Eleonora Gonzaga (1630–1686)

Eleonora Magdalena Gonzaga of Mantua - Nevers ( born November 18, 1630 Mantua, † December 6, 1686 in Vienna) was the third wife of Emperor Ferdinand III.

Life

Eleonore Magdalene was the eldest daughter of Duke Charles II of Gonzaga - Nevers, Duke of Mantua, and his niece Maria Gonzaga.

On March 22, 1651 Eleonora left with her entourage Mantua and traveled via Villach and Graz to Wiener Neustadt, where Emperor Ferdinand married on April 30, 1651 III. The marriage produced four children, of whom only two survived to adulthood.

• Theresia (1652-1653)
• Eleonore Maria Josepha (1653-1697); ∞ Michael I, King of Poland
• Maria Anna Josepha (1654-1689); ∞ Johann Wilhelm, Count Palatine of Neuburg
• Ferdinand (1657-1658)

Eleonore was considered a very educated and pious woman. She herself wrote religious poems in Italian, led a literary academy and promoted the cultural life of Vienna. Although she was very pious, they discriminated no Protestant authors. She founded several monasteries, so in 1663 the Ursuline convent in Vienna. She was also the patron of the company founded in Wiener Neustadt Carmelite monastery. They also donated a 1662 order called slaves of virtue for ladies of the aristocracy.

The extension of the Vienna Hofburg to the Leopoldine wing goes back to it. When, in February 1668 a fire broke out there, and almost all the buildings destroyed, was later found under the rubble of an intact reliquary cross. On this occasion, the Empress founded the Star Cross Order.

After Eleanor in 1657 was a widow, she was culturally and religiously active. They also played at the court of her stepson, the Emperor Leopold I. a significant role, organized festivals and let perform ballets.

Eleonora Magdalena Mantua - Nevers - Gonzaga is buried in the Imperial Crypt ( Capuchins' Crypt ) in Vienna.