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Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Montferrat

Paris, 16 May 1580 – Mantua, 22 Sep 1637

10 facts3 sources

Facts and their sources

  • Born16 May 1580, Parisnot verified1 source
  • MarriedCatherine of Guisenot verified1 source
  • TitleDuke of Montferrat, 1627–1637not verified1 source
  • Died22 Sep 1637, Mantuanot verified1 source
  • MotherHenriette of Clevesnot verified1 source
  • FatherLouis Gonzaganot verified1 source

A life in time

  1. 16 May 1580

    Born in Paris

  2. 1609–1616

    3 children are born

  3. 1627–1637

    Duke of Montferrat

  4. 22 Sep 1637

    Dies in Mantua, aged 57

Family

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Parents

Partner

Children · 3

During his lifetime

He lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Paris.

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

The 1580s · Charles is born in Paris

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

Travel speeds and horse relays

Early public carriages were slow, covering only about 48 kilometers in a day. Wealthy travelers or officials could pay to use the royal horse relay system to travel at a much faster gallop.

In the news1576–1586

Plague hits Chambéry

Between 1576 and 1586, a plague outbreak struck Chambéry and the Petit Bugey region, severely impacting the local population.

Daily life

Strict education and large families

Education in bourgeois families was strict, and children were often punished with a whip for petty offenses or bad language. Families were large, typically consisting of four to ten children who were taught to uphold family duties.

What people wore

A 1586 Parisian servant girl's costume

A Parisian servant girl in 1586 wore a blouse with a high collar and a red bodice laced at the front and trimmed with black velvet.

Music

Sounds of daily life and festivals

While church music was restricted, bells rhythmically marked daily life, and loud instruments like oboes and bagpipes were used for village festivals and celebrations.

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.