Eleonora Gonzaga (1630–1686)
Eleonora Gonzaga | |
---|---|
Holy Roman Empress | |
Tenure | 30 April 1651 – 2 April 1657 |
Coronation | 4 August 1653 |
Born | Mantua, Duchy of Mantua | 18 November 1630
Died | 6 December 1686 Vienna, Austria | (aged 56)
Burial | , Vienna, Austria |
Spouse | |
Issue Detail | |
Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers | |
Mother | Maria Gonzaga, Duchess of Montferrat |
Eleonora Gonzaga (18 November 1630 – 6 December 1686), was by birth Princess of
Nicknamed the Younger (de: Jüngere) to distinguish herself from her namesake grandaunt,[1] she was considered one of the most educated and virtuous women of her time. Fascinated by religious poetry, she founded a literary academy and was also a patron of musical theater. As Holy Roman Empress, she promoted the development of cultural and spiritual life at the Imperial court in Vienna, and despite being a staunch Catholic and benefactress of several monasteries, she had a tolerant attitude towards Protestantism.
She established two female orders: the Order of Virtuosity (1662) and the Order of the Starry Cross (1668).
Life
Early years
Eleonora was born on 18 November 1630 in
She was named after her mother's paternal aunt Holy Roman Empress
During this time, Eleonora lived in the Church of Sant'Orsola, where she remained with her mother until 1637, when after the death of her grandfather, her older brother became in the new duke of Mantua and Montferrat under the regency of their mother Maria. The princess received an excellent education, being fluent in French, Spanish and Italian, well versed in literature, music and art, and expert in dances and embroidery. Already in the adolescence she manifested a poetic talent, which was expressed in her compositions of philosophical and religious poems.[6][8]
Marriage and children
Eleonora's marriage was arranged by her godmother and namesake, the dowager Holy Roman Empress, who maintained close ties with her niece, the Duchess-Regent Maria (Eleonora's mother), and became the main supporter of her election as wife of Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor; previously, the dowager empress was also able to arrange the marriage of Duke Charles II of Mantua (Eleonora's brother) with Archduchess Isabella Clara of Austria (a member of the Tyrolese branch of the House of Habsburg) in 1649.[6][9]
During the nuptial negotiations, the emperor promoted the following conditions: the Duchy of Mantua would continue its loyalty to the interests of the Holy Roman Empire, the bride would retain her possible inheritance rights over the Duchy of Montferrat, and a dowry of 400,000 thalers. Duke Charles II agreed with only minor changes: Mantua would maintain its loyalty to the Holy Roman Empire only if the alliance didn't bring negative consequences to the duchy, and the bride's dowry would be paid in several installments in the next years.[6]
The marriage by proxy was solemnized on 2 March 1650 at the Basilica palatina di Santa Barbara, in which the emperor was represented by his ambassador, Count Johann Maximilian von Lamberg. The celebrations lasted until 22 March, when Eleonora, accompanied by some relatives, traveled from Mantua to Vienna. The cortege arrived at the Austrian city of Villach, where the bride said goodbye to her relatives and in the company of her godmother the dowager empress continued the trip to Wiener Neustadt, where on 30 April 1651 there took place the official wedding ceremony between Eleonora and Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand III. After the ceremony, the emperor gave his new wife the family jewels and a gift of 50,000 florins. For Ferdinand III, this was his third marriage; he had had children from both previous unions.[6][10]
In spite of the great difference in age, the marriage was a happy one.[11] The active and sweet nature of the young empress helped her gain the sympathy of all members of the Imperial family. She established an excellent relationship with all her stepchildren. She learned German, and the emperor Italian.[12] Together they participated in religious and secular ceremonies. Genuine piety of both spouses did not prevent them from patronizing literature and music activities, like visits to theaters or hunting, which was one of the passions of the empress.[6] In her portrait by Frans Luycx, Eleonora is depicted in the image of Diana, the ancient goddess of hunting.[13]
During her marriage, Eleonora gave birth four children, two of whom survived into adulthood:[14][15]
- Theresa Maria Josepha (27 March 1652 – 26 July 1653), Archduchess of Austria.
- Michael Korybut Wiśniowiecki, King of Poland, and then Charles V, Duke of Lorraine.
- John William, Elector Palatine.
- Ferdinand Joseph Alois (11 February 1657 – 16 June 1658), Archduke of Austria.
Holy Roman Empress and German Queen
Eleonora was a cultured woman. Together with her husband she founded a literary academy, and, despite their religious and strict adherence to Catholicism, would not discriminate enrolled Protestants. The empress has always been in a society of educated people, encouraged the development of science. After her arrival to Vienna, increased the influence of the Italians, and her native language became in the most used among the German aristocracy. Italian aristocrats and clergy held high positions. The Imperial court was, thanks to her, dominated by Italian fashion. The enormous influence of Italian culture was also noted in the local literature, music, theater, architecture and painting.[6][12][16]
From the beginning her married life Eleonora accompanied her husband during his trips to the Holy Roman Empire. In 1652–1654 she was with him in Regensburg during the Reichstag. While her husband was engaged in public affairs, she was responsible for organizing celebrations such as the Carnival before Lent, culminating in the premiere of the opera L’Inganno d’amore (the Cheating of Love) by Antonio Bertali. On 4 August 1653 she was crowned Holy Roman Empress in Regensburg Cathedral; in 1655, she was crowned Queen of Hungary[17] and on 11 September 1656 was crowned Queen of Bohemia.[18] In April 1657 Eleonora became a widow, and a year later her only son also died.[6]
Widowhood
Archduke Leopold Wilhelm, Ferdinand III's younger brother, thought to marry Eleonora (who enjoyed the respect of her subjects) to strengthen his position as a candidate for the Imperial crown. However, the dowager empress put all her efforts to ensure the election of her stepson Leopold I as the new Holy Roman Emperor. Under the will of Ferdinand III, Eleonora assumed the guardianship of all his children. Her dower was provided by the cities of Graz and Linz and also was determined for her an annual pension of 200,000 florins (later increased to 230,000). During the summer she spent in the Favorita palace, which, together with Schönbrunn and Laxenburg she received from her godmother the late dowager empress. Under her supervision, was added an extension to the Hofburg, which then suffered a fire and was rebuilt again.[6][15]
The small court of the empress dowager was a meeting place for politicians and diplomats. There were often visitors like Minister Václav Eusebius František, Prince of Lobkowicz, ambassadors Jacques Bretel de Grémonville and Lorenzo Magalotti, and General Raimondo Montecuccoli. For some time was considered the possibility of a second marriage for Eleonora, with the Polish King John II Casimir Vasa, but this project was never implemented.[6][15]
Eleonora enjoyed great respect from Leopold I, who consulted with his stepmother on many political and personal issues. The dowager empress established good relations with her stepson's first wife, Infanta
The dowager empress engaged in politics only when on behalf to her family's interests. In 1669, Eleonora had to resolve the conflict between the Imperial court in Vienna and the Holy See, which arose due to the fact that the Pope didn't appoint any cardinal of the candidates proposed by the emperor. Then, Leopold I resorted to the mediation of his stepmother to solve the crisis.[6] In 1671 she arranged the marriage of her nephew Ferdinando Carlo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat with Anna Isabella Gonzaga, the heiress of the Guastalla line with the purpose to unite the two Gonzaga rival families. She tried that Charles V, Duke of Lorraine (suitor and later second husband of her eldest daughter) could be elected King of Poland, but he was defeated by John Sobieski in 1674.[20]
Besides her political activity, Eleonora spent most of her time on works of charity and piety. In 1680 she invited the missionary and preacher Capuchin friar
Death
The last years of Eleonora's life were overshadowed by the epidemic of plague in 1679 and beginning of the Great Turkish War in 1683, in which, although the empire won, serious material damage was inflicted on the possessions of the dowager empress. In both cases, she had to flee from Vienna: the first time to Prague and Linz, and in the second to Linz and Innsbruck. Eleanora died in Vienna on 6 December 1686 and was buried in the Imperial Crypt.[6]
Ancestry
Ancestors of Eleonora Gonzaga (1630–1686) Margaret of Savoy | | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15. Catherine Michaela of Spain[23] | |||||||||||||
Notes
- ^ Braun, Keller & Schnettger 2016, p. 117.
- ^ Louda & MacLagan 1999, table 80
- ^ George Perceval, Esq.:The History of Italy: From the Fall of the Western Empire to the commencement of the Wars of the French Revolution, vol. II, G. B. Whittaker Ave-Maria Lane 1825, p. 479 Chapter X Part I: Mantua 1600-1700, Austrian National Library [Retrieved 6 November 2016].
- ^ Louda & MacLagan 1999, table 80; and Morby 1989, p. 107
- ^ a b "GONZAGA: LINEA SOVRANA DI MANTOVA". Enciclopedia genealogica del Mediterraneo (in Italian). Società Genealogica Italiana [Italian Genealogical Society]. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m BDI staff 1993, "Eleonora Gonzaga..."
- ^ Braun, Keller & Schnettger 2016, p. 120.
- ^ Braun, Keller & Schnettger 2016, p. 12.
- ^ Hengerer 2012, p. 280.
- ^ Hengerer 2012, pp. 280–281.
- ^ Hengerer 2012, p. 282.
- ^ a b c Mutschlechner Italians.
- ^ Museum of Fine Arts Vienna.
- ^ Mutschlechner Marriage.
- ^ a b c Braun, Keller & Schnettger 2016, p. 125.
- ^ Braun, Keller & Schnettger 2016, p. 127–128, 133–134.
- ^ Braun, Keller & Schnettger 2016, p. 132.
- ^ Hengerer 2012, p. 330.
- ^ Braun, Keller & Schnettger 2016, pp. 125–126.
- ^ Braun, Keller & Schnettger 2016, p. 139.
- ^ Braun, Keller & Schnettger 2016, p. 130.
- ^ Starry Cross Order in: Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary, vol. 82, St. Petersburg 1890–1907, p. 365 total: 86 vol. –Russian source–.
- ^ ISSN 0993-3964.
References
- Braun, Bettina; Keller, Katrin; Schnettger, Matthias (4 April 2016). Nur die Frau des Kaisers?: Kaiserinnen in der Frühen Neuzeit (in German). Böhlau Verlag Wien. p. 117. ISBN 978-3-205-20085-7.
- Hengerer, Mark (2012) [2008]. Mazohl, Brigitte (chair); Rumpler, Helmut (deputy chair); et al. (eds.). Kaiser Ferdinand III. (1608–1657), Eine Biographie (PDF). Publications Commission for Recent History of Austria. Vienna: Böhlau. pp. 4, 79. ISBN 978-3-205-77765-6. Archived from the original(PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- Louda, Jirí; MacLagan, Michael (1999). Lines of Succession: Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe (2nd ed.). London, U.K.: Little, Brown and Company. table 80.
- Morby, John (1989). Dynasties of the World: a chronological and genealogical handbook. Oxford, U.K.: Oxford University Press. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-19-215872-7.
- "Eleonore von Gonzaga (1628 — 1686) als Diana, Kaiserin, 3. Gemahlin von Ferdinand III". Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien (Museum of Fine Arts Vienna). Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- Mutschlechner, Martin. "Ferdinand III, Eleonora of Gonzaga and the Italians in Vienna". The world of the Habsburgs (www.habsburger.net/en). Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- Mutschlechner, Martin. "Ferdinand III: marriage and offspring". The world of the Habsburgs (www.habsburger.net/en). Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- BDI staff (1993). Eleonora Gonzaga Nevers, imperatrice (in Italian). Vol. 42. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
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Further reading
- Media related to Eleonora Gonzaga, Holy Roman Empress (1686) at Wikimedia Commons
- Wurzbach, C. von (2012) [1860]. "Eleonore Gonzaga". Biographisches Lexikon des Kaisertums Österreich (in German). Austria: Austrian Literature Online, University of Innsbruck. p. 161–162, 458.
- Hamann, Brigitte (Hg.) (1988). "Eleonore". Die Habsburger (in German). 79.