Portrait of Francesco II Gonzaga in the Uffizi, Florence.

Francesco II (or IV) Gonzaga (10 August 1466 – March 29, 1519) was the ruler of the Italian city of Mantua from 1484 until his death. The narrow courtyard between the Uffizis two wings creates the effect of a short, idealized street. ... Florence (Italian: ) is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy. ... August 10 is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Chimú Empire conquered by troops of the Inca End of term for Regent of Sweden Jöns Bengtsson Oxenstierna. ... March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (89th in leap years). ... Events March 4 - Hernán Cortés lands in Mexico. ... Mantua (in Italian Mantova, in the local dialect of Emiliano-Romagnolo language Mantua) is an important city in Lombardy, Italy and capital of the province with the same name. ... Events January 25 - Peter Arbues, chief of the Spanish Inquisition, is assassinated when he is praying in the cathedral at Saragossa, Spain July 6 - Portuguese sea captain Diogo Cão finds the mouth of Congo River December 5 - Pope Innocent VIII gives the inquisition a mission to hunt heretics and...

Biography

He was born in Mantua, the son of Marquess Federico I Gonzaga. He had a career as a condottiero acting as Venice's commander from 1489 to 98. He was the commander-in-chief of the army of the Italian league in the battle of Fornovo, although under the tutorage of his more experienced uncle Ridolfo Gonzaga: although inconclusive, the battle had at least the effect to push Charles VIII of France's army back to the Alps. He was described as "short, pop-eyed, snub-nosed and exceptionally brave, and was regarded as the finest knight in Italy"^[1]. Condottieri (singular condottiero) were mercenary leaders employed by Italian city-states from the late Middle Ages until the mid-sixteenth century. ... Venice (Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venezsia) is the capital of region Veneto, and has a population of 271,663 (census estimate January 1, 2004). ... Events March 14 - The Queen of Cyprus, Catherine Cornaro, sells her kingdom to Venice. ... 1498 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Battle of Fornovo took place in July 1495 during the Italian Wars. ... Charles VIII the Affable (French: Charles VIII lAffable) (June 30, 1470 – April 7, 1498) was King of France from 1483 to his death. ...

Later he was rival of the Venetians, as leader of the Holy League formed by Pope Julius II against them. In that occasion he was captured by the Venetians, who held him as hostage for several months and humiliated him: this caused his perpetual hostility towards that city, and he refused any subsequent request to return to command its army. Throughout history there have been many alliances and organizations known as the Catholic League, including: Catholic League (USA) - Civil rights group in the United States. ... Pope Julius II (December 5, 1443 – February 21, 1513), born Giuliano della Rovere, was Pope from 1503 to 1513. ...

During his absences, Mantua was governed by his wife Isabella d'Este, whom he had married on February 12, 1490. Under their reign, Mantua knew a great age of cultural splendour, with the presence in the city of artists such as Andrea Mantegna and Jacopo Bonacolsi. Francesco had the Palace of St. Sebastian built, were later Mantegna's Triumph of Caesar were placed. Isabella dEste painted by Titian Isabella dEste (18 May 1474 - 13 February 1539, death at 65 years old) was marchesa of Mantua and one of the leading women of the Italian Renaissance and a major cultural and political figure. ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Tirant Lo Blanc by Joanot Martorell, Martí Joan De Galba is published. ... The Agony in the Garden (1455) is the pinnacle of Mantegnas early style. ...

On his death, he was succeeded by his son Federico, with Isabella acting as regent. His other son Ferrante Gonzaga originated the branch of the Counts of Guastalla. Federico II of Gonzaga (1500 – 1540), Marquis of Mantua, succeeded his father Francesco as ruler of Mantua in 1519. ... Ferrante I Gonzaga (Italian: Ferdinando I, January 28, 1507 - November 15, 1557) was an Italian condottiero, a member of the House of Gonzaga and the first of the branch of the Gonzaga of Guastalla. ...

See also

• Rulers of Mantua
• Condottieri
• Italian Wars

Condottieri (singular condottiere (in English) or condottiero (in Italian)) were mercenary leaders employed by Italian city-states from the late Middle Ages until the mid-sixteenth century. ... The Italian Wars, often referred to as the great Italian Wars or the great wars of Italy in historical works, were a series of conflicts from 1494 to 1559 that involved, at various times, all the major states of western Europe (France, Spain, the Holy Roman Empire, England, Scotland, the...

Sources

• Nicolle, David (1996). Fornovo 1495. Osprey Publishing. 

Notes