Margherita Gonzaga | |
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Marquise of Ferrara | |
Born | 1418 Mantua |
Died | 7 July 1439 Governolo |
Buried | Mantua |
Noble family | Gonzaga |
Spouse(s) | Leonello d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara |
Issue | Niccolò d'Este (Niccolò di Leonello) |
Father | Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua |
Mother | Paola Malatesta |
Margherita Gonzaga, Marquise of Ferrara (1418–1439) was a noblewoman of the family House of Gonzaga from Mantua in modern-day Italy. She was the child of Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua[1] and Paola Malatesta.[2] In 1435 she became the first wife of Leonello d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara[3][4] through whom she earned the title Marquise of Ferrara. The artist Pisanello gave a wedding gift of a painting of Julius Caesar.[3] This marriage brought an alliance between the House of Gonzaga of Mantua and the House of Este of Ferrara.[5] They had a son Niccolò, who is also known as Niccolò di Leonello to avoid confusion with his grandfather Niccolò III d'Este.[6]