Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua
Encyclopedia
Francesco II Gonzaga (10 August 1466 – ) was the ruler of the Italian
city of Mantua
from 1484 until his death.
. He had a career as a condottiero acting as Venice
's commander from 1489 to 1498. He was the commander-in-chief of the army of the Italian league in the battle of Fornovo
, although under the tutorage of his more experienced uncle Ridolfo Gonzaga: although inconclusive, the battle had at least the effect to push Charles VIII of France
's army back to the Alps. He was described as "short, pop-eyed, snub-nosed and exceptionally brave, and was regarded as the finest knight in Italy".
Later he was rival of the Venetians, as leader of the Holy League formed by Pope Julius II
against them. In that occasion he was captured by the Venetians, who held him as hostage for several months and humiliated him: this caused his perpetual hostility towards that city, and he refused any subsequent request to return to command its army.
During his absences, Mantua was governed by his wife Isabella d'Este
, whom he had married on 12 February 1490. Under their reign, Mantua knew a great age of cultural splendour, with the presence in the city of artists such as Andrea Mantegna
and Jacopo Bonacolsi. Francesco had the Palace of St. Sebastian built, were later Mantegna's Triumph of Caesar were placed.
Beginning in 1503, he started a long relationship with Lucrezia Borgia
On his death from syphilis
contracted from prostitutes, he was succeeded by his son Federico, with Isabella acting as regent. His other son Ferrante Gonzaga
originated the branch of the Counts of Guastalla. His disease prevented him from recognizing that his wife had eclipsed him.
and Francesco Gonzaga had 8 children:
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
city 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 1484 until his death.
Biography
Gonzaga was born in Mantua, the son of Marquess Federico I GonzagaFederico I Gonzaga
Federico I Gonzaga was marquess of Mantua 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 had a career as a condottiero acting as Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
's commander from 1489 to 1498. He was the commander-in-chief of the army of the Italian league in the battle of Fornovo
Battle of Fornovo
The Battle of Fornovo took place 30 km southwest of the city of Parma on 6 July 1495. The League of Venice was able to temporarily expel the French from the Italian Peninsula. It was the first major battle of the Italian Wars.-Antecedents:...
, although under the tutorage of his more experienced uncle Ridolfo Gonzaga: although inconclusive, the battle had at least the effect to push Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII of France
Charles VIII, called the Affable, , was King of France from 1483 to his death in 1498. Charles was a member of the House of Valois...
's army back to the Alps. He was described as "short, pop-eyed, snub-nosed and exceptionally brave, and was regarded as the finest knight in Italy".
Later he was rival of the Venetians, as leader of the Holy League formed by Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II
Pope Julius II , nicknamed "The Fearsome Pope" and "The Warrior Pope" , born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513...
against them. In that occasion he was captured by the Venetians, who held him as hostage for several months and humiliated him: this caused his perpetual hostility towards that city, and he refused any subsequent request to return to command its army.
During his absences, Mantua was governed by his wife Isabella d'Este
Isabella d'Este
Isabella 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...
, whom he had married on 12 February 1490. Under their reign, Mantua knew a great age of cultural splendour, with the presence in the city of artists such as Andrea Mantegna
Andrea 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 Jacopo Bonacolsi. Francesco had the Palace of St. Sebastian built, were later Mantegna's Triumph of Caesar were placed.
Beginning in 1503, he started a long relationship with Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia Borgia
Lucrezia 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...
On his death from syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
contracted from prostitutes, he was succeeded by his son Federico, with Isabella acting as regent. His other son Ferrante Gonzaga
Ferrante Gonzaga
Ferrante I Gonzaga was an Italian condottiero, a member of the House of Gonzaga and the founder of the branch of the Gonzaga of Guastalla.-Biography:...
originated the branch of the Counts of Guastalla. His disease prevented him from recognizing that his wife had eclipsed him.
Family
Isabella d'EsteIsabella d'Este
Isabella 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...
and Francesco Gonzaga had 8 children:
- Eleonor GonzagaEleonor Gonzaga (1493–1570)Eleonora Gonzaga, Duchess of Urbino was the eldest of the seven children of Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua, and Isabella d'Este. Her father was a notorious libertine, and her mother, a gifted patroness of the arts of the late Italian Renaissance...
, born 1493, died 1570. Married 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. - Margherita, born 1496.
- Livia, born 1501, died 1508.
- Ippolita, born 1503, died 1580. Ippolita became a nun in the Dominican convent of S. Vincenzo.
- Federico II, Duke of Mantua, born 1500, died 1540. First married Maria Palaeologina and later her sister Margaret PalaeologinaMargaret PalaeologinaMargaret Palaeologa was an Italian ruler; Marchioness of Montferrat in her own right. She also married into the Gonzaga family, rulers of Mantua, making her Duchess of Mantua by her marriage to Federico II, Duke of Mantua...
. - Ercole GonzagaErcole GonzagaErcole Gonzaga was an Italian Cardinal.-Biography:Born in Mantua, he was the son of the Marquess Francesco Gonzaga, and nephew of Cardinal Sigismondo Gonzaga...
, born 1506, died 1565. Became a Cardinal. - Ferrante GonzagaFerrante GonzagaFerrante I Gonzaga was an Italian condottiero, a member of the House of Gonzaga and the founder of the branch of the Gonzaga of Guastalla.-Biography:...
, born 1507, died 1557. Married Isabella di Capua. - Livia, later known as Sister Paola, born 1508, died 1569
