Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua & Montferrat & Nevers & Rethel, Prince of Arche & Charleville

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_I,_Duke_of_Mantua

Born in Paris, he was the son of Louis I of Gonzaga-Nevers and Henriette of Cléves.

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.[1] 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 (1626), 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 III, initially under the regency of Maria Gonzaga, Charles I's daughter-in-law.

Charles I, Duke of Mantua

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Charles I of Gonzaga-Nevers (Italian: Carlo I Gonzaga; May 6, 1580 - September 22, 1637) was Duke of Mantua and Marquess of Montferrat from 1627 until his death. He was also Duke of Rethel and Nevers, as well as Prince of Arches.

Biography

Born in Paris, he was the son of Louis I of Gonzaga-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 (1626), 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 III, initially under the regency of Maria Gonzaga, Charles I's daughter-in-law.

Children

He married Catherine of Mayenne, daughter of Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne and Henriette of Savoy, Marquise de Villars. They had six children:

Francis I, Duke of Rethel (1606 - 1622).

Charles II Gonzaga, titular Duke of Mantua (1609 - 14 August 1631). His heir and nominal co-ruler. Better known as Duke of Nevers and Rethel. Married heiress Maria Gonzaga. They were parents to Eleanor of Mantua consort of the Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III, and Charles III, Duke of Mantua.

Ferdinand, Duke of Mayenne (1610 - 25 May 1632).

Ludwika Maria Gonzaga (18 August 1611 - 10 May 1667). Married first Władysław IV Vasa and secondly John II Casimir of Poland.

Benedetta Gonzaga (1614 - 30 September 1637).

Anna Maria Gonzaga (1616 - 6 July 1684). Married first Henry II, Duke of Guise and secondly Edward, Count Palatine of Simmern.

References

^ a b Kassis, "Mani's History", 30

^ Greenhalgh and Eliopoulos, Deep into Mani: Journey into the Southern Tip of Greece", 26

Coniglio, Giuseppe (1967). I Gonzaga. Varese: Dall'Oglio.

Carlo I de Gonzaga, 8th Duca di Mantova1 M, #114725, b. 6 May 1580, d. 21 September 1637

Carlo I de Gonzaga, 8th Duca di Mantova|b. 6 May 1580\nd. 21 Sep 1637|p11473.htm#i114725|Ludovico Gonzaga, Duc de Nevers|b. 22 Oct 1539\nd. 23 Oct 1595|p16422.htm#i164215|Henriette de Nevers|b. 31 Oct 1542\nd. 24 Jan 1601|p4301.htm#i43005|Federico I. Gonzaga, 1st Duca di Mantova|b. 1500\nd. 1540|p16417.htm#i164169|Margherita Paleologa|b. 1510\nd. 1566|p34230.htm#i342293|François de Cleves, Duc de Nevers|b. 1516\nd. 1561|p11373.htm#i113724|Margaret de Vendôme|b. 1516\nd. 1589|p11373.htm#i113723|

Last Edited=14 Mar 2009

Carlo I Gonzaga, Duca di Mantova2 Carlo I de Gonzaga, 8th Duca di Mantova was born on 6 May 1580 at Paris, France.2 He was the son of Ludovico Gonzaga, Duc de Nevers and Henriette de Nevers.1,2 He married Catherine de Mayenne, daughter of Charles de Lorraine, Duc de Mayenne and Henriette de Savoie, Marquise de Villars, on 1 February 1599.2 He died on 21 September 1637 at age 57.1

    Carlo I de Gonzaga, 8th Duca di Mantova gained the title of Duc de Nevers.1 He succeeded to the title of 8th Duca di Mantova in 1631.1 Children of Carlo I de Gonzaga, 8th Duca di Mantova and Catherine de Mayenne 1.Carlo Gonzaga, Duc de Rethel+1 b. 1609, d. 31 Aug 1631 2.Anne de Gonzaga+4 b. 1616, d. 6 Jul 1684 Child of Carlo I de Gonzaga, 8th Duca di Mantova 1.Luise Marie de Gonzaga5 b. 1611, d. 1667 Citations 1.[S38] John Morby, Dynasties of the World: a chronological and genealogical handbook (Oxford, Oxfordshire, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1989), page 107. Hereinafter cited as Dynasties of the World. 2.[S102] Roglo Geneweb Website, online <http://geneweb.inria.fr/roglo?lang=en>. Hereinafter cited as Roglo Geneweb Website. 3.[S3409] Caroline Maubois, "re: Penancoet Family," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 2 December 2008. Hereinafter cited as "re: Penancoet Family." 4.[S11] Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 250. Hereinafter cited as Britain's Royal Family. 5.[S16] Jirí Louda and Michael MacLagan, Lines of Succession: Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe, 2nd edition (London, U.K.: Little, Brown and Company, 1999), table 134. Hereinafter cited as Lines of Succession.