Francesco purchased his title from Sigismund, Holy Roman Emperor. | ||||||
| Gian Francesco | 1 June 1395 Mantua Son of Francesco I and Margherita Malatesta | 7 March 1407 – 25 September 1444 | Lordship of Mantua (1407-1433) Marquisate of Mantua (1433-1444) | Paola Malatesta 22 August 1409 Pesaro six children | 25 September 1444 Mantua aged 49 | ||
| Guido | c.1410? Novellara Second son of Feltrino II and Antonia Gonzaga of Mantua | 1424 – 1456 | Lordship of Bagnolo | Unmarried | 1456 aged 45-46? | ||
| Francesco I | c.1420 Novellara First son of Giacomo and Ippolita Pio | 1441 – 8 February 1484 | Lordship of Novellara | Costanza Strozzi seven children | 8 February 1484 Novellara aged 53-54 | ||
| Ludovico III the Turk | 5 June 1412 Mantua First son of Gian Francesco and Paola Malatesta | 25 September 1444 – 11 June 1478 | Marquisate of Mantua | Barbara of Brandenburg 12 November 1433 Mantua fourteen children | 11 June 1478 Goito aged 66 | Children of Gian Francesco, divided the land. After Alessandro's death, Ostiano returned to Mantua, only to be partitioned off again in the next generation. | |
| Carlo | 1415 Mantua Second son of Gian Francesco and Paola Malatesta | 25 September 1444 – 21 December 1456 | Lordship of Luzzara | Lucia d'Este 1437 no children Ringarda Manfredi two children | 21 December 1456 Ferrara aged 40-41 | ||
| Alessandro | 26 August 1427 Mantua Third son of Gian Francesco and Paola Malatesta | 25 September 1444 – 16 January 1466 | Marquisate of Ostiano | Agnese da Montefeltro 1446 no children | 16 January 1466 Mantua aged 38 | ||
| Regency of Ringarda Manfredi (1456-1466) | After his death, Luzzara returned to Mantua, only to be later partitioned off again and given to his cousin Rodolfo. | ||||||
| Ugolotto | 1452 Mantua Son of Carlo and Ringarda Manfredi | 21 December 1456 – c.1470 | Lordship of Luzzara | Unmarried | c.1470? aged 17-18? | ||
| Giorgio | c.1420 Novellara Second son of Giacomo Gonzaga, Lord of Novellara and Ippolita Pio | 1456 – 1487 | Lordship of Bagnolo | Paola Schianteschi two or four children Alda Torelli at least four children | 1487 Novellara aged 56-57? | ||
| Federico I | 25 June 1441 Mantua Second son of Ludovico III and Barbara of Brandenburg | 11 June 1478 – 14 July 1484 | Marquisate of Mantua | Margaret of Bavaria 6 June 1463 Mantua six children | 14 July 1484 Mantua aged 43 | Children of Ludovico III, divided the land. | |
| Gian Francesco | 4 October 1446 Mantua Fourth son of Ludovico III and Barbara of Brandenburg | 11 June 1478 – 27 August 1496 | County of Sabbioneta | Antonia del Balzo 17 July 1479 eleven children | 27 August 1496 Bozzolo aged 49 | ||
| Rodolfo I | 18 April 1452 Mantua Fifth son of Ludovico III and Barbara of Brandenburg | 11 June 1478 – 6 July 1495 | Lordship of Luzzara | Antonia Malatesta 11 January 1481 no children Caterina Pico della Mirandola 1484 six children | 6 July 1495 Fornovo aged 43 | ||
| Ludovico | 21 August 1460 Mantua Sixth son of Ludovico III and Barbara of Brandenburg | 11 June 1478 – 19 January 1511 | Marquisate of Ostiano | Unmarried | 19 January 1511 Gazzuolo aged 50 | ||
| Ostiano annexed to Sabbioneta | |||||||
| Gian Pietro | 1469 Novellara First son of Francesco I and Costanza Strozzi | 8 February 1484 – 18 November 1515 | Lordship of Novellara (1484-1501) County of Novellara and Bagnolo (1501-1515) | Caterina Torelli c.1495 eight children | 18 November 1515 Novellara aged 45-46 | On 7 July 1501, obtained the comital title from Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor. | |
| Francesco II | 10 August 1466 Mantua First son of Federico I and Margaret of Bavaria | 14 July 1484 – 29 March 1519 | Marquisate of Mantua | Isabella d'Este 11 February 1490 (by proxy) 15 February 1490 Pesaro (formal) eight children | 29 March 1519 Mantua aged 52 | ||
| Cristoforo | c.1470? First son of Giorgio and Alda Torelli | 1487 – 1510 | Lordship of Bagnolo (until 1509; at Vescovato since 1494) | Latina Ubaldini three children | After 1510 | Children of Giorgio, ruled jointly. Despite losing Bagnolo in 1509 (which merged again in Novellara), they kept rulership at Vescovato which they ruled from 1494. Cristoforo gave up his part in Vescovato in 1510. This feud was then sold in 1519 to Mantua, and given to a collateral line. | |
| Giacomo | c.1470? Second son of Giorgio and Alda Torelli | 1487 – 1519 | Unmarried | After 1519 | |||
| Marco Antonio | c.1470? Third son of Giorgio and Alda Torelli | 1487 – 1509 | Unknown four children | 1509 aged c.38-39? | |||
| Guido II | c.1470? Fourth son of Giorgio and Alda Torelli | 1487 – 1519 | Laura Martinengo six children | 1519 aged 48-49? | |||
| Bagnolo reannexed to Novellara | |||||||
| Regency of Caterina Pico della Mirandola (1495-1502) | Children of Rodolfo, divided officially their inheritance on 30 January 1511. Gian Francesco abdicated to his son shortly before his own death. | ||||||
| Gian Francesco | 2 February 1488 Luzzara First son of Rodolfo I and Caterina Pico della Mirandola | 6 July 1495 – 11 October 1524 | Lordship of Luzzara | Laura Pallavicino c.1510 eight children | 18 December 1524 Luzzara aged 36 | ||
| Aloisio | 20 April 1494 Luzzara Second son of Rodolfo I and Caterina Pico della Mirandola | 6 July 1495 – 19 July 1549 | Lordship of Luzzara (until 1511) Lordship of Castiglione (from 1511) | Ginevra Rangoni 24 July 1519 Mantua no children Caterina Anguissola December 1540 three children | 19 July 1549 Castel Goffredo aged 55 | ||
| Ludovico | 1481 Bozzolo First son of Gian Francesco and Antonia del Balzo | 27 August 1496 – 1 July 1540 | County of Sabbioneta | Francesca Fieschi 1497 eleven children | 1 July 1540 Bozzolo aged 58-59 | Children of Gian Francesco, divided the land, but given Federico's lack of descendants, the patrimony was inherited by Pirro. After Pirro's death Bozzolo (only) was annexed to Sabbioneta. Gazzuolo lived on until the next generation. | |
| Federico I | c.1480 Bozzolo Second son of Gian Francesco and Antonia del Balzo | 27 August 1496 – 28 December 1527 | Lordship of Bozzolo | Giovanna Orsini 1503 Asola no children | 28 December 1527 Todi aged c.46-47 | ||
| Pirro I | 1490 Bozzolo Third son of Gian Francesco and Antonia del Balzo | 27 August 1496 – 22 January 1529 | Lordship of Bozzolo (at Gazzuolo 1496-1529; at Bozzolo proper 1527-1529) | Camilla Bentivoglio c.1500? seven children | 22 January 1529 Gazzuolo aged 38-39 | ||
| Bozzolo (only) briefly annexed to Sabbioneta (1529-1591) | |||||||
| Alessandro I | 1496 Novellara First son of Gian Pietro and Caterina Torelli | 18 November 1515 – 26 February 1530 | County of Novellara and Bagnolo | 1518 four children | August 1530 Naples aged 33-34 | Abdicated shortly before his death. | |
| Regency of Isabella d'Este (1519-1521) | On 8 April 1530, the marquisate was officially raised to a Duchy, as Federico II obtained his title from Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor. | ||||||
| Federico II | 17 May 1500 Mantua First son of Francesco II and Isabella d'Este | 29 March 1519 – 28 June 1540 | Marquisate of Mantua (1519-1530) Duchy of Mantua (1530-1540) | Margherita Palaiologina of Montferrat 3 October 1531 Mantua seven children | 28 June 1540 Mantua aged 40 | ||
| Giovanni | 1474 Mantua Third son of Federico I and Margaret of Bavaria | 29 March 1519 – 23 September 1525 | Lordship of Vescovato | Laura Bentivoglio 20 June 1491 Bologna eight children | 23 September 1525 Mantua aged 50-51 | Youngest child of Federico I of Mantua, inherited Vescovato at the same time as his nephew, Federico II was inheriting Mantua. | |
| Regency of Laura Pallavicino (1524-1527) | Fought with his brother Rodolfo, who wanted a condominium in Luzzara. Massimiliano won the war, and his brother eventually got a separate property at Poviglio, given by the Guastalla branch. In 1561 Massimiliano's lordship was elevated to a Marquisate. | ||||||
| Massimiliano | 1513 Luzzara Son of Gian Francesco and Laura Pallavicino | 11 October 1524 – 4 March 1578 | Lordship of Luzzara (until 1561) Marquisate of Luzzara (from 1561) | Caterina Colonna 1548 five children | 4 March 1578 Luzzara aged 64-65 | ||
| Alessandro | 1497 Third son of Giovanni and Laura Bentivoglio | 23 September 1525 – 17 September 1527 | Lordship of Vescovato | Ippolita Sforza one child | 17 September 1527 Riozzo aged 29-30 | Left a son, but was succeeded by his brother in the lordship. | |
| Sigismondo I | 1499 Fifth son of Giovanni and Laura Bentivoglio | 17 September 1527 – December 1530 | Lordship of Vescovato | Antonia Pallavicino 1529 two children | December 1530 aged 30-31 | ||
| Federico II | c.1520 Gazzuolo (?) First son of Pirro I and Camilla Bentivoglio | 22 January 1529 – 1570 | Lordship of Bozzolo (at Gazzuolo only) | Lucrezia d'Incisa 1550 two children. | 1570 Gazzuolo aged 49-50 | Children of Pirro I. Having lost Bozzolo, got control of the remaining territories. However, after their deaths these territories were also lost. | |
| Carlo | 1523 Gazzuolo Second son of Pirro I and Camilla Bentivoglio | 22 January 1529 – 13 June 1555 | Lordship of Bozzolo (at San Martino dell'Argine) | Emilia Cauzzi Gonzaga c.1500? seven children | 13 June 1555 Gazzuolo aged 32-33 | ||
| Gazzuolo and San Martino divided and annexed to Sabbioneta and Mantua | |||||||
| Regency of Costanza da Correggio (1530-1540) | Children of Alessandro I, ruled jointly. | ||||||
| Francesco II | 16 January 1519 Novellara First son of Alessandro I and | 26 February 1530 – 1577 | County of Novellara and Bagnolo | Caterina Torelli c.1495 eight children | 1577 Mantua aged 45-46 | ||
| Camillo I | 27 March 1521 Bologna Second son of Alessandro I and | 26 February 1530 – 24 April 1595 | County of Novellara and Bagnolo | Barbara Borromeo (1538 – 1572) 1555 no children | 24 April 1595 Novellara aged 74 | ||
| Alfonso I | 25 September 1529 Turin Fourth son of Alessandro I and Costanza da Correggio | 26 February 1530 – 1 October 1589 | County of Novellara and Bagnolo | Vittoria di Capua 1567 thirteen children | 1 October 1589 Novellara aged 60 | ||
| Regency of Antonia Pallavicino (1530-1544) | During his rule the lordship was elevated to a marquisate. | ||||||
| Sigismondo II | 1530 Luzzara Son of Sigismondo I and Antonia Pallavicino | December 1530 – 1567 | Lordship of Vescovato (until 1559) Marquisate of Vescovato (from 1559) | Lavinia Rangoni five children | 1567 aged 36-37 | ||
| Ferrante I (Ferdinando I) | 28 January 1507 Mantua Third son of Francesco II, Marquis of Mantua and Isabella d'Este | 3 October 1539 – 15 November 1557 | County of Guastalla | Isabella di Capua 1530 Naples eleven children | 15 November 1557 Brussels aged 50 | Guastalla was sold to the Gonzagas in 1539 by Ludovica Torelli. | |
| Regency of Margherita Palaiologina of Montferrat, Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga and Ferrante I, Count of Guastalla (1540-1550) | Left no descendants. He was succeeded by his brother. | ||||||
| Francesco III | 10 March 1533 Mantua First son of Federico II and Margherita Palaiologina of Montferrat | 28 June 1540 – 21 February 1550 | Duchy of Mantua | Catherine of Austria 22 October 1549 Mantua no children | 21 February 1550 Mantua aged 16 | ||
| align=center colspan=7 | Regency of Giulia Gonzaga, Countess of Rodigo (1540-1545) | In 1577, the county was elevated to a duchy, obtained from Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor. | |||||
| Vespasiano | 6 December 1531 Fondi Son of Luigi Gonzaga Rodomonte, Heir of Sabbioneta and Isabella Colonna | 1 July 1540 – 26 February 1591 | County of Sabbioneta[6] (1540-1577) Duchy of Sabbioneta (1577-1591) | Diana Folch de Cardona April 1550 Piacenza no children Anna of Aragon 8 May 1564 Madrid three children Margherita Gonzaga of Guastalla 1581 no children | 26 February 1591 Sabbioneta aged 59 | ||
| Regencies of Caterina Anguissola (1549-1550) and Giovanni Anguissola (1550-1565) | Children of Aloisio, divided the land. | ||||||
| Alfonso | November 1541 Castel Goffredo First son of Aloisio and Caterina Anguissola | 19 July 1549 – 19 July 1549 | Lordship of Castiglione (at Castel Goffredo) | Ippolita Maggi 1568 Milan seven children | 7 May 1593 Gambaredolo aged 51 | ||
| Ferrante | 28 July 1544 Castel Goffredo Second son of Aloisio and Caterina Anguissola | 19 July 1549[7] – 15 February 1586 | Lordship of Castiglione (until 1579; at Castiglione proper) Marquisate of Castiglione (from 1579) | Marta Tana 15 November 1566 eight children | 15 February 1586 Milan aged 41 | ||
| Orazio | 1545 Castel Goffredo Third son of Aloisio and Caterina Anguissola | 19 July 1549 – 13 January 1587 | Lordship of Castiglione (at Solferino) | Paola Martinengo 1568 no children | 13 January 1587 Mantua aged 41-42 | ||
| Castel Goffredo and Solferino merged again in Castiglione | |||||||
| Regency of Margherita Palaiologina of Montferrat, Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga and Ferrante I, Count of Guastalla (1550-1556) | |||||||
| Guglielmo | 24 April 1538 Mantua Second son of Federico II and Margherita Palaiologina of Montferrat | 21 February 1550 – 14 August 1587 | Duchy of Mantua | Eleanor of Austria 26 April 1561 Mantua three children | 14 August 1587 Goito aged 49 | ||
| Cesare I | 6 September 1536 Mantua Son of Ferrante I and Isabella di Capua | 15 November 1557 – 17 February 1575 | County of Guastalla | Camilla Borromeo 12 March 1560 two children | 17 February 1575 Guastalla aged 38 | ||
| Carlo I | 20 April 1551 Vescovato First son of Sigismondo II and Charlotte de Choiseul | 1567 – 9 January 1614 | Marquisate of Vescovato | Emilia Olimpia Ferrero Fieschi (d.1630) seven children | 9 January 1614 Siena aged 62 | ||
| Regency of Camilla Borromeo (1575-1579) | On 2 July 1621 the County was raised to a Duchy. With this new dignity Ferrante claimed for himself (unsuccessfully) the main Duchy of Mantua during the War of Mantuan Succession. | ||||||
| Ferrante II (Ferdinando II) | 1563 Guastalla Son of Cesare I and Camilla Borromeo | 17 February 1575 – 5 August 1630 | County of Guastalla (1575-1621) Duchy of Guastalla (1621-1630) | Vittoria Doria 1587 eleven children | 5 August 1630 Guastalla aged 66-67 | ||
| Prospero | 1543 Luzzara Son of Massimiliano and Caterina Colonna | 4 March 1578 – 25 September 1614 | Marquisate of Luzzara | Isabella Gonzaga of Bozzolo 1576 thirteen children | 25 September 1614 Mantua aged 70-71 | Son-in-law of Pirro II of Bozzolo. | |
| Rodolfo II | 7 March 1569 Castiglione delle Stiviere Second son of Ferrante and Marta Tana | 15 February 1586 – 3 January 1593 | Marquisate of Castiglione | Elena Aliprandi 29 October 1588 four children | 3 January 1593 Castel Goffredo aged 23 | Left no male descendants. | |
| Vincenzo I | 21 September 1562 Mantua Son of Guglielmo and Eleanor of Austria | 14 August 1587 – 18 February 1612 | Duchy of Mantua | Margherita Farnese 2 March 1581 Piacenza (annulled 26 May 1583) no children Eleonora de' Medici 29 April 1584 Mantua six children | 18 February 1612 Mantua aged 49 | ||
| Isabella | 12 January 1565 Sabbioneta Daughter of Vespasiano and Anna of Aragon | 26 February 1591 – 10 February 1637 | Duchy of Sabbioneta | Luigi Carafa della Stadera 29 November 1584 Bozzolo one child | 10 February 1637 Naples aged 72 | Survived her son; after her death, the duchy was inherited by her granddaughter, Anna Carafa della Stadera, and then to the House of Guzmán. | |
| Sabbioneta inherited by the Carafa family and the House of Guzmán | |||||||
| Pirro II | 3 May 1540 San Martino dall'Argine First son of Carlo and Emilia Cauzzi Gonzaga | 1591 - 15 June 1592 | Lordship of Bozzolo | Francesca Guerrieri two children | 15 June 1592 San Martino dall'Argine aged 52 | Possibly for compensation, Bozzolo was returned to this branch after Vespasiano of Sabbioneta's death. | |
| Giulio Cesare | 1552 San Martino dall'Argine Sixth son of Carlo and Emilia Cauzzi Gonzaga | 1591 - 23 June 1609 | Lordship of Bozzolo | Flaminia Colonna 1587 two children | 23 June 1609 Bozzolo aged 52 | ||
| Francesco | 27 April 1577 Castiglione delle Stiviere Fifth son of Ferrante and Marta Tana | 3 January 1593 – 23 October 1616 | Marquisate of Castiglione (at Castiglione proper) | Bibiana of Pernstein 5 February 1598 Prague eight children | 23 October 1616 Toscolano-Maderno aged 39 | Brothers of Rodolfo II, divided the land once more. | |
| Cristierno | 30 September 1580 Castiglione delle Stiviere Sixth son of Ferrante and Marta Tana | 3 January 1593 – September 1630 | Marquisate of Castiglione (at Solferino) | Marcella Malaspina of Gragnola December 1605 three children | September 1630 Solferino aged 49-50 | ||
| Camillo II | 25 May 1581 Novellara Third son of Alfonso I and Vittoria di Capua | 24 April 1595 – 1640 10 September 1644 – 8 November 1650 | County of Novellara and Bagnolo | Caterina d'Avalos (1586-1618) 13 January 1605 nine children | 8 November 1650 Novellara aged 69 | Abdicated to his son, but given his premature death he eventually resumed government. | |
| Francesco Annibale | 31 July 1546 Gazzuolo Third son of Carlo and Emilia Cauzzi Gonzaga | 23 June 1609 - 11 March 1620 | Marquisate of Ostiano | Unmarried | 11 March 1620 Mantua aged 73 | Bishop of Mantua, recovered the property of his family at Ostiano. Left no descendants, and Ostiano was inherited by his nephew, the lord of San Martino dell'Argine. | |
| Regency of Isabella Gonzaga of Novellara (1609-1613) | Nephew of Giulio Cesare, Pirro II and Francesco-Annibale. Reunited Bozzolo with Ostiano. | ||||||
| Scipione | 1595 San Martino dall'Argine Son of Ferrante Gonzaga of Bozzolo and Isabella Gonzaga of Novellara | 23 June 1609 - 12 May 1670 | Lordship of Bozzolo | Maria Mattei (d.1658) 1640 three children | 12 May 1670 San Martino dall'Argine aged 74-75 | ||
| 11 March 1620 - 12 May 1670 | Marquisate of Ostiano | ||||||
| Bozzolo annexed to Ostiano | |||||||
| Francesco IV | 7 May 1586 Mantua First son of Vincenzo I and Eleonora de' Medici | 18 February – 22 December 1612 | Duchy of Mantua | Margherita of Savoy 19 February 1608 Turin three children | 22 December 1612 Mantua aged 40 | After his death his possessions were divided. | |
| Ferdinando | 26 April 1587 Mantua Second son of Vincenzo I and Eleonora de' Medici | 22 December 1612 – 29 October 1626 | Duchy of Mantua (at Mantua) | Caterina de' Medici 3 October 1531 Mantua no children | 29 October 1626 Mantua aged 39 | Brother and daughter of Francesco IV, divided the inheritance. | |
| Regency of Margherita of Savoy (1612-1627) | |||||||
| Maria | 29 July 1609 Mantua Daughter of Francesco IV and Margherita of Savoy | 22 December 1612 – 14 August 1660 | Duchy of Mantua (at Montferrat) | Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers 25 December 1627 Mantua two children | 14 August 1660 Porto Mantovano aged 51 | ||
| Francesco Giovanni | 10 April 1593 Vescovato Son of Carlo and Emilia Olimpia Ferrero Fieschi | 9 January 1614 – 31 August 1636 | Marquisate of Vescovato | Camilla Ponzoni (d.1635) 1617 four children Ottavia Cecilia Flameni (d.1640) c.1635 no children | 31 August 1636 Vescovato aged 43 | ||
| Federico I | 20 May 1591 Vicenza Son of Prospero and Isabella Gonzaga of Bozzolo | 25 September 1614 – 3 August 1630 | Marquisate of Luzzara | Elisabetta Gonzaga of Poviglio (d.1620) seven children Fulvia di Basilio c.1625? one child | 3 August 1630 Treviso aged 39 | Son-in-law of Luigi, who was a son of Rodolfo Gonzaga of Poviglio. | |
| Regencies of Cristierno Gonzaga, Marquis of Solferino and Cardinal Gian Giacomo Teodoro Trivulzio (1616-1621) and Gridonia Gonzaga (1621-1629) | Left no male descendants. The marquisate passed to his brother. | ||||||
| Luigi | 1611 Castiglione delle Stiviere Second son of Francesco and Bibiana of Pernstein | 23 October 1616 – 22 February 1636 | Marquisate of Castiglione (at Castiglione proper) | Laura del Bosco Ventimiglia January 1630 Palermo four children | 22 February 1636 Palermo aged 24-25 | ||
| Vincenzo II | 7 January 1594 Mantua Third son of Vincenzo I and Eleonora de' Medici | 29 October 1626 – 25 December 1627 | Duchy of Mantua | Isabella Gonzaga of Novellara 23 August 1616 Mantua no children | 25 December 1627 Mantua aged 40 | ||
| Carlo I | 6 May 1580 Paris Third son of Ludovico Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers and Henriette of Cleves | 25 December 1627 – 22 September 1637 | Duchy of Mantua (at Mantua) | Catherine of Mayenne 1 February 1599 Soissons no children | 22 September 1637 Mantua aged 57 | Grandson of Federico II, won the War of the Mantuan Succession. From 1627 onwards, the Dukes of Mantua were also Dukes of Nevers, hence the branch name Gonzaga-Nevers. | |
| Luigi I | 1602 Luzzara Seconsd son of Federico I and Elisabetta Gonzaga of Poviglio | 3 August 1630 – 3 November 1666 | Marquisate of Luzzara | Elena Gonzaga of Vescovato (d.1620) nine children | 3 November 1666 Luzzara aged 63-64 | ||
| Cesare II | 1592 Mantua First son of Ferrante II and Vittoria Doria | 5 August 1630 – 26 February 1632 | Duchy of Guastalla | Isabella Orsini (1598-1623) 1612 two children | 26 February 1632 Vienna aged 39-40 | ||
| Ferrante III (Ferdinando III) | 4 April 1618 Mantua First son of Cesare II and Isabella Orsini | 26 February 1632 – 11 January 1678 | Duchy of Guastalla | Margherita d'Este 24 June 1647 Guastalla two children | 11 January 1678 Guastalla aged 59 | ||
| Guastalla annexed to Milan (1678-1693) | |||||||
| Ferdinando I | 7 August 1614 Castiglione delle Stiviere Third son of Francesco and Bibiana of Pernstein | 22 February 1636 – 23 April 1675 | Marquisate of Castiglione (at Castiglione proper) | Olimpia Sforza Visconti December 1644 three children | 23 April 1675 Castiglione delle Stiviere aged 60 | Left no male descendants. The marquisate went to his cousin, the marquis of Solferino. | |
| Carlo II | 2 June 1618 Vescovato First son of Francesco Giovanni and Camilla Ponzoni | 31 August 1636 – 19 September 1695 | Marquisate of Vescovato | Unmarried | 19 September 1695 Vescovato aged 77 | Children of Francesco Giovanni, ruled jointly. | |
| Sigismondo III | 11 February 1625 Vescovato Second son of Francesco Giovanni and Camilla Ponzoni | 31 August 1636 – 31 December 1694 | Elena Sforza Amigoni 1673 three children | 31 December 1694 Mantua aged 69 | |||
| Regency of Maria, Duchess of Montferrat (1637-1647) | Grandson of Carlo I. Also Duke of Nevers as Charles III. | ||||||
| Carlo II | 31 October 1629 Mantua Son of Carlo II Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers and Maria, Duchess of Montferrat | 22 September 1637 – 14 August 1665 | Duchy of Mantua (in Mantua only until 1660; in Mantua and Montferrat from 1660) | Isabella Clara of Austria 7 November 1649 Mantua one child | 14 August 1665 Mantua aged 35government. | ||
| Alessandro II | 1611 Novellara First son of Camillo II and Caterina d'Avalos | 1640 – 10 September 1644 | County of Novellara and Bagnolo | Caterina Torelli c.1495 eight children | 10 September 1644 Novellara aged 32-33 | His father abdicated for him, but he died four years later, with no descendants; his father returned to government. | |
| Alfonso II | 20 April 1616 Novellara Second son of Camillo II and Caterina d'Avalos | 8 November 1650 – 25 July 1678 | County of Novellara and Bagnolo | Ricciarda Cybo-Malaspina 1648 four children | 25 July 1678 Novellara aged 62 | ||
| Regency of Isabella Clara of Austria (1665-1671) | Left no descendants. After his death Mantua and Montferrat fell under Austrian control. | ||||||
| Ferdinando Carlo | 31 August 1652 Revere Son of Carlo II and Isabella Clara of Austria | 14 August 1665 – 5 July 1708 | Duchy of Mantua | Anna Isabella Gonzaga of Guastalla July 1671 Mantua no children Suzanne Henriette of Lorraine 8 November 1704 Tortona no children | 5 July 1708 Padua aged 55 | ||
| Mantua-Montferrat annexed to Austria | |||||||
| Federico II | 1636 Luzzara First son of Luigi I and Elena Gonzaga of Vescovato | 3 November 1666 – 8 March 1698 | Marquisate of Luzzara | Luigia Ludovica Gonzaga of Castiglione (1653-1715) 1667 fourteen children | 8 March 1698 Luzzara aged 61-62 | ||
| Ferdinando II Filippo | 1 December 1643 First son of Scipione and Maria Mattei | 12 May 1670 - 1672 | Marquisate of Ostiano | Maria Mattei (d.1658) 1640 three children | 1672 aged 28-29 | ||
| Gian Francesco II | 20 February 1646 San Martino dall'Argine Second son of Scipione and Maria Mattei | 1672 - 24 April 1703 | Marquisate of Ostiano | Unmarried | 24 April 1703 San Martino dall'Argine aged 57 | ||
| Ostiano annexed to Mantua (1703-1708) and then to Guastalla | |||||||
| Carlo | 3 May 1616 Castiglione delle Stiviere First son of Cristierno and Marcella Malaspina of Gragnola | September 1630 – 23 April 1675 23 April 1675 - 21 May 1680 | Marquisate of Castiglione (at Solferino until 1675; in all Castiglione from 1675) | Isabella Martinengo 1643 eight children | 21 May 1680 Solferino aged 64 | From 23 April 1675, reunited once more the marquisates of Solferino and Castiglione. | |
| Camillo III | 23 August 1649 Novellara First son of Alfonso II and Ricciarda Cybo-Malaspina | 25 July 1678 – 16 August 1727 | County of Novellara and Bagnolo | Matilde d'Este c.1495 eight children | 16 August 1727 Novellara aged 77 | ||
| Ferdinando II | 28 August 1648 Solferino First son of Carlo and Isabella Martinengo | 21 May 1680 – 21 January 1707 | Marquisate of Castiglione | Laura Pico della Mirandola 28 February 1680 four children | 11 February 1723 Venice aged 74 | In 1707, after an attack in Castiglione, he escaped to Venice alongside Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga of Mantua. | |
| Castiglione annexed to Austria | |||||||
| Vincenzo | 18 May 1634 Guastalla Son of Andrea Gonzaga of San Paolo and Laura Crispiano | 1693 – 28 April 1714 | Duchy of Guastalla | Teodora Porzia Guidi di Bagno (?-1672) c.1670? no children Maria Vittoria Gonzaga of Guastalla 1679 five children | 28 April 1714 Guastalla aged 79 | Grandson of Ferrante II, married Maria Vittoria, daughter of Ferrante III. | |
| Francesco Gaetano | 1673 Vescovato First son of Sigismondo III and Elena Sforza Amigoni | 19 September 1695 – 24 July 1735 | Marquisate of Vescovato | Anna Goldoni Vidoni (1677-1730) 1696 one child | 24 July 1735 Vescovato aged 61-62 | ||
| Luigi II | 19 September 1679 Luzzara Second son of Federico II and Caterina Pico della Mirandola | 8 March 1698 – 12 June 1738 | Marquisate of Luzzara | Charlotte de Choiseul (1679-1734) 1703? seven children | 12 June 1738 Luzzara aged 58 | ||
| Antonio Ferrante (Antonio Ferdinando) | 9 December 1687 Guastalla First son of Vincenzo and Maria Vittoria Gonzaga of Guastalla | 28 April 1714 – 16 April 1729 | Duchy of Guastalla | Margherita Cesarini (1695-1725) c.1720? no children Theodora of Hesse-Darmstadt 29 July 1727 Darmstadt no children | 16 April 1729 Guastalla aged 41 | ||
| Filippo Alfonso | 3/4 December 1700 Novellara Son of Camillo III and Matilde d'Este | 16 August 1727 – 13 December 1728 | County of Novellara and Bagnolo | Eleonora Tanara no children | 13 December 1728 Massa aged 28 | Left no descendants. The county passed to his sister. | |
| Riccarda | 22 February 1698 Novellara Second daughter of Camillo III and Matilde d'Este | 13 December 1728 – 12 October 1737 | County of Novellara and Bagnolo | Alderano I Cybo-Malaspina 29 April 1715 Milan three children | 24 November 1768 Massa aged 70 | Sister of Filippo Alfonso, ruled the county after the extinction of the male line. In 1737, after the War of the Polish Succession, Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor passed the county to Rinaldo d'Este. | |
| Novellara annexed to Modena | |||||||
| Giuseppe Maria | 20 April 1690 Guastalla Second son of Vincenzo and Maria Vittoria Gonzaga of Guastalla | 16 April 1729 – 15 August 1746 | Duchy of Guastalla | Eleanor of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Wiesenburg 29 March 1731 Lilienfeld no children | 15 August 1746 Padua aged 56 | From 1739 until his death, his mental illness caused his wife to assume the reins of the duchy. Left no descendants. | |
| Regency of Eleanor of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Wiesenburg (1739-1746) | |||||||
| Guastalla annexed to Parma | |||||||
| Sigismondo IV | 1702 Vescovato Only son of Francesco Gaetano and Anna Goldoni Vidoni | 24 July 1735 – 1779 | Marquisate of Vescovato | Carlotta Barisoni (1700-1738) 1724 four children | 1779 Venice aged 76-77 | Left no surviving male offspring. After his death the marquisate was inherited by a distant cousin. | |
| Basilio | 26 September 1711 Luzzara Third son of Luigi II and Charlotte de Choiseul | 12 June 1738 – 29 May 1782 | Marquisate of Luzzara | Maria Borromeo (d.1761) c.1735? seven children | 29 May 1782 Luzzara aged 70 | None of the children survived him. He was succeeded by his brother. | |
| Francesco Niccolò | 26 December 1731 Vescovato First son of Francesco Ferrante Gonzaga of Vescovato and Giulia Isolani | 1779 – 4 September 1783 | Marquisate of Vescovato | Olimpia Scotti 1756 five children | 4 September 1783 Mantua aged 72 | Great-great-grandson of Giordano, brother of Carlo I. | |
| Giovanni | 4 July 1721 Luzzara Fifth son of Luigi II and Charlotte de Choiseul | 29 May 1782 – 3 April 1794 | Marquisate of Luzzara | Teresa Anguissola (1745-1819) 1716 two children | 3 April 1794 Mantua aged 72 | Left no male descendants. After his death Luzzara was annexed to Savoy. | |
| Luzzara annexed to Savoy | |||||||
| Francesco Luigi | 21 October 1763 Vescovato First son of Francesco Niccolò and Olimpia Scotti | 4 September 1783 – 1796 | Marquisate of Vescovato | Giulia Cavriani (1767-1846) 1716 two children | 17 December 1832 Venice aged 69 | In 1796 he was dispossessed of the marquisate, but retained the title. | |
| Vescovato occupied by France | |||||||
The branches of the Gonzaga family, showing marquises and (subsequently) dukes of Mantua in bold, dukes of Nevers and Rethel in italics and the Guastalla line to the right.