Francesco had a career as a condottiero acting as Venice's commander from 1489 to 1498. He was the commander-in-chief of the army of the Italian league in the battle of Fornovo, under the tutorage of his more experienced uncle Ridolfo Gonzaga: even though Francesco was unable to stop Charles VIII and his army from returning to France,[1] he claimed Fornovo as a victory.[2] Francesco was described as "short, pop-eyed, snub-nosed and exceptionally brave, and was regarded as the finest knight in Italy".[3]
Francesco briefly commanded the Venetian army,[2] but in 1502 he left to pay his respects to Louis XII who was then at Milan.[4] By 29 April, he was with Louis XII when Genoa fell to the French army.[4] Francesco, taking the initiative after the French victory at Agnadello, was occupying lands that he had lost to Venice.[5] He was marching to Legnago with a company of French lances, when he was captured by the Venetians.[6] Francesco only gained his freedom by giving his son Federico II as hostage.[7] Once free, he was placed in command of papal troops, although he was ineffective since he stayed in Mantua. By 17 February 1510, Francesco, no longer involved in the war,[8] allowed a French army under Gaston of Foix to march through his territory to reach Brescia.[9]
During Francesco's absences, Mantua was governed by his wife Isabella d'Este,[10] whom he had married on 12 February 1490. Under their reign, Mantua knew a great age of cultural splendour, with the presence in the city of artists such as Andrea Mantegna and Jacopo Bonacolsi. Francesco had the Palace of St. Sebastian built, where Mantegna's Triumph of Caesar was eventually placed. The Palace was where Francesco lived when in Mantua. His wife, Isabella d'Este remained at the Castello di San Giorgio where she had her own suite of rooms. On completing the decoration of his rooms at the palace, Francesco asked his wife for her views. Isabella commented favourably, though she did say that the decorations were almost as good as those within her studiolo.
Beginning in 1503, he started a long relationship with Lucrezia Borgia.
On 29 March 1519, Francesco, who had suffered from syphilis, died.[11] He was succeeded by his son Federico, with Isabella acting as regent. Another son, Ferrante Gonzaga originated the branch of the Counts of Guastalla.
LovesEdit
Francesco was known for his passion for women, so much so that, on the occasion of the siege of Novara in 1495, his sister-in-law Beatrice d'Este, wanting to ingratiate herself with him, offered to personally procure him a "femmina di partito" with whom to celebrate the victory, under the pretext of protecting both him and his wife and sister Isabella from malfrancese.[12]
Francis also actively practiced sodomy, according to the ancient Greek custom, very widespread almost everywhere at that time, as he himself proudly claims in his poisonous letter of accusations to Galeazzo Sanseverino, dated 1503: "I am reputed and raised by nobility of birth and good morals; you for human and ass favors (and I usually have a party at the door of others, and not at mine!)".[13]
It is well known that he surrounded himself with ruffians and mezzani, who had the task of procuring for him girls and young ephebes. One of these was, among others, Ludovico Camposampiero [it], who therefore ran into the hatred of the Marquise.[14]
Boltanski, Ariane (2006). Les Ducs de Nevers et L'etat Royal (in French). Librairie Droz S.A.
Cashman III, Anthony B. (Summer 2002). "Performance Anxiety: Federico Gonzaga at the Court of Francis I and the Uncertainty of Ritual Action". The Sixteenth Century Journal. 33 (2).
Hickson, Sally Anne (2016). Women, Art and Architectural Patronage in Renaissance Mantua: Matrons, Mystics, and Monasteries. Routledge.
Luzio, Alessandro; Renier, Rodolfo (1890). Delle relazioni d'Isabella d'Este Gonzaga con Lodovico e Beatrice Sforza. Milano: Tipografia Bortolotti di Giuseppe Prato.
Mallett, Michael; Shaw, Christine (2012). The Italian Wars 1494–1559. Pearson.
Nicolle, David (1996). Fornovo 1495. Osprey Publishing.
Roeder, Ralph (1933). The Man of the Renaissance. Viking Press.
francesco, gonzaga, marquess, mantua, francesco, gonzaga, august, 1466, 1519, march, 1519, ruler, italian, city, mantua, from, 1484, until, death, francesco, gonzagaportrait, francesco, gonzaga, uffizi, florenceborn10, august, 1466mantua, margravate, mantuadie. Francesco II or IV Gonzaga 10 August 1466 1519 03 29 29 March 1519 was the ruler of the Italian city of Mantua from 1484 until his death Francesco II GonzagaPortrait of Francesco II Gonzaga in the Uffizi FlorenceBorn10 August 1466Mantua Margravate of MantuaDied29 March 1519 1519 03 29 aged 52 Mantua Margravate of MantuaNoble familyHouse of GonzagaSpouse s Isabella d EsteIssueEleonor GonzagaIppolita GonzagaFederico II Duke of MantuaErcole GonzagaFerrante GonzagaFatherFederico I GonzagaMotherMargaret of Bavaria 1442 1479 Contents 1 Biography 2 Loves 3 Family 4 Ancestry 5 See also 6 Notes 7 Sources 8 External linksBiography EditFrancesco was born in Mantua the son of Marquess Federico I Gonzaga Francesco had a career as a condottiero acting as Venice s commander from 1489 to 1498 He was the commander in chief of the army of the Italian league in the battle of Fornovo under the tutorage of his more experienced uncle Ridolfo Gonzaga even though Francesco was unable to stop Charles VIII and his army from returning to France 1 he claimed Fornovo as a victory 2 Francesco was described as short pop eyed snub nosed and exceptionally brave and was regarded as the finest knight in Italy 3 Francesco briefly commanded the Venetian army 2 but in 1502 he left to pay his respects to Louis XII who was then at Milan 4 By 29 April he was with Louis XII when Genoa fell to the French army 4 Francesco taking the initiative after the French victory at Agnadello was occupying lands that he had lost to Venice 5 He was marching to Legnago with a company of French lances when he was captured by the Venetians 6 Francesco only gained his freedom by giving his son Federico II as hostage 7 Once free he was placed in command of papal troops although he was ineffective since he stayed in Mantua By 17 February 1510 Francesco no longer involved in the war 8 allowed a French army under Gaston of Foix to march through his territory to reach Brescia 9 During Francesco s absences Mantua was governed by his wife Isabella d Este 10 whom he had married on 12 February 1490 Under their reign Mantua knew a great age of cultural splendour with the presence in the city of artists such as Andrea Mantegna and Jacopo Bonacolsi Francesco had the Palace of St Sebastian built where Mantegna s Triumph of Caesar was eventually placed The Palace was where Francesco lived when in Mantua His wife Isabella d Este remained at the Castello di San Giorgio where she had her own suite of rooms On completing the decoration of his rooms at the palace Francesco asked his wife for her views Isabella commented favourably though she did say that the decorations were almost as good as those within her studiolo Beginning in 1503 he started a long relationship with Lucrezia Borgia On 29 March 1519 Francesco who had suffered from syphilis died 11 He was succeeded by his son Federico with Isabella acting as regent Another son Ferrante Gonzaga originated the branch of the Counts of Guastalla Loves EditFrancesco was known for his passion for women so much so that on the occasion of the siege of Novara in 1495 his sister in law Beatrice d Este wanting to ingratiate herself with him offered to personally procure him a femmina di partito with whom to celebrate the victory under the pretext of protecting both him and his wife and sister Isabella from malfrancese 12 Francis also actively practiced sodomy according to the ancient Greek custom very widespread almost everywhere at that time as he himself proudly claims in his poisonous letter of accusations to Galeazzo Sanseverino dated 1503 I am reputed and raised by nobility of birth and good morals you for human and ass favors and I usually have a party at the door of others and not at mine 13 It is well known that he surrounded himself with ruffians and mezzani who had the task of procuring for him girls and young ephebes One of these was among others Ludovico Camposampiero it who therefore ran into the hatred of the Marquise 14 Family EditIsabella d Este and Francesco Gonzaga had Eleonora Gonzaga born 1493 died 1570 Married Francesco Maria I della Rovere Duke of Urbino 15 Margherita born 1496 Livia born 1501 died 1508 Ippolita Gonzaga born 1503 died 1570 Ippolita became a nun in the Dominican convent of S Vincenzo Federico II Duke of Mantua born 1500 died 1540 10 First betrothed to Maria Palaeologina but later married her sister Margaret Palaeologina 15 Ercole Gonzaga born 1506 died 1565 Became a Cardinal 16 Ferrante Gonzaga born 1507 died 1557 16 Married Isabella di Capua Livia later known as Sister Paola born 1508 died 1569Ancestry EditAncestors of Francesco II Gonzaga Marquess of Mantua16 Francesco I Gonzaga8 Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga17 Margherita Malatesta4 Ludovico III Gonzaga Marquis of Mantua18 Malatesta IV Malatesta9 Paola Malatesta19 Elisabetta da Varano2 Federico I Gonzaga Marquess of Mantua20 Frederick I Elector of Brandenburg10 John Margrave of Brandenburg Kulmbach 21 Elisabeth of Bavaria5 Barbara of Brandenburg22 Rudolf III Duke of Saxe Wittenberg11 Barbara of Saxe Wittenberg23 Barbara of Legnica1 Francesco II Gonzaga Marquess of Mantua24 John II Duke of Bavaria12 Ernest Duke of Bavaria25 Catherine of Gorizia6 Albert III Duke of Bavaria26 Bernabo Visconti13 Elisabetta Visconti27 Beatrice Regina della Scala3 Margaret of Bavaria28 Albert I Duke of Brunswick Grubenhagen14 Eric I Duke of Brunswick Grubenhagen29 Agnes of Brunswick Luneburg7 Anna of Brunswick Grubenhagen Einbeck30 Otto I Duke of Brunswick Gottingen15 Elisabeth of Brunswick Gottingen31 Margaret of JulichSee also EditRulers of Mantua Condottieri Italian WarsNotes Edit Mallett amp Shaw 2012 p 31 a b Hickson 2016 p 88 Nicolle 1996 p 13 a b Mallett amp Shaw 2012 p 75 Mallett amp Shaw 2012 p 91 Mallett amp Shaw 2012 p 94 Ferino 1994 p 35 37 Mallett amp Shaw 2012 p 102 Mallett amp Shaw 2012 p 105 a b Cashman III 2002 p 333 Hickson 2016 p 4 Luzio amp Renier 1890 p 87 Floriano Dolfo 2002 Lettere ai Gonzaga pp 211 214 e 426 ISBN 9788887114522 CAMPOSAMPIERO Ludovico a b Boltanski 2006 p 503 a b Hickson 2016 p 87 Sources EditBoltanski Ariane 2006 Les Ducs de Nevers et L etat Royal in French Librairie Droz S A Cashman III Anthony B Summer 2002 Performance Anxiety Federico Gonzaga at the Court of Francis I and the Uncertainty of Ritual Action The Sixteenth Century Journal 33 2 Ferino Sylvia 1994 Isabella d ESte KHM Vienna Hickson Sally Anne 2016 Women Art and Architectural Patronage in Renaissance Mantua Matrons Mystics and Monasteries Routledge Luzio Alessandro Renier Rodolfo 1890 Delle relazioni d Isabella d Este Gonzaga con Lodovico e Beatrice Sforza Milano Tipografia Bortolotti di Giuseppe Prato Mallett Michael Shaw Christine 2012 The Italian Wars 1494 1559 Pearson Nicolle David 1996 Fornovo 1495 Osprey Publishing Roeder Ralph 1933 The Man of the Renaissance Viking Press External links EditTwo busts of Francesco II GonzagaFrancesco II Gonzaga Marquess of MantuaHouse of GonzagaBorn 10 August 1466 Died 29 March 1519Preceded byFederico I Marquess of Mantua1484 1519 Succeeded byFederico II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Francesco II Gonzaga Marquess of Mantua amp oldid 1132668821, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
