Ferrante II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla facts for kids
Ferrante II Gonzaga (born 1563 – died August 5, 1630) was an important Italian noble. He was the Count of Guastalla and later became the Duke of Guastalla starting in 1621.
Ferrante was the son of Cesare I Gonzaga, who was also a Count and Duke. Ferrante took over from his father in 1575. Guastalla was a "county," which is a territory ruled by a Count. On July 2, 1621, Guastalla was made into a "duchy," a larger and more important territory ruled by a Duke. This meant Ferrante became a Duke!
Ferrante's Role in History
In 1624, the Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand II, gave Ferrante an important job. He was made the General Commissar in Italy. This meant he was the Emperor's main representative, helping to make sure the Emperor's power was strong in Italy.
The War of the Mantuan Succession
Ferrante also played a part in a big conflict called the War of the Mantuan Succession. This war was about who would rule the Duchy of Mantua, another important territory. The main family that ruled Mantua, the senior branch of the House of Gonzaga, had no more male heirs in December 1627.
Ferrante was a distant cousin in the Gonzaga family. He believed he should be the next Duke of Mantua. The Holy Roman Emperor, Ferdinand II, seemed to support Ferrante. However, the Emperor actually wanted to take control of Mantua for himself and add it to his own empire.
In the end, Ferrante's attempt to become Duke of Mantua did not work. A French candidate, Charles of Nevers, became the new Duke instead.
Ferrante's Family
Ferrante II married Vittoria Doria (1569–1618). They had four children:
- Cesare II Gonzaga (1592–1632): He became the next Duke of Guastalla after his father. He married Donna Isabella Orsini.
- Vincenzo Gonzaga (1602–1697): He became the Viceroy of Sicily from 1677 to 1678. A Viceroy is like a governor who rules a country or province as the representative of a king or queen.
- Andrea Gonzaga, Count of San Paolo (died 1686): He was the father of Vincenzo Gonzaga (1692–1714), who also later became a Duke of Guastalla.
- Zenobia de Gonzaga y Doria (1588–1618): She married Don Giovanni Tagliavia d'Aragona, who was the Duke of Terranova.
