During its history as independent entity, Mantua had different rulers who governed on the city and the lands of Mantua from the Middle Ages to the early modern period.

From 970 to 1115, the Counts of Mantua were members of the House of Canossa. During its time as free commune and signoria ("lordship"), the Lords of Mantua were exponents of the Bonacolsi and Gonzaga families. From 1328, Mantua was informally led by Gonzagas until 1433, when Gianfrancesco Gonzaga assumed the noble title of Marquess of Mantua. In 1530, Federico II received the title of Duke of Mantua. In 1531, the family acquired the vacant Marquisate of Montferrat through marriage.

In 1627, Duke Vincent II deceased without heirs, ending the original line of Gonzagas. From 1628 to 1631, a succession war was fought between the Duke of Guastalla, supported by the Holy Roman Empire, and the Duke of Nevers, supported by France, for the control of the Duchy of Mantua. Finally, the Duke of Nevers was recognized as only Duke.

In 1708, Mantua was seized by the Habsburgs, ending Gonzaga rule. Montferrat's territories were ceded to the Duke of Savoy. The emperor compensated the Duke of Lorraine, heir in the female line of the Gonzaga, for the loss of Montferrat by ceding the Duchy of Teschen to the Lorraine. In 1745, Mantua was formally unified with the Duchy of Milan, until its dissolution in 1796.

Counts of Mantua (970–1115) House of Canossa

Portrait Coat of Arms Name Reign Relationship with Predecessor(s) Marriage(s)Issue Adalbert Atto97013 February 988Son of Sigifred of LuccaFederigo Amadei, Cronaca universale della città di Mantova, Volume I, p.159, Mantova, 1954 Hildegard of Supponids4 childrenTebald13 February 9881007Son of Adalbert Atto Willa of Tuscany2 childrenBoniface10076 May 1052Son of Tebald(1) Richelida GiselbertinerChildless (2) Beatrice of Lorraine3 childrenMatilda6 May 105224 July 1115Daughter of Boniface(1) Godfrey of LorraineChildless (2) Welf of BavariaChildless

Lords of Mantua (1272–1433)

Portrait Coat of Arms Name Reign Relationship with Predecessor(s) Title Pinamonte dei Bonacolsi28 July 12729 September 1291NoneRector Bardellone dei Bonacolsi9 September 12912 July 1299Son of PinamontePerpetual Rector Guido dei Bonacolsi2 July 129921 January 1309Nephew of BardelloneGeneral CaptainRinaldo dei Bonacolsi21 January 130916 August 1328Brother of GuidoGeneral Captain Ludovico Gonzaga16 August 132818 January 1360None; supported by Cangrande of VeronaCaptain of the PeopleGuido Gonzaga18 January 136022 September 1369Son of LudovicoCaptain of the PeopleLudovico II Gonzaga22 September 13694 October 1382Son of GuidoCaptain of the People Francesco Gonzaga4 October 13827 March 1407Son of Ludovico IICaptain of the PeopleGianfrancesco Gonzaga7 March 140722 September 1433Son of FrancescoCaptain of the People

Marquesses of Mantua (1433–1530) House of Gonzaga

Portrait Coat of Arms Name Reign Relationship with Predecessor(s) Marriage(s)Issue John Francis I(Gianfrancesco I)22 September 143325 September 1444Son of Francesco Purchased the title from Emperor Sigismund Paola Malatesta6 childrenLouis III(Ludovico III)25 September 144411 June 1478Son of John Francis I Barbara of Brandenburg11 childrenFrederick I(Federico I)11 June 147814 July 1484Son of Lewis III Margaret of Bavaria6 childrenFrancis II(Francesco II)14 July 148429 March 1519Son of Frederick I Isabella d'Este9 childrenFrederick II(Federico II)29 March 15198 April 1530Son of Francis II Margaret Paleologa7 children

Dukes of Mantua (1530–1708) House of Gonzaga Portrait Coat of Arms Name Reign Relationship with Predecessor(s) Marriage(s)Issue Frederick II(Federico II)8 April 153028 June 1540Son of Francis II (Title obtained by Emperor Charles V) Margaret Paleologa7 childrenFrancis III(Francesco III)28 June 154021 February 1550Son of Frederick II Catherine of AustriaChildlessWilliam(Guglielmo)21 February 155014 August 1587Son of Frederick II Eleanor of Austria3 childrenVincent I(Vincenzo I)14 August 158718 February 1612Son of William(1) Margherita Farnese (nullified)Childless (2) Eleanor de' Medici6 childrenFrancis IV(Francesco IV)18 February 161222 December 1612Son of Vincent IMargaret of Savoy3 childrenFerdinand(Ferdinando)22 December 161229 October 1626Son of Vincent I Brother of Francis IVCaterina de' MediciChildlessVincent II(Vincenzo II)29 October 162625 December 1627Son of Vincent I Brother of Ferdinand and Francis IVIsabella GonzagaChildless

House of Gonzaga-Nevers

Portrait Coat of Arms Name Reign Relationship with Predecessor(s) Marriage(s)Issue Charles I(Carlo I)17 January 162822 September 1637Grandson of Frederick II Catherine of Lorraine6 children Charles II(Carlo II)22 September 163714 August 1665Grandson of Charles I Isabella Clara of Austria1 child Ferdinand Charles(Ferdinando Carlo)14 August 16655 July 1708Son of Charles II(1) Anna Isabella GonzagaChildless (2) Suzanne Henriette of LorraineChildless

References

External links "A complete genealogical tree of the House of Gonzaga" "The House of Gonzaga, heirs to the sovereign marquessate of Mantua" I Gonzaga di Mantova