Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga

Duchess of Rovere and of Montefeltro
Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga
Duchess of Rovere and of Montefeltro
Born(1686-11-13)13 November 1686
Guastalla, Duchy of Guastalla
Died16 March 1741(1741-03-16) (aged 54)
Padua, Republic of Venice
Burial
SpouseFrancesco Maria de' Medici
Names
Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga
HouseHouse of Gonzaga {by birth)
House of Medici (by marriage)
FatherVincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla
MotherMaria Vittoria Gonzaga

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.

Biography

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.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga
16. Cesare I Gonzaga, Count of Guastalla
8. Ferrante II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla (=#24)
17. Camilla Borromeo
4. Andrea Gonzaga, Count of San Paolo
18. Giannettino Doria
9. Vittoria Doria (=#25)
19. Ginetta Centurione
2. Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla
10. ?, Marquis de Fusara
5. Laura Crispano
1. Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga
24. Ferrante II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla (=#8)
12. Cesare II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla
25. Vittoria Doria (=#9)
6. Ferrante III Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla
26. Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano
13. Isabella Orsini
27. Flavia Damasceni-Peretti
3. Maria Vittoria Gonzaga
28. Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena
14. Alfonso III d'Este, Duke of Modena
29. Virginia de' Medici
7. Margarete d'Este
30. Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy
15. Isabella of Savoy
31. Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain

Citations

  1. ^ Acton, p 246
  2. ^ Acton, p 250
  3. ^ Acton, p 251

Bibliography

  • Acton, Harold: The Last Medici, Macmillan, London, 1980, ISBN 0-333-29315-0
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Generations start from Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga
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3rd Generation4th Generation5th Generation6th Generation7th Generation8th Generation9th Generation
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Tuscan princesses by marriage
Generations are numbered from the daughters-in-law of Cosimo I de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
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3rd generation
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  • Princess Maria Anna of Saxony*
10th generation
  • Princess Anna of Saxony*
  • Princess Maria Immaculata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies*
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^did not have a royal or noble title by birth
* also an archduchess of Austria by marriage
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