Charles I, Duke of Mantua
Encyclopedia
Charles Gonzaga (6 May 1580 – 22 September 1637) was Duke of Mantua and Duke of Montferrat from 1627 until his death. He was also Duke of Rethel and Nevers, as well as Prince of Arches.
, he was the son of Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers
and Henriette of Cleves
.
In 1612, Charles, a descendant of the Byzantine Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus through his grandmother, who was of the line of Theodore I of Montferrat, Andronicus' son. claimed the throne of Constantinople, at the time the capital of the Ottoman Empire
. He began plotting with the Maniots of Greece
, who addressed him as "King Constantine Palaeologus". When the Ottoman authorities heard about this, they sent an army of 20,000 men and 70 ships to invade Mani. They succeeded in ravaging Mani and imposing taxes on the Maniots. This caused Charles to move more actively for his crusade. He sent envoys to the courts of Europe looking for support. In 1619, he recruited six ships and a number of men, but he was forced to abort the mission because of the beginning of the Thirty Years' War
.
At the death of the last legitimate male heir of the Gonzaga line in the Duchy of Mantua, Vincenzo II (1627), Charles inherited the title through an agreement. His son was married with Maria Gonzaga
, daughter of former Duke Francesco IV
.
However, his succession spurred the enmity of Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy, who aimed at the Gonzaga lands of Montferrat
, and, above all, of Spain
and the Holy Roman Empire
, which did not like a philo-French ruler in Mantua. This led to the War of Mantuan Succession. In 1629 emperor Ferdinand II
sent a Landsknecht
army to besiege Mantua
, Charles left without the promised support from Louis XIII of France
. The siege lasted until July 1630, when the city, already struck by a plague, was brutally sacked. Mantua never recovered from this disaster.
The subsequent diplomatic maneuvers allowed Charles, who had fled to the Papal States, to return to the duchy in 1631, although not without concessions to the House of Savoy
and to the Gonzaga of Guastalla
. The situation of the Mantuan lands was dramatic, but he was able to trigger some economic recovery in the following years.
Charles died in 1637. His successor was his grandson Charles II, initially under the regency of Maria Gonzaga
, Charles I's daughter-in-law.
and Henriette of Savoy. They had six children:
Biography
Born in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, he was the son of Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers
Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers
Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers was an Italian-French dignitary and diplomat in France. He was the third child of Frederick II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and Margaret Palaeologina.-Life account:...
and Henriette of Cleves
Henriette of Cleves
Henriette of Cleves, Duchess of Nevers and Duchess of Rethel was a French noblewoman and heiress of the Cleves-Nevers family. She was also known as Henriette de La Marck...
.
In 1612, Charles, a descendant of the Byzantine Emperor Andronicus II Palaeologus through his grandmother, who was of the line of Theodore I of Montferrat, Andronicus' son. claimed the throne of Constantinople, at the time the capital of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
. He began plotting with the Maniots of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, who addressed him as "King Constantine Palaeologus". When the Ottoman authorities heard about this, they sent an army of 20,000 men and 70 ships to invade Mani. They succeeded in ravaging Mani and imposing taxes on the Maniots. This caused Charles to move more actively for his crusade. He sent envoys to the courts of Europe looking for support. In 1619, he recruited six ships and a number of men, but he was forced to abort the mission because of the beginning of the Thirty Years' War
Thirty Years' War
The Thirty Years' War was fought primarily in what is now Germany, and at various points involved most countries in Europe. It was one of the most destructive conflicts in European history....
.
At the death of the last legitimate male heir of the Gonzaga line in the Duchy of Mantua, Vincenzo II (1627), Charles inherited the title through an agreement. His son was married with Maria Gonzaga
Maria Gonzaga
Maria Gonzaga or Maria of Mantua was an Italian princess of the House of Gonzaga, and regent of Mantua.-Biography:...
, daughter of former Duke Francesco IV
Francesco IV Gonzaga
Francesco IV Gonzaga , was Duke of Mantua and Duke of Montferrat between 9 February and 22 December 1612.-Biography:Born in Mantua, he was the eldest son of Duke Vincenzo I and Eleonora de' Medici....
.
However, his succession spurred the enmity of Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy, who aimed at the Gonzaga lands 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...
, and, above all, of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, which did not like a philo-French ruler in Mantua. This led to the War of Mantuan Succession. In 1629 emperor Ferdinand II
Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II , a member of the House of Habsburg, was Holy Roman Emperor , King of Bohemia , and King of Hungary . His rule coincided with the Thirty Years' War.- Life :...
sent a Landsknecht
Landsknecht
Landsknechte were European, predominantly German mercenary pikemen and supporting foot soldiers from the late 15th to the late 16th century, and achieved the reputation for being the universal mercenary of Early modern Europe.-Etymology:The term is from German, Land "land, country" + Knecht...
army to besiege 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...
, Charles left without the promised support from Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
. The siege lasted until July 1630, when the city, already struck by a plague, was brutally sacked. Mantua never recovered from this disaster.
The subsequent diplomatic maneuvers allowed Charles, who had fled to the Papal States, to return to the duchy in 1631, although not without concessions to 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...
and to the Gonzaga 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...
. The situation of the Mantuan lands was dramatic, but he was able to trigger some economic recovery in the following years.
Charles died in 1637. His successor was his grandson Charles II, initially under the regency of Maria Gonzaga
Maria Gonzaga
Maria Gonzaga or Maria of Mantua was an Italian princess of the House of Gonzaga, and regent of Mantua.-Biography:...
, Charles I's daughter-in-law.
Children
He married Catherine of Mayenne, daughter of Charles of Lorraine, Duke of MayenneCharles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne
Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne , or Charles de Guise, was a French nobleman of the house of Guise and a military leader of the Catholic League, which he headed during the French Wars of Religion, following the assassination of his brothers at Blois in 1588...
and Henriette of Savoy. They had six children:
- Francis Gonzaga, Duke of Rethel (1606–1622).
- Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers, nominal co-ruler Duke of Mantua (1609 - 14 August 1631) and his heir. Better known as Duke of Nevers and Rethel. Married heiress Maria GonzagaMaria GonzagaMaria Gonzaga or Maria of Mantua was an Italian princess of the House of Gonzaga, and regent of Mantua.-Biography:...
. They were parents to Eleanor of MantuaEleanor Gonzaga (1630-1686)Eleonora Gonzaga of the ruling house of Mantua, the Gonzaga, was the consort of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor.- Family :...
consort of the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand IIIFerdinand III, Holy Roman EmperorFerdinand III was Holy Roman Emperor from 15 February 1637 until his death, as well as King of Hungary and Croatia, King of Bohemia and Archduke of Austria.-Life:...
, and Charles II, Duke of Mantua and Monferrat. - Ferdinand Gonzaga, Duke of Mayenne (1610 - 25 May 1632).
- Marie Louise Gonzaga (18 August 1611 - 10 May 1667). Married first Władysław IV VasaWładysław IV VasaWładysław IV Vasa was a Polish and Swedish prince from the House of Vasa. He reigned as King of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from 8 November 1632 to his death in 1648....
and secondly John II Casimir of PolandJohn II Casimir of PolandJohn II Casimir was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania during the era of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Duke of Opole in Upper Silesia, and titular King of Sweden 1648–1660. In Poland, he is known and commonly referred as Jan Kazimierz. His parents were Sigismund III Vasa and...
. - Benedetta Gonzaga (1614 - 30 September 1637).
- Anne Marie GonzagaAnna GonzagaAnne Gonzaga was a French noblewoman and political hostess of Italian descent. She was by marriage Countess Palatine of Simmern, called "Princess Palatine", as the wife of Edward of the Palatinate, a grandson of King James I of England and an uncle of King George I of Great Britain. She bore...
(1616 - 6 July 1684). Married first Henry II, Duke of GuiseHenry II, Duke of GuiseHenry II de Lorraine, 5th Duke of Guise was the second son of Charles, Duke of Guise and Henriette Catherine de Joyeuse.-Life:...
and secondly Edward, Count Palatine of SimmernEdward, Count Palatine of SimmernSir Edward, Count Palatine of Simmern KG was the sixth son of Frederick V, Elector Palatine, of the House of Wittelsbach, the "Winter King" of Bohemia, and Elizabeth Stuart....
.