Margaret of Bavaria, Marchioness of Mantua

Margaret of Bavaria
Margaret of Bavaria
Born	1442 Munich
Died	1479 Mantua
Noble family	House of Wittelsbach
Spouse(s)	Federico I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua
Father	Albert III, Duke of Bavaria
Mother	Anna of Brunswick-Grubenhagen-Einbeck

Margaret of Bavaria (1442–1479) was a Marchioness consort of Mantua, married in 1463 to Federico I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua. She was regent in the absence of her spouse during his military campaign in 1479.

Life

Margaret was the daughter of Albert III, Duke of Bavaria and Anna of Brunswick-Grubenhagen-Einbeck. The marriage between Margaret and Frederico helped trading relations between the two states.

Margaret was not able to speak or read Italian when she arrived, but the relationship with Frederico was described as happy. The court was dominated by her mother-in-law, but Margaret avoided all conflicts.

During his war against Aragon, Frederico appointed Margaret as regent in his absence during the spring and summer of 1479, during which she died.

Issue

Margaret and Frederico had:

• Clara Gonzaga (1464–1503) married in 1482 to Gilbert of Bourbon-Montpensier Duke of Sessa; parents of Charles III, Duke of Bourbon.
• Francesco II Gonzaga (1466–1519) married in 1490 to Isabella d'Este; parents in law of Francesco Maria I della Rovere Duke of Urbino and nephew of Guidobaldo da Montefeltro
• Sigismondo Gonzaga (1469–1525)
• Elisabetta Gonzaga (1471–1526) married in 1489 to Guidobaldo da Montefeltro Duke of Urbino
• Maddelena (1472–1490) married in 1489 to Giovanni Sforza Lord of Pesaro and Gradara
• Giovanni Gonzaga (1474–1525) married in 1493 Laura Bentivoglio (d.1523)

Ancestors

Ancestors of Margaret of Bavaria, Marchioness of Mantua

16. Stephen II, Duke of Bavaria 8. John II, Duke of Bavaria 17. Elisabeth of Sicily 4. Ernest, Duke of Bavaria 18. Meinhard VI of Gorizia 9. Catherine of Gorizia 19. Catherine of Pfannberg 2. Albert III, Duke of Bavaria 20. Stefano Visconti 10. Bernabò Visconti 21. Valentina Doria 5. Elisabetta Visconti 22. Mastino II della Scala 11. Beatrice Regina della Scala 23. Taddea da Carrara 1. Margaret of Bavaria 24. Ernest I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 12. Albert I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 25. Adelheid of Eberstein 6. Eric I, Duke of Brunswick-Grubenhagen 26. Magnus II, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg 13. Agnes of Brunswick-Lüneburg 27. Catherine of Anhalt-Bernburg 3. Anna of Brunswick-Grubenhagen-Einbeck 28. Ernest I, Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen 14. Otto I, Duke of Brunswick-Göttingen 29. Elisabeth of Hesse 7. Elisabeth of Brunswick-Göttingen 30. William VII of Jülich, 1st Duke of Berg 15. Margaret of Jülich 31. Anna of the Palatinate

Sources

• James, Carolyn (2020). A Renaissance Marriage: The Political and Personal Alliance of Isabella d'Este & Francesco Gonzaga, 1490-1519. Oxford University Press.
• Jansen, S. (2008). Debating Women, Politics, and Power in Early Modern Europe. Palgrave Macmillan.