Federico I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua

Federico I Gonzaga (June 25, 1441 – July 14, 1484) was marquess of Mantua from 1478 to 1484, as well as a condottiero.

Biography

Federico was born in Mantua in 1441, son of Ludovico III and Barbara of Brandenburg. He was a good friend of the court painter Andrea Mantegna and received an education from Mantegna's mother as well as from Vittorino da Feltre (d. 1446) and above all from Iacopo da San Cassiano (from 1446 to 1449) and Ognibene da Lonigo (from 1449).

He fought for the Sforza of Milan until 1470 and succeeded to the marquisate on June 14, 1478. He was, however, forced to split much of the Mantuan possessions with his brothers.

Federico continued to fight as a condottiero, and during his frequent absences Mantua was administered by Eusebio Malatesta, while the local army was under his brother-in-law, Francesco Secco d'Aragona. Federico took part in numerous actions in defence of the Duchy of Milan, in particular against the aggressive Republic of Venice. During one of these wars Francesco Secco occupied Asola and other Venetian territories. Later, after the peace, Ludovico Sforza of Milan asked for the return of Asola to Milan, to which Frederick had to acquiesce.

He died in Mantua at the age of 43, and was buried in the church of Sant'Andrea.

Family

In 1463 he married Margaret of Bavaria, daughter of Albert III, Duke of Bavaria and Anna, Duchess of Brunswick-Grubenhagen; and sister of John IV, Duke of Bavaria. They had the following issue:

• Clara (1464-1503) married in 1482 to Gilbert of Bourbon-Montpensier Duke of Sessa; parents of Charles III, Duke of Bourbon.
• Francesco II (1466-1519), Marquess of Mantua; married in 1490 to Isabella d'Este daughter of King Ferdinand I of Naples; parents in law of Francesco Maria I della Rovere Duke of Urbino and nephew of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro
• Sigismondo (1469–1525)
• Elisabetta (1471–1526) married in 1489 to Guidobaldo da Montefeltro Duke of Urbino
• Maddelena (1472–90) married in 1489 to Giovanni Sforza Lord of Pesaro and Gradara who later married Lucrezia Borgia.
• Giovanni (1474–1525) married in 1493 Laura Bentivoglio (d.1523) and had issue. His descendants, the Marquises of Vescovato, have been the senior line of the House of Gonzaga since the 18th century.