Ferrante II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla
Ferrante II Gonzaga (* 1563, † 1630) was Count and since 1621 Duke of Guastalla. He also served the Spanish and Austrian Habsburgs. He was one of the pretenders to the duchy of Mantua during the Mantuarischen War of Succession.
Life
He was the son of Cesare I. Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla and Duke of Amalfi. He joined with sixteen years even to the government. In addition to the feudal kingdom in Italy belonged to the family possessions in southern Italy. Last but not least for financial reasons, he took positions at the imperial court in Vienna.
Ferrante II was since 1580 with Vittoria Doria, a niece of Andrea Doria, married, with whom he had three children:
- Cesare Gonzaga II († 1632) Duke of Guastalla ∞ Isabella Orsini
- Vincenzo Gonzaga († 1697 ) viceroy of Sicily since 1677
- Andrea Gonzaga, Count of San Paolo
The marriage built the relationships between the two families continues. A year after his marriage he was a member of the entourage of Maria of Spain, widow of Emperor Maximilian II, as these went back to Spain.
He made numerous trips to the southern Italian fiefs of his line, and thus demonstrated that he regarded this as part of his rule. He was present in 1598 in Ferrara, when Pope Clement VIII 's marriage to Philip III. concluded by Spain with Margaret of Austria. After that he belonged to the court of the reorganized queen. He accompanied them on the trip to Spain. He was inducted into the Order of the Golden Fleece. In 1605 the King commissioned him the Order insignia to bring the Dukes of Modena and Miradola. In his territory he contributed to the beautification of the appearance of Guastalla. Since 1624, he was an imperial commissioner or Plenitotentiar for Empire Italy.
On July 2, 1621 his county Guastalla was charged by the Emperor to the Duchy. Ferrante arose after the death of the Duke of Mantua, Francesco Gonzaga IV, as Carlo I Gonzaga, entitled to the inheritance. While his opponent was supported during the War of Succession Mantuanischer of France, Ferrante II received the support of Spain and Emperor Ferdinand II He could not reach his goal and after his death peace of Cherasco was agreed that he should receive as a replacement Reggiolo and New Ulm.
He died of the plague.