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William I, Duke of Mantua

 
William I, Duke of Mantua

 
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William I, Duke of Mantua
 
 
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Guglielmo (William) I Gonzaga (24 April 1538-14 August 1587) was Duke of Mantua and Montferrat (as Guglielmo X of Monferrato) from 1550 to 1587.

He was the second son of Federico II Gonzaga of Mantua and Margaret Palaeologina of Montferrat.

In 1574, Montferrat was elevated to a Duchy
Duchy

A duchy is a territory, fiefdom, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereignty in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era ....
 and he became its first duke.






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Guglielmoi
Guglielmo (William) I Gonzaga (24 April 1538-14 August 1587) was Duke of Mantua and Montferrat (as Guglielmo X of Monferrato) from 1550 to 1587.

He was the second son of Federico II Gonzaga of Mantua and Margaret Palaeologina of Montferrat.

In 1574, Montferrat was elevated to a Duchy
Duchy

A duchy is a territory, fiefdom, or domain ruled by a duke or duchess.Some duchies were sovereignty in areas that would become unified realms only during the Modern era ....
 and he became its first duke. He was succeeded by his son Vincenzo I of Gonzaga.

Guglielmo as patron of music


Guglielmo was particularly interested in sacred vocal music, and is known particularly to music historians for his extensive correspondence with Palestrina
Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina was an Italy composer of the Renaissance music. He was the most famous sixteenth-century representative of the Roman School of musical composition....
. He built a large new church in Mantua, that of Santa Barbara. He engaged in an unprecedented negotiation with the Papacy to create his own rite for Mantua, and devoted considerable resources to developing a musical repertoire for the church, commissioning works by Giaches de Wert
Giaches de Wert

Giaches de Wert was a Franco-Flemish School composer of the late Renaissance, active in Italy. Intimately connected with the progressive musical center of Ferrara, he was one of the leaders in developing the style of the late Renaissance madrigal ....
 and Palestrina. Part of his correspondence with Palestrina discusses the work commissioned in detail, stipulating Guglielmo's requirements, and therefore giving a sense of his musical preferences. Guglielmo's musical tastes were conservative for the day. He enjoyed imitative contrapuntal music but was concerned to maintain clarity of text, thereby showing the influence of Tridentine
Council of Trent

The Council of Trent was the 16th century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. Considered one of the Church's most important councils, it convened in Trento between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods....
 reforms. Upon his death his son Vincenzo invited followers of the more modern trends to his court.

Marriage and children


On April 26, 1561, William married Eleonora of Austria
Eleonora of Austria

Archduchess Eleanor of Austria was the daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary. She was a sister of Johanna of Austria, who married Francesco I de' Medici, Eleonora was the aunt of Marie de' Medici, Queen of France....
, sixth daughter of Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor

Ferdinand I was a Central European monarch from the Habsburg. He was Holy Roman Emperor from 1558, King of Bohemia and King of Hungary and Croatia from 1526....
 and Anna of Bohemia and Hungary
Anna of Bohemia and Hungary

Anna of Bohemia and Hungary, also sometimes known as Anna Jagellonica was, by marriage to Ferdinand I, Holy Roman Emperor, King of the Romans and later Holy Roman Emperor, Queen of the Romans....
. They were parents to three children:

  • Vincent I, Duke of Mantua
    Vincent I, Duke of Mantua

    Vincenzo I of Gonzaga was ruler of the Duchy of Mantua and Duchy of Montferrat from 1587 to 1612....
     (September 21, 1562-February 9, 1612).
  • Margherita Gonzaga
    Margherita Gonzaga d'Este

    Not to be confused with Margerita Gonzaga, Duchess of LorraineMargherita Gonzaga d'Este, Duchess of Ferrara was the daughter of William I, Duke of Mantua and Eleonora of Austria, and the sister of Vincent I, Duke of Mantua and Anna Caterina Gonzaga....
     (May 27, 1564 - January 6, 1618). Married Alfonso II d'Este.
  • Anna Caterina Gonzaga
    Anne Juliana Gonzaga

    Anne Juliana Gonzaga, O.S.M. was an Archduke who went on to become a Servite Order upon the death of her husband, the Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria....
     (January 17, 1566 - August 3, 1621). Married her maternal uncle Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria
    Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria

    Ferdinand II, Archduke of Further Austria was ruler of Further Austria including Tyrol ....
    .