Eleanor Gonzaga (1630–1686)
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- For other women of the same name, see Eleanor Gonzaga
Eleonora Gonzaga (18 November 1630 – 6 December 1686) of the Mantua was a daughter of Charles II Gonzaga (1609–1631) and his wife and cousin Maria Gonzaga, heiress to the Duchy of Mantua.
[edit] Family
Her father was a son and co-ruler of Charles I, Duke of Mantua but predeceased his father. Her paternal grandmother was Catherine of Mayenne. Her maternal grandparents were Francesco IV Gonzaga and Margaret of Savoy.
Catherine of Mayenne was a daughter of Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne and Henriette of Savoy, Marquise de Villars. Margaret was a daughter of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and Catherine Michelle of Spain.
Catherine Michelle was in turn the second and last daughter of Philip II of Spain and Elisabeth of Valois.
[edit] Marriage and children
She was born on in Mantua. On 30 April 1651 in Vienna, she married the Emperor Ferdinand III, thus becoming Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. She died in Vienna, surviving her husband by 29 years.
She bore Ferdinand two children who survived into adulthood:
- Eleonora Maria Josefa, Archduchess of Austria (31 May 1653 – 1697), married first Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki, King of Poland, and then Charles Léopold, Duke of Lorraine.
- Maria Anna Josepha, Archduchess of Austria (30 December 1654 – 1689), who married Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine.
Eleanor are described as cultivated and religious. She protected the cultural developement in Vienna, she founded a Ursuline convent i Vienna (1663), a litterary academy and the order of Sklavinnen der Tugend. She was active also as an Dowager Empress and arranged Ballet and festivals.
| Eleanor Gonzaga | Father: Charles II Gonzaga |
Paternal Grandfather: Charles I, Duke of Mantua |
Paternal Great-Grandfather: Louis Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers |
| Paternal Great-grandmother: Henriette of Cleves |
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| Paternal Grandmother: Catherine of Mayenne |
Paternal Great-Grandfather: Charles of Lorraine, Duke of Mayenne |
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| Paternal Great-Grandmother: Henriette of Savoy |
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| Mother: Maria Gonzaga |
Maternal Grandfather: Francesco IV Gonzaga |
Maternal Great-Grandfather: Vincenzo I Gonzaga |
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| Maternal Great-Grandmother: Eleonora de' Medici |
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| Maternal Grandmother: Margaret of Savoy |
Maternal Great-grandfather: Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy |
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| Maternal Great-Grandmother: Catherine Michelle of Spain |
| Preceded by Maria Leopoldine of Austria |
Empress of the Holy Roman Empire 1651–1657 |
Succeeded by Margarita Teresa of Spain |
| German Queen 1651–1653 |
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