Margherita Gonzaga | |
---|---|
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 House of Gonzaga, from Mantua in modern-day Italy. She was the daughter of Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua[1] and Paola Malatesta.[2] In 1435, she became the first wife of Leonello d'Este, Marquess of Ferrara,[3][4] making her the Marquise of Ferrara and creating an alliance between the House of Gonzaga of Mantua and the House of Este of Ferrara.[5] The artist Pisanello gave them a painting of Julius Caesar as a wedding gift.[3] The couple had a son, Niccolò, who is also known as Niccolò di Leonello to avoid confusion with his grandfather, Niccolò III d'Este.[6]