Guillaume de Mantoue

Guillaume Gonzague , in Italian Guglielmo Gonzaga , is an Italian prince born the January 23rd 1538 with Mantoue and dead the August 14th 1587 with Goito. It was the third duke of Mantoue (area of Lombardy in Italy), titrated Guillaume, and marquis then 1 {{er}} duke of Montferrat (area of the Piedmont), titrated Guillaume X.

Guillaume, wire puîné of Frederic II of Mantoue and Marguerite de Montferrat, is only 12 years old when it succeeds his brother François III which dies in 1550.

Guillaume was intended for the ecclesiastical career and one initially thought of Louis which is eleven years old to succeed Francois, the more so as Guillaume is affigé of this dorsal bump which had with the hereditary gibbosity which afflicts certain descendants with Malatesta. But Guillaume is worthy and extremely able to be equal to the task which will fall on to him. In any event, it does not have the twenty-three necessary years and the regency which ensured for François his Marguerite mother and her uncle Ercole the cardinal, continuous.

In 1561, to its majority, one of the first actions of Guillaume, released from regency, will be to take wife and to devote the bond with the imperial house of the Habsbourg which turned runs with the death of his/her brother: it will be a sister of the young widow, niece also of Charles Quint.

Guillaume is a severe man, as well in the political matters as in the cultural field. Very administrative, it organizes, sometimes with excess. Thus, for the marquisat of Montferrat, it makes very expensive pay the protection (against a possible invasion by the Duché of Savoy) which it brings to its inhabitants by the means of excessive taxes. This so much so that it will have against him, a conspiracy, in October 1567, ventilated in time, and than it will think of exchanging this marquisat distant from Mantoue against another nearer. It reorganizes the institutions of Mantoue like, for example, the justice for which it sets up a Senate of Justice, reflection of an official seizure. To the economic plan, it goes, like his uncle Ercole, to support the establishment in its city of Mantoue of manufactures even of factories which largely will contribute to the enrichment of the duché.
Its severity consevatrice also shows through in its artistic tastes. He appreciates the music at the point extremely to compose itself some polyphonic works which reflect an austere design. There does not remain less patron and accommodates about it, inter alia, Rubens which will paint for him famous the retable of the Trinity of the ducal Palate of Mantoue, and Tintoret, of 1578 with 1580, which will carry out for him the eight fabrics entitled Fastes of Gonzague (today with the Alte Pinakothek of Munich). It will also make build by Giovanbattista Bertani, architect mantouan, the palatine basilica of Santa Barbara.
Ferdinand Ier, his/her father-in-law, become Germanic emperor in 1556 will do it Chevalier of the Ordre of the Golden Fleece in 1559 and it is the son of Ferdinand, Maximilien II, which will raise it, in 1574, with the dignity of duke of Montferrat.

Guillaume Maria thus, the April 26th 1561 with Mantoue, with Éléonore of Austria (1533-1594). It was the girl of Ferdinand I {{er}}, Germanic emperor and of Anne of Bohemia and thus sister of Catherine which married François III, the older brother of Guillaume. They had three children.

Vincent which will be the 4th duke of Mantoue, and 2nd duke of Montferrat, titrated Vincent Ier;
Marguerite de Mantoue (1564-1618), which will marry, in 1579 Alphonse II of Este (1533-1597), Duc of Ferrare, of Modena and of Reggio;
Anne Catherine de Mantoue (1566-1621), which will marry, in 1582 Ferdinand of the Tyrol, archduke of the Tyrol, wire of Ferdinand Ist

this marriage will devote triple alliance Gonzague - Habsbourg after those of his/her uncle François and his father.

Tested by the drop and the Osteoarthritis, Guillaume is deceased in 1587, at the 49 years age, of a crisis of malaria.

See too

House Gonzague
List of the dukes of Mantoue

External bonds

Itis.mn.it : Guglielmo - Terzo duca di Mantova E firstly del Monferrato
Sardimpex.com: Gonzaga - Marchesi E Duchi sovrani di Mantova
Genealogy.euweb.cz: Gonzaga family

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