Charles I Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charles I Gonzaga |
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Engraving of Charles Gonzaga
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| Duke of Mantua and Montferrat | |||||
| Reign | 25 December 1627 - 22 September 1637 | ||||
| Predecessor | Vincenzo II Gonzaga | ||||
| Successor | Charles II Gonzaga | ||||
| Born | 6 May 1580 Paris, Kingdom of France |
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| Died | 22 September 1637 (aged 57) Mantua, Duchy of Mantua |
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| Spouse | Catherine de Lorraine-Guise-Mayenne | ||||
| Issue Detail |
Francis, Duke of Rethel Charles, Duke of Nevers Ferdinand, Duke of Mayenne Marie Louise, Queen of Poland Anna, Countess Palatine of Simmern |
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| House | House of Gonzaga | ||||
| Father | Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers | ||||
| Mother | Henriette of Cleves | ||||
Charles I Gonzaga (born May 6, 1580 – died September 22, 1637) was an important European noble. He became the Duke of Mantua and Duke of Montferrat in 1627. He held these titles until his death.
Charles was also known as Charles III, Duke of Nevers and Duke of Rethel. He was also the first Prince of Arche and Charleville.
Contents
A Look at Charles I Gonzaga's Life
Charles was born in Paris, France, on May 6, 1580. His father was Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers, and his mother was Princess Henriette of Cleves.
In 1600, Charles founded a special group called the Order of the Yellow Ribbon. This group was soon stopped by the King of France.
Founding New Cities
In 1606, Charles decided to create a new city. He founded Charleville and the Principality of Arches. He became the first Prince of this new area.
A Claim to the Byzantine Throne
In 1612, Charles had an interesting idea. He was a descendant of an old Byzantine Emperor, Andronicus II Palaeologus. Because of this, Charles claimed he should be the ruler of Constantinople. At that time, Constantinople was the capital of the Ottoman Empire.
He started working with Greek rebels who called him "King Constantine Palaeologus." When the Ottoman rulers found out, they sent a large army to stop the rebels. This made Charles want to act more. He sent people to other European countries to ask for help. In 1619, he gathered ships and men, but a fire stopped his plans.
The War of the Mantuan Succession
When the last ruler of Mantua, Vincenzo II Gonzaga, died in 1627, Charles inherited the title. This was based on an agreement. However, his claim caused problems.
Why the War Started
Charles Emmanuel I of Savoy wanted the lands of Montferrat. Also, Spain and the Holy Roman Empire did not want a ruler in Mantua who was friendly with France. This disagreement led to the War of the Mantuan Succession.
In 1629, Emperor Ferdinand II sent an army to attack Mantua. Charles did not get the help he was promised from Louis XIII of France. The city was under attack until July 18, 1630. Mantua was also suffering from a terrible plague. The city was brutally looted for three days. Mantua never fully recovered from this disaster.
Returning to Mantua
Charles had to flee to the Papal States. But through diplomatic talks, he was able to return to his duchy in 1631. He had to give up some land to the House of Savoy and to the Gonzaga family of Guastalla. The region's finances were in bad shape, but Charles managed to help the economy improve in the following years.
Charles I Gonzaga died in 1637. His grandson, Charles II, became the next duke. Charles II was initially guided by his mother, Maria Gonzaga, Duchess of Montferrat, who was Charles I's daughter-in-law.
Charles I Gonzaga's Family
Charles married Catherine of Lorraine-Mayenne. She was the daughter of Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne. They had several children:
- Francis Gonzaga, Duke of Rethel (1606–1622)
- Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers (1609 – August 14, 1631). He was the heir and married Maria Gonzaga, Duchess of Montferrat. They were the parents of Eleanor of Mantua, who married Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III. They also had Charles II, Duke of Mantua and Monferrat.
- Ferdinand Gonzaga, Duke of Mayenne (1610 – May 25, 1632)
- Marie Louise Gonzaga (August 18, 1611 – May 10, 1667). She married two kings of Poland: first Władysław IV Vasa and then John II Casimir of Poland.
- Benedetta Gonzaga (1614 – September 30, 1637)
- Anne Marie Gonzaga (1616 – July 6, 1684). She married two times.
Honours
Grand Master of the Order of the Redeemer
