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Charles
Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat (31 October 1629 – 14 August 1665) was
the son of Charles of Gonzaga-Nevers (+ 1631) of Rethel, Nevers, Mantua and
Montferrat, and Maria Gonzaga. He followed his grandfather Charles I, Duke of
Mantua in 1637 as ruler of these lands, the first 10 years under regency of
his mother Duchess Maria. On 22 March 1657 Charles II receives the appointment
as Sosai Cesareo in Italy and Imperial Vicar. Charles sold the Duchies of
Nevers and Rethel in 1659 to Cardinal Jules Mazarin, the factual Regent of
France, and they became part of France.
On 7 November 1649 Charles II married Isabella Clara of Austria (12 August
1629 – 24 February 1665), a daughter of Leopold V, Archduke of Austria, and
thus into the imperial family. The marriage was an act of diplomacy and they
had only one child, his successor Ferdinand Charles, Duke of Mantua and
Montferrat (1652–1708). The relationship between husband and wife effectively
ended, and Charles continued a relationship with a noblewoman Margherita della
Rovere, and also had affairs with men including the castrato
Atto Melani.[2]
In his book "The Last Medici" Harold Acton records that his death occurred in
the midst of lascivious intercourse.[3]
Charles tried to revive the tradition of his family as patrons of the arts
and to rebuild his family's art collection, which had been largely sold off by
his forebears. He appointed in 1657 the Flemish painter and printmaker Daniel
van den Dyck as his official court painter, architect, surveyor of his
building program and engineer for stage designs for the theatre. After van den
Dyck's death he appointed on 4 April 1663 another Flemish painter called Frans
Geffels as his new court painter.[4]
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_II,_Duke_of_Mantua_and_Montferrat