Charles IV, Duke of Mantua
Encyclopedia
Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga (31 August 1652 – 5 July 1708) was the only child of Duke Charles II of Mantua
and Montferrat
, and the last ruler of the Duchy of Mantua
of the House of Gonzaga
.
(d. August 11, 1703), daughter of Ferrante III Gonzaga
, sovereign Duke
of Guastalla
. This marriage was arranged by the assistance of his aunt, empress dowager Eleanor Gonzaga, and took place in 1671. Anna Isabella Gonzaga was the heir of the Duchy of Guastalla
and Luzzara Reggiolo, and her rights transferred these areas, which had been a long concern of conflicts between the two Gonzaga lines, to the Mantua line of the Gonzaga dynasty.
On November 8, 1704 he married secondly Suzanne Henriette de Lorraine known in France prior to marriage as Mademoiselle d'Elbeuf (February 1, 1686-December 19, 1710), daughter of Charles de Lorraine, Duke of Elbeuf by his third spouse, Françoise de Montault de Navailles, daughter of Philippe de Montault de Bénac, Duke of Navailles. This marriage was childless.
Frustrated by the Austrians in the conquest
of Guastalla, he concluded a pact
with Louis XIV of France on December 8, 1678, selling Casale
. In this context his minister
, Count Ercole Antonio Mattioli
, might have become the Man in the Iron Mask
, being imprisoned in Pinerolo
since April 1679 for disclosing this pact to the enemies of France.
The duke denied everything, but concluded a new pact with the French in 1681, obtaining thereby a yearly pension of sixty thousand lire
, a career as an army general, and a part in any future French conquests in Italy. The French occupied Casale on September 29, 1681, and the Duke of Mantua lost respect in Italy.
Ferdinando Carlo again chose the French side in the War of the Spanish Succession
. In 1701, when the anti-French coallition-forces conquered Mantua, he fled to Casale, leaving his consort Anna Isabella Gonzaga behind as regent during his absence. He paid heavily for his choice, when the French were chased back over the Alps
in 1706. Already declared a traitor in 1701 by Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
, all his possessions were confiscated in 1708.
The House of Savoy
obtained the remaining half of Montferrat
, having already conquered the first half in the War of the Mantuan Succession
in 1631. The Duchy of Mantua
became Austrian and ceased its independent existence. Ferdinando Carlo died the same year in Padua
.
Mantua
Mantua is a city and comune in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province of the same name. Mantua's historic power and influence under the Gonzaga family, made it one of the main artistic, cultural and notably musical hubs of Northern Italy and the country as a whole...
and Montferrat
Montferrat
Montferrat is part of the region of Piedmont in Northern Italy. It comprises roughly the modern provinces of Alessandria and Asti. Montferrat is one of the most important wine districts of Italy...
, and the last ruler of the Duchy of Mantua
Duchy of Mantua
The Duchy of Mantua was a duchy in Lombardy, Northern Italy, subject to the Holy Roman Empire.-History:After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Mantua was invaded by Byzantines, Longobards and Franks. In the 11th century it became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Toscana...
of the House of Gonzaga
House of Gonzaga
The Gonzaga family ruled Mantua in Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708.-History:In 1433, Gianfrancesco I assumed the title of Marquis of Mantua, and in 1530 Federico II received the title of Duke of Mantua. In 1531, the family acquired the Duchy of Monferrato through marriage...
.
Biography
Born in Revere, Ferdinand Charles first married Anna Isabella GonzagaAnna Isabella Gonzaga
Anna Isabella Gonzaga , was a Duchess consort of Mantua and Montferrat and heir of the Duchy of Guastalla and Luzzara Reggiolo; married in 1671 to Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat...
(d. August 11, 1703), daughter of Ferrante III Gonzaga
Ferrante III Gonzaga
Ferrante III Gonzaga was Duke of Guastalla.He was the son of Cesare II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla and Duke of Amalfi and Isabella Orsini.He succeeded his father in 1632....
, sovereign Duke
Duke
A duke or duchess is a member of the nobility, historically of highest rank below the monarch, and historically controlling a duchy...
of Guastalla
Guastalla
Guastalla is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.-Geography:Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River...
. This marriage was arranged by the assistance of his aunt, empress dowager Eleanor Gonzaga, and took place in 1671. Anna Isabella Gonzaga was the heir of the Duchy of Guastalla
Guastalla
Guastalla is a town and comune in the province of Reggio Emilia in Emilia-Romagna, Italy.-Geography:Guastalla is situated in the Po Valley, and lies on the banks of the Po River...
and Luzzara Reggiolo, and her rights transferred these areas, which had been a long concern of conflicts between the two Gonzaga lines, to the Mantua line of the Gonzaga dynasty.
On November 8, 1704 he married secondly Suzanne Henriette de Lorraine known in France prior to marriage as Mademoiselle d'Elbeuf (February 1, 1686-December 19, 1710), daughter of Charles de Lorraine, Duke of Elbeuf by his third spouse, Françoise de Montault de Navailles, daughter of Philippe de Montault de Bénac, Duke of Navailles. This marriage was childless.
Frustrated by the Austrians in the conquest
Conquest (military)
Conquest is the act of military subjugation of an enemy by force of arms. One example is the Norman conquest of England, which provided the subjugation of the Kingdom of England and the acquisition of the English crown by William the Conqueror in 1066...
of Guastalla, he concluded a pact
Treaty
A treaty is an express agreement under international law entered into by actors in international law, namely sovereign states and international organizations. A treaty may also be known as an agreement, protocol, covenant, convention or exchange of letters, among other terms...
with Louis XIV of France on December 8, 1678, selling Casale
Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato, population 36,058, is a town and comune in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy, part of the province of Alessandria. It is situated about 60 km east of Turin on the right bank of the Po, where the river runs at the foot of the Montferrato hills. Beyond the river lies the...
. In this context his minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
, Count Ercole Antonio Mattioli
Ercole Antonio Mattioli
Ercole Antonio Mattioli was an Italian politician, who was a minister of Duke Charles IV of Mantua. He was kidnapped and imprisoned by Louis XIV of France. He has been associated with the Man in the Iron Mask.-Biography:...
, might have become the Man in the Iron Mask
Man in the Iron Mask
The Man in the Iron Mask is a name given to a prisoner arrested as Eustache Dauger in 1669 or 1670, and held in a number of jails, including the Bastille and the Fortress of Pignerol . He was held in the custody of the same jailer, Bénigne Dauvergne de Saint-Mars, for a period of 34 years...
, being imprisoned in Pinerolo
Pinerolo
Pinerolo is a town and comune in north-western Italy, 40 kilometres southwest of Turin on the river Chisone.-History:In the Middle Ages, the town of Pinerolo was one of the main crossroads in Italy, and was therefore one of the principal fortresses of the dukes of Savoy. Its military importance...
since April 1679 for disclosing this pact to the enemies of France.
The duke denied everything, but concluded a new pact with the French in 1681, obtaining thereby a yearly pension of sixty thousand lire
Lira
Lira is the name of the monetary unit of a number of countries, as well as the former currency of Italy, Malta, San Marino and the Vatican City and Israel. The term originates from the value of a Troy pound of high purity silver. The libra was the basis of the monetary system of the Roman Empire...
, a career as an army general, and a part in any future French conquests in Italy. The French occupied Casale on September 29, 1681, and the Duke of Mantua lost respect in Italy.
Ferdinando Carlo again chose the French side in the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
. In 1701, when the anti-French coallition-forces conquered Mantua, he fled to Casale, leaving his consort Anna Isabella Gonzaga behind as regent during his absence. He paid heavily for his choice, when the French were chased back over the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
in 1706. Already declared a traitor in 1701 by Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph I, Holy Roman Emperor
Joseph I , Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia, King of Hungary, King of the Romans was the elder son of Emperor Leopold I and his third wife, Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg....
, all his possessions were confiscated in 1708.
The House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
obtained the remaining half of Montferrat
Montferrat
Montferrat is part of the region of Piedmont in Northern Italy. It comprises roughly the modern provinces of Alessandria and Asti. Montferrat is one of the most important wine districts of Italy...
, having already conquered the first half in the War of the Mantuan Succession
War of the Mantuan Succession
The War of the Mantuan Succession was a peripheral part of the Thirty Years' War. Its casus belli was the extinction of the direct male line of the House of Gonzaga in December 1627. Brothers Francesco IV , Ferdinando and Vincenzo II , the last three dukes of Gonzaga, had all died leaving no...
in 1631. The Duchy of Mantua
Duchy of Mantua
The Duchy of Mantua was a duchy in Lombardy, Northern Italy, subject to the Holy Roman Empire.-History:After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Mantua was invaded by Byzantines, Longobards and Franks. In the 11th century it became a possession of Boniface of Canossa, marquis of Toscana...
became Austrian and ceased its independent existence. Ferdinando Carlo died the same year in Padua
Padua
Padua is a city and comune in the Veneto, northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Padua and the economic and communications hub of the area. Padua's population is 212,500 . The city is sometimes included, with Venice and Treviso, in the Padua-Treviso-Venice Metropolitan Area, having...
.
Ancestry
Titles and styles
- 31 August 1652 – 14 August 1665 His Highness the Hereditary Prince of Mantua
- 14 August 1665 – 5 July 1708 His Highness the Duke of Mantua