Ludwika Maria Gonzaga

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Ludwika Maria Gonzaga
Coronation	On July 15, 1646 in the Wawel Cathedral, Cracow, Poland
Parents	Charles I, Duke of Mantua, Catherine of Mayenne
Consorts	Władysław IV Vasa, John II Casimir of Poland
Date of Birth	August 18, 1611
Place of Birth	Nevers, France
Date of Death	May 10, 1667
Place of Death	Warsaw, Poland
Place of Burial	Wawel Castle, Cracow, Poland

Marie Louise Gonzaga de Nevers (known in Poland as Ludwika Maria) was Queen consort to two Polish kings: Władysław IV, and Jan II Kazimierz. She was born 18 August 1611 in Paris (or Nevers) to Prince Charles Gonzaga and Catherine de Guise, princess of the French province of Maine.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Ancestors 3 Gallery 4 References 5 See also

[edit] Biography

After having spent her childhood with her mother, she was to have married Gaston, Duke of Orléans, in 1627, but King Louis XIII opposed the marriage and subsequently imprisoned her in the Vincennes fortress and later in a convent.

The first proposal that she marry the King of Poland, Władysław IV, was made in 1634, but Władysław eventually married Cecilia Renata of Austria.

In 1640 Marie Louise met Władysław's brother, Jan Kazimierz, and started her literary salon in Paris.

Cecilia Renata died in 1644, and on 5 November 1645 Ludwika Maria married Władysław IV per procura (Jan Kazimierz representing his brother). She actually had to change her name from Maria to Ludwika Maria in order for the marriage to take place, as in Poland the name Maria was at that time considered reserved for only Mary, Mother of Jesus.

The proper wedding of Ludwika Maria and Władysław IV took place in Warsaw on 10 March 1646. Two years later, on 20 May 1648, Ludwika Maria was widowed by the death of Władysław IV. Jan Kazimierz was eventually elected the next King of Poland, and married her on 30 May 1649. She died in Warsaw on 10 May 1667 and was buried in Kraków at Wawel Cathedral. Jan Kazimierz abdicated the Polish throne a year later.

Ludwika Maria was an active and energetic woman, with ambitious economic and political plans. The Polish nobility were scandalized at the Queen's meddling into politics, nevertheless she played an instrumental role in repulsing the Swedish forces during the Deluge.

She also founded the first Polish newspaper, Merkuriusz Polski (The Polish Mercury, 1652), and the first Polish convent of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary (1654). She supported Tito Livio Burattini, an extremely versatile person, interested in mathematics, physics, astronomy, geodesy, economics, one of the first scientists dealing with ancient Egypt who also designed "flying machines". He lived in Poland since the early 1650s.^[1]

[edit] Ancestors

Frederick II of Mantua

Louis Gonzaga

Margaret Palaeologina

Charles I of Mantua

Francis I of Nevers

Henriette of Cléves

Margaret of Vendôme

Ludwika Maria Gonzaga

Francis of Guise

Charles of Mayenne

Anna d'Este

Catherine of Mayenne

Honorato II de Savoy

Henriette of Savoy

Jeanne Françoise de Foix

[edit] Gallery

Portrait in her youth, Claude Mellan, ca. 1645

The Nubian pyramids by Kircher, from Burattini's measurements

Portrait in her later years, Daniel Schultz, 1660s

[edit] References

• This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding Polish Wikipedia article as of 23 August 2006.

[edit] See also

• Kazimierzowski Palace
• Ujazdów Castle
• Visitationist Church
• Holy Cross Church

Ludwika Maria Gonzaga House of Gonzaga Born: 18 August 1611 Died: 10 May 1667
Royal titles
Preceded by Cecilia Renata of Austria	Queen of Poland 1646-1667	Succeeded by Eleonora Wiśniowiecka