Charles II, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat

Carlo III. Gonzaga ( born October 31, 1629 in Mantua, † August 14, 1665 ibid ) was the son of Duke Carlo II Gonzaga of Rethel, Erbherzog of Nevers, Mantua and Montferrat. He succeeded his grandfather Carlo I. Gonzaga in 1637 in the said dominions, and therefore the Duke of Mantova Carlo II

The French duchies of Nevers and Rethel sold Carlo III. in 1659 to Cardinal Jules Mazarin, the actual ruler of France.

Carlo III. married on November 7, 1649 Isabella Clara of Austria (* August 12, 1629, † February 24, 1685 ), daughter of Archduke Leopold V. The couple had only one child, the heir to the throne Ferdinando Carlo ( 1652-1708 ).