Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga (13 November 1686 – 16 March 1741) was the Duchess of Rovere and Montefeltro as the wife of Francesco Maria de' Medici. She was the eldest child of Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla and Sabbioneta and his second wife, Princess Maria Vittoria Gonzaga of Guastalla (1659-1707). She did not bear any children.
Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga married Francesco Maria de' Medici, Duke of Rovere and Montefeltro (titles inherited from his mother) on 14 July 1709. Her husband was 48 years old and morbidly obese. Before the marriage occurred, Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who instigated the marriage, sent agents to Guastalla to ascertain her physical appearance. They concluded that she had beautiful skin, eyes, mouth, and waist.[1] The House of Medici was desperately wanting in male heirs; Francesco Maria, previously a cardinal, was released from his vows through his brother's action to remedy this.
Eleonora Luisa was repulsed by her husband, refusing to fulfil her marital duties. Despite requisitioning the assistance of her old confessor from Guastalla, Cosimo III could not cajole her into submitting, as she allegedly feared contracting venereal diseases. Francesco Maria had her surmount this predicament and eventually the marriage was consummated. However, no heirs were born and as a result of this, Francesco Maria was devastated.[2]
On 2 February 1711, Francesco Maria died of dropsy, leaving behind exorbitant debts.[3] Eleonora Luisa lingered on at Tuscany's court until the death of her nephew-in-law Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. From there, she ventured to Padua in the Republic of Venice, where she died on 16 March 1741.
Acton, Harold: The Last Medici, Macmillan, London, 1980, ISBN0-333-29315-0
March 16, 2024
eleonora, luisa, gonzaga, november, 1686, march, 1741, duchess, rovere, montefeltro, wife, francesco, maria, medici, eldest, child, vincenzo, gonzaga, duke, guastalla, sabbioneta, second, wife, princess, maria, vittoria, gonzaga, guastalla, 1659, 1707, bear, c. Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga 13 November 1686 16 March 1741 was the Duchess of Rovere and Montefeltro as the wife of Francesco Maria de Medici She was the eldest child of Vincenzo Gonzaga Duke of Guastalla and Sabbioneta and his second wife Princess Maria Vittoria Gonzaga of Guastalla 1659 1707 She did not bear any children Eleonora Luisa GonzagaDuchess of Rovere and of MontefeltroBorn 1686 11 13 13 November 1686Guastalla Duchy of GuastallaDied16 March 1741 1741 03 16 aged 54 Padua Republic of VeniceBurialBasilica of Saint Anthony of PaduaSpouseFrancesco Maria de MediciNamesEleonora Luisa GonzagaHouseHouse of Gonzaga by birth House of Medici by marriage FatherVincenzo Gonzaga Duke of GuastallaMotherMaria Vittoria Gonzaga Contents 1 Biography 2 Ancestry 3 Citations 4 BibliographyBiography editEleonora Luisa Gonzaga married Francesco Maria de Medici Duke of Rovere and Montefeltro titles inherited from his mother on 14 July 1709 Her husband was 48 years old and morbidly obese Before the marriage occurred Cosimo III de Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany who instigated the marriage sent agents to Guastalla to ascertain her physical appearance They concluded that she had beautiful skin eyes mouth and waist 1 The House of Medici was desperately wanting in male heirs Francesco Maria previously a cardinal was released from his vows through his brother s action to remedy this Eleonora Luisa was repulsed by her husband refusing to fulfil her marital duties Despite requisitioning the assistance of her old confessor from Guastalla Cosimo III could not cajole her into submitting as she allegedly feared contracting venereal diseases Francesco Maria had her surmount this predicament and eventually the marriage was consummated However no heirs were born and as a result of this Francesco Maria was devastated 2 On 2 February 1711 Francesco Maria died of dropsy leaving behind exorbitant debts 3 Eleonora Luisa lingered on at Tuscany s court until the death of her nephew in law Gian Gastone de Medici Grand Duke of Tuscany From there she ventured to Padua in the Republic of Venice where she died on 16 March 1741 Ancestry editAncestors of Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga16 Cesare I Gonzaga Count of Guastalla8 Ferrante II Gonzaga Duke of Guastalla 24 17 Camilla Borromeo4 Andrea Gonzaga Count of San Paolo18 Giannettino Doria9 Vittoria Doria 25 19 Ginetta Centurione2 Vincenzo Gonzaga Duke of Guastalla10 Marquis de Fusara5 Laura Crispano1 Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga24 Ferrante II Gonzaga Duke of Guastalla 8 12 Cesare II Gonzaga Duke of Guastalla25 Vittoria Doria 9 6 Ferrante III Gonzaga Duke of Guastalla26 Virginio Orsini Duke of Bracciano13 Isabella Orsini27 Flavia Damasceni Peretti3 Maria Vittoria Gonzaga28 Cesare d Este Duke of Modena14 Alfonso III d Este Duke of Modena29 Virginia de Medici7 Margarete d Este30 Charles Emmanuel I Duke of Savoy15 Isabella of Savoy31 Infanta Catherine Michelle of SpainCitations edit Acton p 246 Acton p 250 Acton p 251Bibliography editActon Harold The Last Medici Macmillan London 1980 ISBN 0 333 29315 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga amp oldid 1099578753, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
