Louis IV of Nevers

Louis IV of Nevers was noble a italo - French of the family Gonzague of Mantoue, born with Mantoue (Lombardy, Italy) the September 18th 1539, died with Nesle (Picardy, France) the October 23rd 1595. It was the 3rd wire of Frederic II, duke of Mantoue and marquis de Montferrat, and of Marguerite Paléologue, itself girl and heiress of Guillaume IX of Montferrat.

Louis comes in France to manage the seigniory of Guerche pertaining to his maternal grandmother, Anne d' Alençon. In 1560, it obtains French naturalization.

It would seem that it is by the means of this grandmother that Louis knew his wife. Indeed, the sister of Anne d' Alençon, Francoise d' Alençon was the maternal grandmother of Henriette.

It Marie, the March 4th 1565, with Henriette de Clèves, duchess of Nevers and countess of Rethel, downward last of the House of Clèves. It thus acquires the title of duke of Nevers by courtesy.
Louis and Henriette will have five children:

  • Catherine (1568-1629) which marries in 1588 Henri Ier of Orleans, duke of Longueville
  • Henriette (1571-1601) which marries in 1599 Henri of Lorraine, duke of Mayenne and of Pivot
  • Frederic (1573-1574)
  • François (1576-1580)
  • Charles (1580-1637) which will succeed his/her parents with the head of the duchies of Nevers and Rethel, then will become duke of Mantoue and of Montferrat

In 1575, it is charged to go to take from Dreux the duke of Anjou, younger brother of Henri III which is escaped of Court, but fails. In December 1578, it belongs to the first noble ones of France named knights about the Holy Spirit by Henri III.
In 1581, the county of Rethel is set up in duchy for the benefit of Louis, husband of the countess in title. Louis is made Pair France.

He becomes, with the wire of his career, Général French. He is distinguished in the catholic party during the wars of religion, takes party for the Ligue, and successfully fights the Calviniste S in Poitou (1588) but he ends up joining with Henri IV, which appoints it ambassador extraordinary close to the Saint Seat to negotiate its reconciliation with the Church. Later, it is sent against the duke of Parma in Picardy.
Few days after the catch of Cambric, Louis die in Nesle the October 23rd 1595, àgé 56 years.

Its widow, Henriette, survive to him until in 1601.
His/her son, Charles succeeds to him like duke of Nevers and Rethel and becomes, in 1627, duke of Mantoue and of Montferrat.

Nevers owes in Louis his famous activity of faience manufacture. Towards the end of XVIe century, it makes come from Italy Augustin Conrade, potter of Albissola, close to Savone, and his/her brothers, Baptiste and Dominique, and installs them with the castle of the Marsh with Gimouille. Their reputation and their success will become such, that Nevers will be affirmed at the XVIIe century like French capital of the Faïence.


See too

Related articles

  • House Gonzague
  • List of the dukes of Nevers
  • List of the dukes of Rethel

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