Ferdinando Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua

Ferdinand I Gonzaga (26 April 1587 – 29 October 1626) was Duke of Mantua and Duke of Montferrat from 1612 until his death.

Biography

Born in Mantua, he was the son of Vincenzo I and Eleonora de' Medici.

On 10 December 1607, he was appointed a cardinal by Pope Paul V at the age of 20. A few years after his elder brother, Duke Francesco IV, died in 1612 without male heirs, he renounced the ecclesiastical career on 16 November 1615, and succeeded his brother in both the Duchy of Mantua and the Duchy of Montferrat.

In 1616, he secretly married Camilla Faà di Bruno, whom he divorced in the same year. Their son Francesco Giacinto Teodoro Giovanni Gonzaga, although accepted at court, was not made Ferdinando's heir. He died of the plague at the age of 14, during the 1630 siege of Mantua.

On 16 February 1617, Ferdinando married Caterina de' Medici (1593–1629), the daughter of Ferdinand I, Grand Duke of Tuscany. They had no children.

Ferdinand Gonzaga died in 1626. His younger brother Vincenzo II inherited the duchy.

Family In 1616 he married Camilla Faà di Bruno, they had: Francesco Giacinto Gonzaga (4 December 1616 – 1630), Lord of Bianzè since 1624, benefited Priest of St. Benedict Polirone.

Honours