Camillo III Gonzaga

Camillo III Gonzaga (23 August 1649 – 16 August 1727) was a member of the House of Novellara, the cadet branch of thr House of Gonzaga.

From 25 July 1678, until he death, he was the Count of Novellara and Bagnolo.

Early life Camillo was born in Novellara on 23 August 1649. He was the son of Alfonso II Gonzaga, and his consort, Ricciarda Cybo Malaspina. He was related by his father, to the counts of Novellara, and to Carlo I Cybo-Malaspina, through his mother.

Although he didn't excel at traditional education, he was considered talented and witty.

Reign Upon the death of his father on 25 July 1678, he succeeded his father as Count of Novellara. Camillo was considered a passionate hunter. He was considered to have managed state affairs competently, maintaining the court at his own expense. He supported poor subjects, including through tax breaks. He supported monasteries and built churches. In April 1700, he was received by Pope Innocent XII in Rome. The pontiff gave him his blessing to the fifth generation and three hundred indulgences.

In 1702 , after the battle of Santa Vittoria, Camillo hosted King Philip V of Spain, in his territory. The Spanish sovereign, during his stay in Novellara, baptized Filippo Alfonso; on this occasion Camillo and his son were named Grandees of Spain of the first class.

Marriage and issue On 22 August 1695, Camillo III Gonzaga married Matilda d'Este, daughter of Sigismondo III d'Este, Margrave of San Martino and Lanzo, and Maria Teresa Grimaldi of the House of Monaco and Margraves of Baux. Three children were born of this marriage, two of whom survived to adulthood:

Ricciarda (24 March 1697 – 26 April 1698), died in infancy; Ricciarda (22 August 1698 – 24 November 1768), on 29 April 1715, married Alderano I Cibo Malaspina, Duke of Massa and Prince of Carrara, from 1731 to 1744 she was regent for the minor heiress, from 1728 sovereign Countess of Novellara; Filippo Alfonso (13 April 1700 – 13 December 1728), from 1727 sovereign Count of Novellara, Bagnolo and Cortenuova under the name of Filippo Alfonso I, Signor of the Novellara Canal, Signor of Santa Maria, San Tommaso and San Giovanni, Venetian patrician, in 1728 he married Eleonora Tanara, but the marriage was not consummated due to the premature death of her husband from tuberculosis. before the reconciliation that took place with the baptism of her niece Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina, daughter of Ricciarda Gonzaga, in 1725.

Death Camillo III managed to retain control of the fief by demonstrating loyalty to the Holy Roman Emperor. In March 1727, the Count suffered an accident from which he never recovered. His death on August 16, 1727, caused deep grief among his subjects. Camillo III's successor died a year later of tuberculosis. The county was then ruled by the Holy Roman Emperors until it passed to Camillo III's daughter as regent. She was the last representative of the Gonzaga-Novellara house, whose members had ruled the county since the early 16th century.