One of the well-known historical families of Renaissance Italy is the Gonzaga family who ruled Mantua from 1328-1708. Mantua, known to Italians as Mantova, is a city in the Lombardy region of Italy and a capital also of a province that goes by the same name. Today it is an agricultural center, being bordered by water on three sides a popular tourist spot and a busy hub of industry as well.

Mantua was first an Etruscan settlement and then became a Roman town, finally came to prosper under the Gonzagas who were among the many reputed families that ruled Mantua in the Middle Ages. The Corradi di Gonzaga or the Gonzagas contributed a great deal to its importance by enhancing the rich history and culture of Italy during the years they ruled. They were great patrons of art and culture and encouraged, as well as extended support to talented artists like Leone Battista Alberti, Andrea Mantegna, Donatello, Luca Fancelli and Nicolo Sebregondi, who left behind an invaluable heritage for the Italians that is treasured even today.

The name of this ruling family, who by the twelfth century were members of the feudal gentry owning very expensive estates, was from the village and castle of Gonzaga, which was situated near Mantua. The first to gain any significant power over Mantua was Luigi Gonzaga (1267-1360), who became the Captain General of Mantua in 1328. It is said in order to do this, he fiercely fought his brother-in-law Rinaldo Bonacolsi on the battle field, to wrest his position and later went on to add to his name, the titles of Vicar General of Empire, the Count of Mirandola and Concordia. His son, Guida, succeeded Luiga. He died in 1369. Luiga II, took over the reign till his end in 1382. The political influence of this family only increased with its descendants. In the year 1443, the Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund, appointed Gian Francesco Gonzaga, (1395 –1444), the Marquis of Mantua, as reward for the services he rendered as a worthy general. The title was such that it could be passed on to coming generations of his family and hereditary.

Vittorino de Feltere started the first school of humanistic principles in one of the Gonzaga villas in 1423 encouraging renowned artists to flock to the city to make use of the facilities offered here. This was during the time of Gian Francesco Gonzaga. His son Luigi III in the tradition of his father’s way of life became an exemplary soldier, a scholar and a lover of literature and arts too.

The next two generations, also did the prestigious name of the family proud. Federigo I and Giovan Francesco III brought great honor to the Mantuan Lordship by their skilled administration and wise rule though times were difficult and war clouds loomed on the horizon for Mantua.

Spain and France rivaled to control Italy. The Gonzagas fought on the side of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and led the allied Italian forces against Charles VIII of France in the battle of Fomova. Later Giavon Francesco participated in battle on behalf of Naples and Tuscany as well and was taken a prisoner of war by the Venetians in 1509.

After on his release rather chastened, he preferred to lead a more peaceful life with his wife Isabella de’Este, devoting his time more to art and literature than to warfare and bloodshed as he had done so far. As a result the court of Mantua attained a golden period of governance as a center for learning and arts under the care of Isabella and Francesco.

Their successor was son, Federico or Federigo Gonzago (1500-1540), Captain General of the Papal Forces, who was appointed Duke of Mantua by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1530. Many acclaim that the court of Mantua saw its most brilliant days during this time. In 1536 he acquired Montferrat, which continued to be claimed by Savoy. Palaces and villas were lavishly renovated and the well-known Palazzo del Te architecturally constructed by Giulio Romano was among them. Writers and artists of skill were given recognition, honor and suitable employment. Many of them became famous because of this patronage they received and some of them were, Baldessare Castiglione and Matteo Bandello, Matteo Boiardo and Ludovico Ariosto, Francesco Berni and Pietro Bembo, Raphael, Leonardo, Titian and Claudio Monteverdi.

Federigo Gonzaga’s brothers too contributed their mite towards the progress of Mantua. Ercole Gonzaga (1505-1563), Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church helped to spread learning and presided over the Council of Trent (1562-63). Another sibling Ferrante Gonzaga (1507-57) was the Generalissimo of Charles V. In 1539 he acquired the county of Guastalla and it remained with his family and its heirs till the year 1746, when his direct descendents became extinct. Two years later, the duchy of Parma won the county.

Federigo Gonzaga’s son Francesco took over after his father’s death but unfortunately did not live much longer himself. Thus he died young, bequeathing all to his brother Guglielmo who proved to be a wastrel and an unfit ruler. The same applied to his son Vincenzo who succeeded him and died 1612. The heirs left behind by Vincenzo were equally incapable of holding aloft the glory of the Gonzaga dynasty.

In 1627 the male line that qualified to rule Mantua and Montferrat became extinct. The duchy of Mantua then fell into the control of the Gonzaga –Nevers. This was made possible because of the marriage of Maria Gonzaga to Charles de Rethel, son of duke of Nevers. A cadet line was established in France and they laid claim to the succession of Mantua and Montferrat , both strategically situated in the Lombard region, near the Alpine passes. Hapsburg Spain and Austria fearing France would steal an advantage by controlling these two important cities, supported the Guastalla group who also staked their rights for the same, resulting in the War of the Mantuan Succession, between France and Spain that ultimately led to the victory of the Nevers by signing the Treaty of Crerasco – Nevers became rulers till 1708 when their line too became extinct.

Another cadet line later became dukes of Guastalla and these were descendents of Ferrante – younger son of Duke Francesco II of Mantua (1484-1519).

The Gonzaga-Nevers who ruled Mantua were,
Carlo I ruled 1627-1637
Carlo II died before his father, so did not rule at all.
Carlo III ruled from 1637-1665.
Ferdinando Carlo IV ruled from 1665-1708.
When this dynastic line too came to an end, Hapsburb Austria found this period an ideal time to annex Mantua, while Savoy leveled scores by regaining Montferrat, bringing an end to the famed Gonzaga rule that held the dukedom of Mantua in its iron grip for centuries.