Ludovico Gonzaga, duc de Nevers

Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Gonzaga,_Duke_of_Nevers

Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers (Italian: Ludovico or Luigi di Gonzaga-Nevers; September 18, 1539 - October 23, 1595) 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

Born in Mantua, at 10 he was sent to Paris to inherit the assets left by his grandmother, Anne d'Alençon, widow of Marquess William IX of Montferrat. He entered Henry II of France's army and fought in the battle of St. Quentin (1557), where he was taken prisoner by the Spanish.

On March 4, 1565 he married Henriette of Cleves, heiress to the Duchies of Nevers and Rethel, titles which Louis carried thenceforth. Their son Charles became duke of Mantua in 1627, establishing the Gonzaga-Nevers line.

Louis died at Nesle in 1595.

He is considered by many historians as one of the courtiers most responsible for the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre in 1572.[1] In conspiracy theories, such as the one promoted in The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail, Louis been alleged to be the fifteenth Grand Master of the Priory of Sion.

[edit]Children

He and his wife Henriette of Cléves had five children:

Catherine Gonzaga (21 January 1568 - 1 December 1629. Married Henry I, Duke of Longueville.

Maria Henrietta Gonzaga (3 September 1571 - 3 August 1614). Married Henry of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne.

Frederick Gonzaga (11 March 1573 - 22 April 1574).

Francis Gonzaga (17 September 1576 - 13 June 1580).

Charles I, Duke of Mantua (6 May 1580 - 20 September 1637).

[edit]References

^ Mack P. Holt; The Duke of Anjou and the Politique Struggle During the Wars of Religion, Cambridge University Press, 2002, ISBN 0521892783, 9780521892780 p. 20