Guidobaldo della Rovere, duca di Urbino

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guidobaldo_II_della_Rovere

Guidobaldo II della Rovere (April 2, 1514 – September 28, 1574) was an Italian condottiero, who was Duke of Urbino from 1538 until his death. He was a member of the House of La Rovere. Guidobaldo was an important patron of the arts in general, and of Titian in particular, commissioning Titian's "Venus of Urbino".

Biography

He was the son of Francesco Maria I della Rovere and Eleonora Gonzaga. He married Giulia da Varano, daughter of the lord of Camerino but the couple had no issue. At the assassination of his father, Guidobaldo became duke of Urbino in 1538.

In 1546 he received a condotta as military leader (Governatore) by the Republic of Venice, for which his father had been a valiant commander during the Italian Wars. After the death of Giulia da Varano (1547), he re-married to Vittoria Farnese in 1548-the daughter of Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma and Gerolama Orsini, daughter of Luigi Orsini and wife and first cousin Giulia Conti. Later he was made Papal governor of Fano, receiving also the title of capitano generale (commander-in-chief) of the Papal States, as well as that of Prefect of Rome.

In 1559 he was hired by the King of Spain, helping Bernardo Sanseverino (who had married one of Guidobaldo's daughters) in the war against the Ottoman Turks.

On January 1, 1573 a revolt rose against Guidobaldo in Urbino, due to the excessive tax burden that he was exerting over his state. He reacted by bloodily suppressing the riot.

After falling ill during a voyage to Ferrara and Pesaro, he died in the latter town in 1574. His son Francesco Maria II succeeded him as Duke of Urbino. His additional children were:

Isabelle,wife of Niccolò Bernardino Sanseverino, 6° Prince of Bisignano.

Lavinia, wife of marquis de Vasto.