Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla

Vincenzo Gonzaga (1634 – 28 April 1714) was the reigning Duke of Guastalla and a member of the House of Gonzaga.

Early life

Vincenzo was born as the second son of Andrea Gonzaga, Count of San Paolo (d. 1686) and his wife, Laura Crispano dei marchesi di Fusara. He was also grandson of Ferrante II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla.

Portrait of Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla

Heir of the Duchy of Guastalla

When Duke Ferrante III of Guastalla died in 1678 without a male heir, Guastalla was ruled by Ferdinando Carlo, Duke of Mantua, who had married Princess Anna Isabella Gonzaga, Duke Ferrante III's oldest daughter. Vincenzo became Duke of Guastalla in 1692.

Marriages and issue

Vincenzo married firstly to Donna Porzia Guidi di Bagno (d. 1672), who was also his first cousin as daughter of Nicola Marquis of Bagno and Montebello by his aunt, Princess Teodora Gonzaga of Guastalla. After the death of his first wife, Vincenzo arranged to be married to another relative, Princess Maria Vittoria Gonzaga di Guastalla (1659–1707), the youngest daughter of his cousin, Duke Ferrante III Gonzaga of Guastalla (1618-1678) and Princess Margherita d’Este of Modena (1619-1692).

Vincenzo and Maria Vittoria had:

• Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga (1686–1742), married in 1709 Francesco Maria de' Medici
• Antonio Ferrante Gonzaga (1687–1729), next Duke of Guastalla from 1704, married 1) Margherita Cesarini, and 2) Princess Theodora of Hesse-Darmstadt
• Giuseppe Gonzaga (1690–1746), next Duke of Guastalla from 1729, married Princess Eleonore von Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Wiesenburg .

Vincenzo Gonzaga inherited in 1707 Bozzolo and Pomponesco, and in 1710 Sabbioneta.

Relatives

• His uncle was also called Vincenzo (1602–1694) and was Viceroy of Valencia in 1663, Viceroy of Catalonia between 1664 and 1667 and Viceroy of Sicily in 1678.
• His cousin, Vespasiano-Vincenzo (1621–1687) was Viceroy of Valencia in 1669.

Sources

• Parrott, David (1997). "A prince souverain and the French crown:Charles de Nevers, 1580-1637". In Oresko, Robert; Gibbs, G. C.; Scott, H. M. (eds.). Royal and Republican Sovereignty in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge University Press. pp. 149–187.