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Margherita Gonzaga, Duchess of Lorraine

Mantua, 2 Oct 1591 – Nancy, 6 Feb 1632

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 2 Oct 1591

    Born in Mantua

  2. 6 Oct 1612

    A daughter is born

  3. 6 Feb 1632

    Dies in Nancy, aged 40

Family

See the tree

Parents

Partner

Children · 1

During her lifetime

She lived through 5 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Mantua.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1590s · Margherita is born in Mantua

In the news1562–1598

French Wars of Religion begin

The French Wars of Religion broke out in 1562, leading to immense loss of life through violence, famine, and disease that lasted until 1598.

Getting around

Carriages required extensive resources

Wealthy travelers used carriages, but these required significant support, including horses, specialized personnel, and frequent maintenance on poor roads.

In the news1598

Edict of Nantes signed

The Edict of Nantes was issued in 1598, marking the end of the religious wars and granting limited rights to Huguenots.

Daily life

Languages used in everyday life

Franco-Provencal was the language of everyday activities and family life for most people, while French was used by the highest classes.

What people wore

Ordinary People Wore Fashionable Silk Garments

Ordinary people, including shoemakers and tailors, often wore fashionable items like silk breeches, velvet berets, and garments decorated with silk ribbons, sometimes defying strict sumptuary laws.

Music

The Popular Pavane Dance

The solemn, slow-moving pavane was a popular dance used by nobles for grand entries and festivities, often accompanied by drums, oboes, trombones, and violins.

At the table

Bread and soup as staples

Ordinary families relied on grain-based foods, with bread and soups made of bread soaked in broth, water, or vegetable mixtures providing up to 80 percent of daily calories.