Henriette of Cleves
Henriette de Clèves ( German Henriette of Cleves - Nevers; * October 31, 1542, † June 24, 1601 ) was by Heritage since 1564 Duchess of Nevers and Rethel Countess. She married Luigi Gonzaga and ruled an inheritance along with her husband.
Family
She came from a collateral line of the house of Cleves - Mark and was the daughter of the Duke François I de Clèves, duc de Nevers and Marguerite de Bourbon. Her brother was François II de Clèves, duc de Nevers married to Anne de Bourbon.
Life
She grew up with her two younger sisters to the royal court. About her education is not known. You should have been known for their conversational skills. Also, they should have the piece Aminta of Torquato Tasso translated. It also aims to Henry III. have been very close.
After the death of her father, her brother Francois II followed him (* July 31, 1540, † December 19, 1562 ) as Duke after. After his early death, she followed as heiress of Nevers and Rethel. That the heritage and title in female succession fell to Henriette, she had an exemption determination by Karl IX. owe. However, the property was in debt so high since the days of his grandfather that even a liquidation process had threatened.
In 1565 a marriage was arranged with Luigi Gonzaga. Together they ruled the duchy in the next three decades. By marrying the financial problems were not solved, because Gonzaga also brought debt into the marriage. In addition to that Henriette had to pay substantial sums as compensation to her two sisters. The couple was forced to sell many possessions in order to raise the funds can.
While Gonzaga pursued a military career and was often at court, Henriette had to bear the brunt of the government. In this time the house Nevers became one of the main lenders of the crown.
The marriage produced five children:
- Catherine Gonzaga (1568-1629); ∞ Henri d'Orléans - Longueville I.
- Henrietta Maria Gonzaga (1571-1614); ∞ Henri de Lorraine, duc de Mayenne
- Frederick Gonzaga (1573-1574)
- Francis Gonzaga (1576-1580)
- Carlo I. Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua ( 1580-1637 ).