Reign 1539-1574 House Della Rovere Name Guidobaldo della | Successor Francesco Maria II Predecessor Francesco Maria I | |
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Full name Guidobaldo II della Rovere Born 2 April 1514Urbino, Duchy of Urbino ( 1514-04-02 ) Spouse Giulia VaranoVittoria Farnese Issue Virginia, Duchess of GravinaFrancesco Maria II, Duke of UrbinoIsabella, Princess of BisignanoLavinia, Princess of Francavilla Father Francesco Maria I della Rovere Died September 28, 1574, Pesaro, Italy Children Francesco Maria II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino Parents Eleonora Gonzaga, Duchess of Urbino, Francesco Maria I della Rovere, Duke of Urbino Grandchildren Federico Ubaldo della Rovere, Duke of Urbino Similar People Guidobaldo da Montefeltro, Vittoria Farnese, Giovanni della Rovere, Isabella d'Este, Lucrezia d'Este | ||
Guidobaldo II della Rovere (2 April 1514 – 28 September 1574) was an Italian condottiero, who succeeded his father Francesco Maria I della Rovere as Duke of Urbino from 1538 until his death in 1574. He was a member of the House of La Rovere. Guidobaldo was an important patron of the arts in general, and of Titian in particular, commissioning his own portrait, and buying Titian's Venus of Urbino.
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Early life
He was the son of Francesco Maria I della Rovere and Eleonora Gonzaga. In 1534, he married Giulia da Varano (b. 1523), daughter of the lord of Camerino but the couple had no issue. At the assassination of his father, Guidobaldo became duke of Urbino in 1538.
Career
In 1546, he received a condotta as military leader (Governatore) by the Republic of Venice, for which his father had been a valiant commander during the Italian Wars. After the 1547 death of Giulia da Varano, in 1548 he married Vittoria Farnese - the daughter of Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma and Gerolama Orsini, daughter of Lodovico Orsini and wife and first cousin Giulia Conti. Later he was made Papal governor of Fano, receiving also the title of capitano generale (commander-in-chief) of the Papal States, as well as that of Prefect of Rome.
In 1559, he was hired by the King of Spain, helping Bernardo Sanseverino (who had married Isabelle, one of Guidobaldo's daughters) in the war against the Ottoman Turks.
On 1 January 1573, a revolt rose against Guidobaldo in Urbino, due to the excessive tax burden that he was exerting over his state. He reacted by bloodily suppressing the riot.
Personal life
His additional children included:
After falling ill during a voyage to Ferrara and Pesaro, he died in the latter town in 1574.