Federico I Gonzaga
Encyclopedia
Federico I Gonzaga was marquess
of Mantua
from 1478 to 1484, as well as a condottiero.
and received an education from Mantegna's mother as well as Vittorino da Feltre
.
He fought for the Sforza of Milan
until 1470 and succeeded to the marquisate on June 14, 1478. He was, however, forced to split much of the Mantuan possessions with his brothers.
Federico continued to fight as a condottiero, and during his frequent absences Mantua was administered by Eusebio Malatesta, while the local army was under his brother-in-law, Francesco Secco d'Aragona. Federico took part in numerous actions in defence of the Duchy of Milan, in particular against the aggressive Republic of Venice
. During one of these wars Francesco Secco occupied Asola and other Venetian territories. Later, after the peace, Ludovico Sforza
of Milan
asked for the return of Asola to Milan, to which Frederick had to acquiesce.
He died in Mantua at the age of 40, and was buried in the church of Sant'Andrea.
, daughter of Albert III, Duke of Bavaria
and Anna, Duchess of Brunswick-Grubenhagen; and sister of John IV, Duke of Bavaria
. They had the following issue:
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 Mantua
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...
from 1478 to 1484, as well as a condottiero.
Biography
Federico was born in Mantua in 1441, son of Ludovico II and Barbara of Brandenburg. He was a good friend of the court painter Andrea MantegnaAndrea Mantegna
Andrea Mantegna was an Italian painter, a student of Roman archeology, and son in law of Jacopo Bellini. Like other artists of the time, Mantegna experimented with perspective, e.g., by lowering the horizon in order to create a sense of greater monumentality...
and received an education from Mantegna's mother as well as Vittorino da Feltre
Vittorino da Feltre
Vittorino da Feltre was an Italian humanist and teacher. He was born in Feltre, Belluno, Republic of Venice and died in Mantua. His real name was Vittorino Ramboldini....
.
He fought for the Sforza of Milan
Duchy of Milan
The Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
until 1470 and succeeded to the marquisate on June 14, 1478. He was, however, forced to split much of the Mantuan possessions with his brothers.
Federico continued to fight as a condottiero, and during his frequent absences Mantua was administered by Eusebio Malatesta, while the local army was under his brother-in-law, Francesco Secco d'Aragona. Federico took part in numerous actions in defence of the Duchy of Milan, in particular against the aggressive Republic of Venice
Republic of Venice
The Republic of Venice or Venetian Republic was a state originating from the city of Venice in Northeastern Italy. It existed for over a millennium, from the late 7th century until 1797. It was formally known as the Most Serene Republic of Venice and is often referred to as La Serenissima, in...
. During one of these wars Francesco Secco occupied Asola and other Venetian territories. Later, after the peace, Ludovico Sforza
Ludovico Sforza
Ludovico Sforza , was Duke of Milan from 1489 until his death. A member of the Sforza family, he was the fourth son of Francesco Sforza. He was famed as a patron of Leonardo da Vinci and other artists, and presided over the final and most productive stage of the Milanese Renaissance...
of Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
asked for the return of Asola to Milan, to which Frederick had to acquiesce.
He died in Mantua at the age of 40, and was buried in the church of Sant'Andrea.
Family
In 1463 he married Margaret of BavariaMargaret of Bavaria (1442–1479)
Margaret of Bavaria , was a Marchioness consort of Mantua, married in 1463 to Federico I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua. She was the daughter of Albert III, Duke of Bavaria and Anna of Brunswick-Grubenhagen-Einbeck. The marriage between Margaret and Frederico helped trading relations between the two...
, daughter of Albert III, Duke of Bavaria
Albert III, Duke of Bavaria
Albert III the Pious of Bavaria-Munich , , since 1438 Duke of Bavaria-Munich. He was born to Ernest, Duke of Bavaria and Elisabetta Visconti, daughter of Bernabò Visconti.-Life:Albert was born in Munich....
and Anna, Duchess of Brunswick-Grubenhagen; and sister of John IV, Duke of Bavaria
John IV, Duke of Bavaria
John IV. of Bavaria-Munich , was duke of Bavaria-Munich from 1460 until his death.-Biography:...
. They had the following issue:
- Clara GonzagaClara GonzagaClara Gonzaga, Countess of Montpensier, Dauphine of Auvergne, Duchess of Sessa was an Italian noblewoman of the House of Gonzaga...
{1464-1503} married in 1482 to Gilbert of Bourbon-Montpensier Duke of Sessa; parents of Charles III, Duke of BourbonCharles III, Duke of BourbonCharles III, Duke of Bourbon was a French military leader, the Count of Montpensier and Dauphin of Auvergne. He commanded the Imperial troops of Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in what became known as the Sack of Rome in 1527, where he was killed.-Biography:Charles was born at Montpensier...
. - Francesco II Gonzaga {1466-1519) married in 1490 to Isabella d'EsteIsabella d'EsteIsabella d'Este was Marchesa of Mantua and one of the leading women of the Italian Renaissance as a major cultural and political figure. She was a patron of the arts as well as a leader of fashion, whose innovative style of dressing was copied by women throughout Italy and at the French court...
daughter of King Ferdinand I of NaplesFerdinand I of NaplesFerdinand I , also called Don Ferrante, was the King of Naples from 1458 to 1494. He was the natural son of Alfonso V of Aragon by Giraldona Carlino.-Biography:...
; parents in law of Francesco Maria I della RovereFrancesco Maria I della RovereFrancesco Maria I della Rovere was an Italian condottiero, who was Duke of Urbino from 1508 until 1538.- Biography :...
Duke of Urbino and nephew of Guidobaldo da MontefeltroGuidobaldo da Montefeltrothumb|240px|Portrait of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro by [[Raphael]].Guidobaldo da Montefeltro , also known as Guidobaldo I, was an Italian condottiero and the Duke of Urbino from 1482 to 1508.-Biography:... - Sigismondo GonzagaSigismondo GonzagaSigismondo Gonzaga was an Italian cardinal. He was the third son of Federico I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua....
(1469–1525) - Elisabetta GonzagaElisabetta GonzagaElisabetta Gonzaga was a noblewoman of the Italian Renaissance, renowned for her cultured and virtuous life. A member of the noble House of Gonzaga, she was a sister of Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua and by marriage the Duchess of Urbino...
(1471–1526) married in 1489 to Guidobaldo da MontefeltroGuidobaldo da Montefeltrothumb|240px|Portrait of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro by [[Raphael]].Guidobaldo da Montefeltro , also known as Guidobaldo I, was an Italian condottiero and the Duke of Urbino from 1482 to 1508.-Biography:...
Duke of Urbino - Maddelena (1472–90) married in 1489 to Giovanni SforzaGiovanni SforzaGiovanni Sforza d'Aragona was an Italian condottiero, lord of Pesaro and Gradara from 1483 until his death. He is best known as the first husband of Lucrezia Borgia...
Lord of Pesaro and Gradara who later married Lucrezia BorgiaLucrezia BorgiaLucrezia Borgia [luˈkrɛtsia ˈbɔrʤa] was the illegitimate daughter of Rodrigo Borgia, the powerful Renaissance Valencian who later became Pope Alexander VI, and Vannozza dei Cattanei. Her brothers included Cesare Borgia, Giovanni Borgia, and Gioffre Borgia...
. - Giovanni GonzagaGiovanni GonzagaGiovanni Gonzaga was an Italian nobleman of the House of Gonzaga, born at Mantua.He was the youngest child of Federico I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua. In 1494 he married to Laura Bentivoglio, daughter of Giovanni II Bentivoglio, de facto lord of Bologna...
(1474–1525) married in 1493 Laura Bentivoglio (d.1523) and had issue. His descendants, the Marquises of Vescocato, have been the senior line of the House of Gonzaga since the 18th century.