2023

VINCENZO II GONZAGA

VII DUKE OF MANTUA

AND

V DUKE OF MONFERRATO

29 OTTOBRE 1626

m. 25 DICEMBRE 1627

by   Raffaele Tamalio

VINCENZO II GONZAGA, DUKE OF MANTUA AND MONFERRATO.

HE WAS BORN IN MANTUA ON THE NIGHT BETWEEN 6 AND 7 JANUARY 1594, THIRD CHILD OF THE DUKE OF MANTUA VINCENZO I (SEE THE ENTRY IN THIS DICTIONARY) AND OF ELEONORA DE' MEDICI, BAPTIZED IN THE PALATINE CHURCH OF S. BARBARA THE FOLLOWING DAY.

ALTHOUGH LIKE THE ELDER BROTHERS HAD BEEN EDUCATED AT THE COURT BY VALENTIC PRECEPTORS, VINCENZO EARLY SHOWED TO BE MORE DEDICATED TO GAMES AND ENTERTAINMENT, AS EMERGED IN THE JOURNEY WHICH, AT THE AGE OF 14, HE MADE BETWEEN JULY AND SEPTEMBER 1608, FOLLOWING HIS FATHER TO VISIT HIS SISTER MARGHERITA DUCHESS OF LORRAINE IN NANCY, WHERE BECAME AN ENTHUSIAST FOR DEER HUNTING, THEN UNDERTAKING A LONG STAY AT A SPA IN FLANDERS, BUT RETURNING TO MANTUA BEFORE THE EXPECTED DELIVERY OF THE JOINT, WITH GREAT RESENTENCE OF THE SAME.

ON THE DEATH OF HIS PARENT, IN FEBRUARY 1612, VINCENZO CARRIED OUT IN THE AUTUMN A REPRESENTATIVE ROLE ON BEHALF OF THE FIRST-BORN FRANCIS, THE NEW DUKE OF MANTUA, TO THE NEWLY ELECTED EMPEROR MATTAS OF HABBURG WHOM HE MEETED IN OCTOBER IN PRAGUE ON THE OCCASION OF THE SOLEMN CORONATION OF THE SOVEREIGN.

IN THAT CIRCUMSTANCES THE YOUNG PRINCE WAS REQUESTED BY OFFICIALS OF THE CAESAREAN COURT TO ASSEMBLE A COMEDY TROUPE TO DELIGHT THE EMPEROR, A PROJECT THEN NOT MADE CONCRETE DUE TO THE MANY COMMITMENTS OF THE HABBURG.

FROM MATTIA, ALWAYS IN THE NAME OF HIS BROTHER, ON OCTOBER 17 VINCENZO RECEIVED THE NEW OFFICIAL INVESTITURE OF THE DUCIES OF MANTUA AND MONFERRATO, RETURNING TO MANTUA ON NOVEMBER 4.

ON THE FOLLOWING DECEMBER 3, AT JUST A YEAR OF AGE, THE LITTLE LUDOVICO GONZAGA, HEIR OF FRANCESCO, DIED OF SMALL POX, FOLLOWED ON THE 22ND OF THAT MONTH BY THE SAME DUKE, DUE TO THE SAME EVIL. THE SECOND BROTHER FERDINANDO GONZAGA, CARDINAL SINCE 1607, THEN HAD TO SUCCEED ON THE DUCAL THRONE.

ON NOVEMBER 16, 1615

THE NEW DUKE DEPOSED THE GALERO INTO THE HANDS OF POPE PAUL V, HIM TRANSMITTED, AT THE REQUEST OF FERDINAND HIMSELF, TO THE 21-YEAR-OLD VINCENZO WHO, IN FACT, WAS PROMOTED TO CARDINAL ON THE FOLLOWING DECEMBER 2ND.

WITH THE DIGNITY OF CARDINALITY, FERDINAND HAD PREVIOUSLY ASSUMED ALSO THAT OF PRIOR OF BARLETTA IN THE CAPACITY OF CHAPLAIN OF THE SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA, A POSITION WHICH TOGETHER WITH THE RELATED RICH PENSION WAS SOUGHT AT THE SAME TIME ALSO FOR THE PRINCE HIS BROTHER.

(STATE ARCHIVE OF MANTUA, GONZAGA ARCHIVE, B. 798, LETTER FROM THE GRAND MASTER OF THE ORDER OF MALTA, 11 JUNE 1616).

THE ASSUMPTION INTO THE SACRED COLLEGE MUST HAVE BEEN BADLY BEARED BY THE YOUNG NEW PORPORPORATE, UNPREPARED FOR AN ECCLESIASTICAL CAREER SINCE HE HAS NOT BEEN EDUCATED THERE, UNLIKE HIS BROTHER. VINCENZO WAS, IN FACT, MUCH MORE INCLINED TO THE EXERCISE OF ARMS, TO WHICH, AS A THIRD CHILD, HAD BEEN INTENDED, AND IN THAT HE COULD EXCELLENCE, ACCORDING TO THE EVIDENCE OFFERED IN THE FIELD SOME TIME LATER ON THE OCCASION OF THE SIEGE OF VERCELLI IN 1617 BETWEEN THE SPANISH FILES, AND THE JUDGMENT OF HIM BY THE VENETIAN REPORTER ALVISE DONATO: «SIGNOR DON VINCENZO [...] WOULD DEFINITELY MAKE A GREAT SUCCESS IN THE ART OF MILITARY [...] BY NOT TAKEING HIM, AS OTHERS ACCOMPT YOUNG PRINCIPLES, THE MILITIA FOR RECREATION [...] BUT IT WAITS ONLY FOR SHOPS, ATTENDS TO BE KNOWN TO THE SOLDIERS, WANT TO INFORM AND LEARN FROM EXPERTS, STUDY TO IMITATE THE BEST».

(Ambassadors' Report, 1912, P. 267).

NEVER THESE, VINCENZO ACCORDED TO THE WILL OF THE BROTHER, HOWEVER SUFFICIENCING SHORTLY LATER TO SOME EXCESSES OF BEHAVIOR WHICH OBLIGED THE DUKE TO REMOVE HIM FROM THE COURT AND TO RELIEVE HIM TO A SUBURBAN RESIDENCE IN GAZZUOLO.

A FEW MILES AWAY, IN THE LAND OF SAN MARTINO, ISABELLA GONZAGA DI NOVELLARA HAD WITHDRAWN TO LIVE, WIDOW SINCE 1605 OF FERRANTE GONZAGA DI SAN MARTINO, WITH WHOM SHE HAD ELEVEN CHILDREN INCLUDING SCIPIONE GONZAGA PRINCE OF BOZZOLO, FOR WHOM TO 1613 HE HAD WISELY HOLDING THE REGENCY DURING THE MINORITY.

FROM GAZZUOLO, THE 22-YEAR-OLD CARDINAL WANTED TO VISIT THE WIDOW WHO ENJOYED THE REMARK OF A CULTURAL AND BRILLIANT WOMAN.

AT THE AGE OF THIRTY-EIGHT, ISABELLA POSSESSED A STILL VERY FLOWERING APPEARANCE, AS WELL AS GREAT INTENT AND WIT; THESE QUALITIES CAPTIVATED THE YOUNG MAN WHO FELL MADLY IN LOVE WITH AN OLDER RELATIVE TO THE POINT OF DETERMINING TO MARRY HER JUST TO OWN HER.

IN FACT, WITH MEDITATED CARE, THE WOMAN HAD NOT WANTED TO INGRATE TO THE PASSIONS OF VINCENZO WITHOUT FIRST BEING UNITED BY A REGULAR WEDDING, WHICH, IN FACT, WERE OFFICIATED ON 23 AUGUST 1616 IN THE CHAPEL OF S. MARTINO BY THE PRISON OF THAT PLACE, IN THE PRESENCE OF NUMEROUS WITNESSES INCLUDING PRINCE SCIPIONE AND COUNT ALFONSO, BROTHER OF THE BRIDE.

IN THE FOLLOWING DAYS, THE YOUNG VINCENZO RETURNED THE CARDINAL SYMBOLS TO POPE PAUL VI, WHICH ARRIVED THE DISDIGNANT IRE OF THE PONTIFF, WHO, ALREADY IN THE CONSISTORY OF 5 SEPTEMBER, REPAID HIM FOR HIS HUGE AUDACITY BY DECREING HIM FROM HIGH OFFICE.

DUKE FERDINAND, FEAR OF THE LOSS OF THE RICH ECCLESIASTICAL BENEFITS AND OF THE LEAKAGE OF THE POLITICAL ADVANTAGES OF A SEAT IN THE SACRED COLLEGE, BUT ALSO FEAR OF THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF THE NO LONGER YOUNG BRIDE TO PROCREATE, WITH GREAT DAMAGE TO THE SUCCESSION , HE IMMEDIATELY OPPOSED THAT SERIOUS IMPRUDENCE OF THE BROTHER, SENDING HIS OWN EMISSARIES TO THE S. HEADQUARTERS SO THAT THE ECCLESIASTICAL DIGNITY WOULD BE RETURNED AND THE MARRIAGE DECLARED VOID.

IN THE FIRST TIME THE INITIATIVE WAS OPPOSED BY VINCENZO HIMSELF WHO, STILL CONFUSED BY THE CHARM OF ISABELLA GONZAGA, EFFORTS PERSONALLY TO THE PONTIFF INSTEAD TO CONFIRM ITS VALIDITY.

PUSHED IN STRETCHES, ALSO ECONOMIC, AND CONFINED TO GOITO, THE YOUNG MAN FINALLY BELONGED TO THE POLICY OF HIS BROTHER DUKE, ALSO REQUESTING, AT THE END OF 1616, THE INVALIDATION OF THE SACRAMENT.

ONCE THE WOMAN RETURNED TO SAN MARTINO, AN EXTENUING ARM Wrestling WITH THE PONTIFF TO OBTAIN THE ANNULMENT; ISABELLA GONZAGA COULD CONFIDENT IN THE SUPPORT FOR HER CAUSE OF THE BISHOP OF MANTUA FRANCESCO GONZAGA HER BROTHER-IN-LAW AND IN ROME IN ALFONSO GONZAGA COUNT OF NOVELLARA AND ARCHBISHOP OF RHODES, HER BROTHER; ON MANTUA'S PART, ON THE CONTRARY, TO ASSIST HIS FOUNDATIONS, IN THE FIRST TIME REASONS OF FAMILY AFFINITY WERE REASONED BETWEEN THE TWO GONZAGA MARRIAGE WHICH DATE BACK TO THE FIRST DUKE FEDERICO, ENDORSED BY AN AUTHENTIC LEGAL RESPONSE DRAWN UP FOR THE OPPORTUNITY BY THREE PROFESSOR OF THE SORBONA AT THE INSTANCE OF QUEEN MARIA DE' MEDICI, THE GROOM'S MATERNAL AUNT.

NOT RECOGNIZING THIS WAY TO BE VALID, POPE PAUL V EXCOURED, BUT NOT HEARD, THE TWO TO REJOIN, THREANING TO REVOKE HIMSELF THE FACULTY OF ASSIGNING THE MATTER TO THE SACRA ROTA.

A FEW MONTHS BEFORE VINCENZO'S ILLUSTRATIVE MARRIAGE WITH ISABELLA GONZAGA OF NOVELLARA, DUKE FERDINANDO ALSO PLACED A PROTAGONIST IN AN AMBLY FAKE MARRIAGE WITH A DAMMAID OF THE COURT, CAMILLA FAA, WITH WHOM HE HAD FALLEN IN LOVE AND WITH WHOM HE HAD A CHILD, GIACINTO, THEN GROWING UP AT COURT.

DYNASTIC REASONS, HOWEVER, SHORTLY LATER CAUSED THE DUKE TO ASK FOR THE ANNULMENT OF THE FIRST MARRIAGES - CONTRACT IN EFFECTS, UNLIKE THOSE OF THE BROTHER, IN THE PRESENCE OF SERIOUS CANONICAL DEFECTS - GETTING TO WEDDING AGAIN IN 1617 WITH CATERINA DE' MEDICI, DAUGHTER OF THE GRAND DUKE OF FLORENCE.

IN THE FOLLOWING FOUR YEARS, DIFFERENT DIPLOMATIC AND JUDICIAL INITIATIVES OPPOSED THE GONZAGA OF MANTOVA TO THOSE OF BOZZOLO, SAN MARTINO AND NOVELLARA, AIMED AT OBTAINING THE DECISION TO CANCEL VINCENZO'S WEDDING, BUT WITHOUT CONCRETE SOLUTIONS.

VALID HELP SEEMS TO COME FROM THE IMPERIAL COURT FOLLOWING THE MARRIAGE OF ELEONORA GONZAGA, YOUNG SISTER OF FERDINAND AND VINCENZO, WITH THE EMPEROR FERDINAND II; THE YOUNG WOMAN WAS MARRIED BY PROXY IN MANTUA ON 21 NOVEMBER 1621 AND IN JANUARY SHE WAS ACCOMPANIED TO THE GROOM IN INNSBRUCK BY A PROCESSION LED BY VINCE SAME AS REPRESENTATION OF THE DUKE, WHICH WAS RETRIEVED TO BED BY A SERIOUS ILLNESS; HOWEVER, EVEN THE NEW EMPRESS COULD LATER GIVE THE DESIRED SUPPORT.

FERDINANDO GONZAGA, WHOSE HEALTH WAS GETTING WORSE WITH TIME, WAS STILL WITHOUT HEIRS, ALTHOUGH FOUR YEARS HAD PASSED SINCE HIS MARRIAGE TO CATERINA DE' MEDICI.

THE FEAR OF THE DUKE'S PREMATURE DEATH THEREFORE MADE THE MARRIAGE EVENTS OF VINCENZO HIMSELF RETURN TO THE CURRENT TIME, RUINOUS FROM THE DYNASTIC AND SUCCESSION POINT OF VIEW AT A TIME WHEN, IN THE CANCERIES ALL OVER EUROPE, THE FUTURE SCENARIOS FOR THE ALLOCATION OF THE TERRITORIES OF MANTOVANO AND MONFERRATO.

THEREFORE, IN ORDER TO CANCEL THE INCONSIDERED WEDDING OF VINCENZO, FOLLOWING ACCUSATIONS OF WITCH MADE AGAINST ISABELLA DI NOVELLARA BY PREZZOLATI WITNESSES, A PROCESS WAS INSTRUCTED AGAINST HER BY THE MANTUA INQUISITION AIMED AT PROVING THE USE OF FILTERS AND POTIONS MAGIC BY THE GONZAGA WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF INDURING VINCENZO TO MARRY HER.

IN 1623, IN AN ATTEMPT TO WRING THE WITNESSES OUT OF THE DIRECT CONTROL OF THE DUKE, THE WOMAN FULFILLED TO ROME, RELIING ON THE JUDGMENT OF THE SUPREME INQUISITION, WITH THE RISK OF BEING INPRISON, AS THEN OCCURRED.

APPROVED BY THE NEW POPE GREGORIO XV A SECOND PROCESS IN ROME, IT CONCLUDED IN MAY 1624 UNDER THE SUBSEQUENT PONTIFF URBAN VIII WITH THE DISCLAIMER OF THE ACCUSE AGAINST ISABELLA, THE SENTENCE OF NOT GUILT AND HER RELEASE.

A LAST ATTEMPT TO END THE MARRIAGE BETWEEN VINCENZO AND ISABELLA OF NOVELLARA WAS MADE IN 1627 WHEN, A FEW MONTHS BEFORE HE DIED, VINCENZO, BECOME DUKE ON THE DEATH OF FERDINAND, ASSIGNED THE COMMANDER OF THE DUCAL MILITIAS FEDERICO GONZAGA TO RECRUIT IN ROME THREE HUNTERS TO KILL THE WOMAN; BUT THE THREE WERE DISCOVERED, TRIED AND HANGED, REVEALING THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE DUKE OF MANTUA.

IT WAS ONLY THE OUTCOME OF THE ATTEMPTS TO AVOID THE THREATS OF A SUCCESSION WITHOUT LEGITIMATE HEIRS CARRIED OUT OVER THE YEARS BY DUKE FERDINANDO AND DI VINCENZO.

BY COMMON AGREEMENT, THE TWO AGREED ON A PLAN TO FAVOR THE SUCCESSION OF MANTUA AND MONFERRATO TO THE FRENCH COUSINS GONZAGA NEVERS, THE CLOSEST TO THE SUCCESSION BECAUSE THEY ARE DESCENDANTS OF LUDOVICO BROTHER OF DUKE WILLIAM, GRANDFATHER OF THE LAST TWO GONZAGA OF MANTUA STILL ALIVE.

IT PROVIDED FOR PRINCE CHARLES DUKE OF RETHEL TO COME FROM FRANCE TO PREPARE HIM FOR THE MARRIAGE WITH MARY, DAUGHTER OF THE DEFUSED DUKE FRANCIS, SO THAT, IN THE EVENT OF FERDINAND AND THEN VINCENT DEATH WITHOUT PROPERTY, HE COULD ASSUME THE DUCK IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER CHARLES DUKE OF NEVERS, LEGITIMATE ASPIRING TO THE SUCCESSION.

THE YOUNG MAN ARRIVED ON 12 DECEMBER 1625, OFFICIALLY TO GO ON A PILGRIMAGE TO ROME FOR THE HOLY YEAR, AND THIS IN ORDER NOT TO AROUSE THE SUSPECTS OF OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES SUCH AS THE GONZAGA OF GUASTALLA AND THE SAVOIAS, IN REALITY WITH THE ULTIMATE INTENT OF LINKING HIM TO MARIA GONZAGA AND TO ENSURE THE REPRESENTATION IN MANTUA OF FATHER CARLO, IN THE EVENT OF THE DEATH OF DUKE FERDINANDO AND THEN OF VINCENZO WITHOUT LEGITIMATE DESCENDANCE.

HOWEVER, AFTER FERDINAND'S DEATH, ON OCTOBER 29, 1626, VINCENZIO II, NOW THE NEW DUKE, STILL CONFIDENT IN THE ANNULMENT OF HIS MARRIAGE, STARTED MANEGGIA TO OBTAIN A POSSIBLE SUBSEQUENT AUTHORIZATION TO MARRY HIS NIECE HIMSELF, MEETING IN THIS WAS THE FAVOR OF THE YOUNG GIRL'S MOTHER, MARGHERITA DI SAVOIA, FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES UNTIL THE LAST OBJECTIVE TO THE BOND OF THE DAUGHTER WITH THE PROFINE-FRENCH CARLO DI RETHEL.

THE GONZAGA OF GUASTALLA INTERPOSED IN THE DISPUTE, SUPPORTED BY SPAIN AND THE EMPIRE, WHO OBTAINED THE FAVOR OF THE EMPRESS ELEONORA GONZAGA, SISTER OF THE DUKE OF MANTUA, TO UNITE MARIA WITH CESARE GONZAGA, SON OF THE DUKE OF GUASTALLA FERRANTE II; WHILE CARLO EMANUELE DI SAVOIA FROM PIEDMONT WAS ALWAYS READY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVENTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MONFERRATO AS AN INHERITANCE TRANSFERABLE THROUGH FEMALE AND DUE TO THE GRANDNEE MARIA, DAUGHTER OF MARGHERITA OF SAVOIA, AND IN THIS SENSE HE CONTEMPLATED THE UNION OF THE YOUNG GIRL WITH HER SON MAURIZIO, CARDINAL.

EACH NEGOTIATION, HOWEVER, WAS CONDITIONED BY THE INTERVENTION OF THE EMPEROR WHO CLAIMED ASSENT FOR ANY MARRIAGE INITIATIVE CONCERNING MARY GONZAGA.

IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER 1627, AN ATTEMPT BY THE GONZAGA OF GUASTALLA TO HAVE THE EMPEROR DECLARED THE DUKE CHARLES OF NEVERS AS OF FELLONIA WAS FOILED IN THE IMPERIAL COURT, THUS PREVENTING THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCCESSION TO MANTUA.

THREE MONTHS LATER, AGAIN THE GONZAGA FACTION OF GUASTALLA IN MANTUA, CAPTAINED BY THE MARQUIS FEDERICO GONZAGA COMMANDER OF THE DUCAL MILITIA, HAD MANY WEAPONS SENTLY SENT INTO THE CITY INTO THE PALACE OF THE DUKE OF GUASTALLA FERRANTE II ON THE NIGHT OF 17 DECEMBER; THE MOVEMENT WAS THREADED BY THE CHANCELLOR ALESSANDRO STRIGGI AND, WITH FEDERICO GONZAGA REMOVED FROM HIS OFFICE, CHARLES OF RETHEL WAS APPOINTED IN HIS REPLACEMENT.

ALREADY FALLING SERIOUSLY ILL AT THE END OF NOVEMBER 1627, DUKE VINCENZO, NOW AWARE OF HIS OWN DEATH, SENT IN GREAT SECRET THAT SAME DECEMBER 17TH TO ROME, SENATOR FRANCESCO FAENZA TO OBTAIN EXTREMELY URGENT DISPENSATION FROM THE POPE FOR THE MARRIAGE OF FRA CHARLES OF RETHEL AND MARIA GONZAGA, NECESSARY SINCE THEY ARE BROUGHT COUSINS. THE DISPENSE ARRIVED ON CHRISTMAS MORNING AND ON THAT SAME DAY THE WEDDING BETWEEN THE TWO YOUNG PEOPLE WERE CELEBRATED AND CONSUMED IN GREAT SECRET.

VINCENZO II GONZAGA DIED A FEW HOURS LATER, IN THE NIGHT BETWEEN 25 AND 26 DECEMBER 1627.

WITH THE DEATH OF THE LAST EXPONENT OF THE DIRECT LINE AND WITH THE ARRIVAL IN MANTUA ALREADY IN JANUARY OF THE NEW DUKE CHARLES I GONZAGA NEVERS, THE MOST SERIOUS CRISIS IN THE HISTORY OF THE FAMILY BEGAN WHICH WOULD LEAD TO THE WAR OF THE SUCCESSION OF MANTUA AND MONFERRATO , CONCLUDED IN JULY 1630 WITH THE SACK OF MANTUA AND THE PLAGUE OF MANZONIANA MEMORIA.

THE STATE OF THE GONZAGAS WOULD BE COMPLETELY DISAPPEARED FROM THE EUROPEAN PANORAMA ABOUT EIGHTY YEARS LATER, IN 1707, WITH THE DEVOLUTION OF THE DUCK TO THE EMPIRE.

DESPITE THE INTRICATE DYNASTIC EVENTS THAT HAD IN SOME WAY DENIED HIM A LEGITIMATE HEIR, VINCENZO LEFT NUMEROUS NATURAL CHILDREN: FEDERIGO, FROM PAOLA SCARPELLI, WHO WAS ABATE OF LUCEDIO IN MONFERRATO; LUIGI, DIED IN TENDENCY; GIOVANNI WHO WAS A KNIGHT AND VALENT CAPTAIN OF THE GALLEYS OF MALTA, WHERE HE DIED IN 1645, BURIED IN THE LOCAL CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN.

AMONG THE SERIOUS RESPONSIBILITIES TO BE CHARGED TO DUKE VINCENZO II, IN ADDITION TO HIS INSENSE MARRIAGE EVENT, THERE IS THE SALE OF MOST OF THE ARTISTIC COLLECTIONS ACQUIRED BY THE FAMILY OVER THE CENTURIES.

THE INITIATIVE WAS ALREADY PROPOSED TO DUKE FERDINANDO SHORTLY BEFORE HE DIED TO HEAL IN PART THE SERIOUS FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS WHICH HAD CAUSED BY LEGAL DISPUTES AND AN INCONSIDERABLE ECONOMIC MANAGEMENT ALREADY BEGUN BY FATHER VINCENZO AND NOT HEALED IN THE SHORT PERIOD OF DUKE FRANCESCO.

HOWEVER, THE GREAT LOVE FOR FERDINANDO'S WORKS OF ART AND HIS WELL-KNOWN PROPENSION TO COLLECTORS DID NOT LEND EAR TO THE FLATREDATIONS OF THE ART DEALER DANIEL NYS WHO FROM VENICE, IN THE NAME OF THE KING OF ENGLAND CHARLES I STUART, HE SOLICITED THE SALE OF MARBELS, CAMEOS,TAPESTRIES,PAINTINGS, STATUES AND OTHER WORKS OF IMMEASURABLE BEAUTY.

AFTER THE DEATH OF FERDINAND AND THE ASSUMPTION TO THE DUCAL THRONE OF VINCENZ II, DUE TO THE EVEN MORE SERIOUS FINANCIAL CONDITIONS OF THE DUCHY, THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE BACK IN CURRENT TIME.

THANKS TO THE CALCULATED COLLABORATION OF THE DUCAL CHANCELLOR ALESSANDRO STRIGGI, COVERED BY A SECRET THAT SOON WERE NOT SUCH A SECRET, THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE RESUMED IN MARCH 1627, ENDING WITH THE ARRIVAL IN VENICE IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER OF MASTERPIECES BY ARTISTS OF THE CALIBRE, AMONG THE OTHERS, BY PAOLO VERONESE, CORRECGIO, RAFFAELLO, ANDREA DEL SARTO, GIULIO ROMANO, BRONZINO, TINTORETTO, GUIDO RENI, GUERCINO, PARMIGIANINO, TITIAN AND ANDREA MANTEGNA.

EMBARKED SHORTLY AFTER FOR ENGLAND, THEY ARE NOW KEPT FOR THE MOST PART IN THE ROYAL BRITISH COLLECTIONS.

ON THAT OCCASION THE NINE LARGE CANVASES OF THE TRIUMPHS OF CESARE DI MANTEGNA WERE SAVED, LATER SOLD BY THE SUCCESSOR CHARLES I GONZAGA NEVERS, AGAIN WITH THE MEDIATION OF NYS AND AGAIN ON BEHALF OF CHARLES I STUARTS, WORKS TODAY KEPT IN THE ROYAL ENGLISH COLLECTIONS OF HAMPTON COURT.

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IL CARTEGGIO TRA LA CORTE CESAREA E MANTOV.A (1559-1636), CINISELLO BALSAMO 2002, AD IND.

GONZAGA. LA CELESTE GALERIA, II, L’ESERCIZIO DEL COLLEZIONISMO, (CATAL.), A CURA DI R. MORSELLI, MILANO 2002, AD IND.

B.A. RAVIOLA, IL MONFERRATO GONZAGHESCO, FIRENZE 2003, AD IND.; P. VENTURELLI, LE COLLEZIONI GONZAGA. CAMMEI, CRISTALLI, PIETRE DURE, OREFICERIE, CASSETTINE, STIPETTI. INTORNO ALL’ELENCO DEI BENI DEL 1626-1627. DA GUGLIELMO A V. II GONZAGA, CINISELLO BALSAMO 2005.

I GONZAGA E L’IMPERO: ITINERARI DELLO SPETTACOLO, A CURA DI U. ARTIOLI - C. GRAZIOLI, FIRENZE 2005, AD IND.; G. MALACARNE, I GONZAGA DI MANTOVA.

UNA STIRPE PER UNA CAPITALE EUROPEA, IV, SPLENDORE E DECLINO DA VINCENZO I A V. II, MODENA 2007, AD IND.; GONZAGA. I VOLTI DELLA STORIA (CATAL.), A CURA DI G. MALACARNE, MODENA 2015, 13, 22, 23, 45, 80-82, 87, 101-104, 120, 150-155, 196-199; DONNE GONZAGA  A CORTE.

RETI ISTITUZIONALI, PRATICHE CULTURALI E AFFARI DI GOVERNO, A CURA DI C. CONTINISIO -

R. TAMALIO, ROMA 2018, AD INDICEM.

ENCICLOPEDIA TRECCANI - DIZIONARIO BIOGRAFICO DEGLI ITALIANI - VOLUME 99 (2020) -VINCENZO II GONZAGA, DUCA DI MANTOVA E DEL MONFERRATO DI  RAFFAELE TAMALIO.