Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga

Eleanora Luisa Gonzaga
Duchess of Rovere and of Montefeltro
Born	(1686-11-13)13 November 1686 Guastalla, Duchy of Guastalla
Died	Padua, Republic of Venice
Spouse	Francesco Maria de' Medici
Full name Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga
House	House of Gonzaga House of Medici
Father	Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla
Mother	Maria Vittoria Gonzaga

Eleanora Luisa Gonzaga (13 November 1686 – 16 March 1741) was the Duchess of Rovere and Montefeltro as the wife of Francesco Maria de' Medici. She was the only child of Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla and Sabbioneta and his second wife, Maria Vittoria Gonzaga. She did not bear any children.

Biography

Eleanora Luisa Gonzaga married Francesco Maria de' Medici, Duke of Rovere and Montefeltro (titles inherited from his mother) on 14 July 1709. Her husband was 48 years old and morbidly obese. Before the marriage occurred, Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who instigated the marriage, sent agents to Guastalla to ascertain her physical appearance. They concluded that she had beautiful skin, eyes, mouth, and waist. The House of Medici was desperately wanting in male heirs; Francesco Maria, previously a cardinal, was released from his vows through his brother's action to remedy this.

Eleanora Luisa was repulsed by her husband, refusing to fulfil her marital duties. Despite requisitioning the assistance of her old confessor from Guastalla, Cosimo III could not cajole her into submitting, as she allegedly feared contracting venereal diseases. Francesco Maria had her surmount this predicament and eventually the marriage was consummated. However, no heirs were born and as a result of this, Francesco Maria was devastated.

On 2 February 1711, Francesco Maria died of dropsy, leaving behind exorbitant debts. Eleanora Luisa lingered on at Tuscany's court until the death of her nephew-in-law Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. From there, she ventured to Padua in the Republic of Venice, where she died on 16 March 1741.

Titles and styles

• 13 November 1686 – 14 July 1709 Donna Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga
• 14 July 1709 – 2 February 1711 Her Highness The Duchess of Rovere
• 2 February 1711 – 16 March 1741 Her Highness The Dowager Duchess of Rovere

Ancestry

Family of Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga

16. Cesare I Gonzaga, Count of Guastalla               8. Ferrante II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla (=#24)                       17. Camilla Borromeo               4. Andrea Gonzaga, Count of San Paolo                             18. Giannettino Doria               9. Vittoria Doria (=#25)                       19. Ginetta Centurione               2. Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla                                   10. ?, Marquis de Fusara                       5. Laura Crispano                             1. Eleonora Luisa Gonzaga                                         24. Ferrante II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla (=#8)               12. Cesare II Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla                       25. Vittoria Doria (=#9)               6. Ferrante III Gonzaga, Duke of Guastalla                             26. Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano               13. Isabella Orsini                       27. Flavia Damasceni-Peretti               3. Maria Vittoria Gonzaga                                   28. Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena               14. Alfonso III d'Este, Duke of Modena                       29. Virginia de' Medici               7. Margarete d'Este                             30. Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy               15. Isabella of Savoy                       31. Infanta Catherine Michelle of Spain

Bibliography

• Acton, Harold: The Last Medici, Macmillan, London, 1980, ISBN 0-333-29315-0