Reign 1612 Predecessor Vincenzo I Gonzaga Mother Eleonora de' Medici | Successor Ferdinando I Gonzaga Name Francesco Gonzaga, | |
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Spouse Margaret of Savoy, Vicereine of Portugal (m. 1608) Children Maria Gonzaga, Duchess of Montferrat Parents Eleanor de' Medici, Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua Grandchildren Charles II, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat, Eleonora Gonzaga Similar People Vincenzo Gonzaga - Duke of, Eleanor de' Medici, Margaret of Savoy - Vicereine, Charles Emmanuel I - Duke of, Margherita Farnese | ||
Francesco IV Gonzaga (7 May 1586 – 22 December 1612), was Duke of Mantua and (as Francesco II) Duke of Montferrat between 9 February and 22 December 1612.
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Biography
Born in Mantua, he was the eldest son of Duke Vincenzo I and Eleonora de' Medici.
In 1607, Claudio Monteverdi dedicated his opera L'Orfeo to Francesco. The title page of the opera bears the dedication "Al serenissimo signor D. Francesco Gonzaga, Prencipe di Mantoua, & di Monferato, &c."
Francesco became Duke upon his father's death on 9 February 1612. He died at Mantua on 22 December 1612 without male heirs. He was succeeded by his brother Ferdinand.
Family
On 19 February 1608 he married in Turin, Margaret of Savoy (1589–1655), daughter of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy. They had three children (one son and two daughters), only one of whom survived into adulthood: