War of the Mantuan Succession
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The War of the Mantuan Succession (1627-1631) came as a result of the extinction of the main male line of Gonzaga Dukes of Mantua in 1627. The last three dukes, the brothers Francesco III (1612), Ferdinando (1612-1626) and Vincenzo II (1626-27), had all died leaving no legitimate heirs.
The Claimants, and their supporters
The closest legitimate family was Carlo (Charles) Gonzaga, a son of Luigi (Louis), the brother of the late Duke Vincenzo's grandfather (see below for family tree). Louis was naturalised French from about 1550, and had married the heiress of the Duchies of Rethel and Nevers in 1566. For the French Crown he was thus an acceptable successor to the Duchy of Mantua.In 1540, Francesco III of Mantua had inherited the Marquessate of Montferrat from his mother, Margherita Paleologa. Carlo Emanuele, the Duke of Savoy, had harboured claims to this, and found support with the Habsburgs. Carlo also had to face a distant Gonzaga cousin, Ferrante II, Duke of Guastalla, who also claimed Mantua. The resulting French-Habsburg war over the succession was just one of many theatres of the 30 Years War, where the two sides fought all over Europe.
The Peace of Regensburg (1630)
After Spanish and Austrian troops sacked Mantua in July 1629, the French first agreed to the Peace of Regensburg (13 Oct. 1630) which was favourable to French interests in Italy, despite the military setback: It confirmed Carlo Gonzaga-Nevers as Duke of Mantua and Marquess of Monterrat in exchange for minor concessions to the Dukes of Savoy and Guastalla. The Habsburgs would on their side reduce their number of troops in the region. The treaty was seen as so unfavourable to the Spanish that the Spanish first minister Olivares considered it not much better than a surrender.The treaty did, however, contain a troublesome clause: It included an agreement that the French would not meddle in the affairs of the Empire, something that would set France on the sideline in the ongoing conflict. Louis XIII of France refused to accept this, and the Austrians found themself with a continued war and with diminished forces in the area. The new forces sent south of the Alps were to be sorely missed when Swedish forces under Gustavus II Adolphus invaded from the north.
The Treaty of Cherasco (1631)
The Italian peace was eventually made with the Treaty of Cherasco on 19 June 1631. France, who in 1629 had taken Savoy, followed by the capture of Pinerolo in Piedmont the following year, renounced all conquests in Italy. Carlo was confirmed to Mantua and Montferrat, with concessions to the claimants: Vittorio Amedeo I of Savoy gained Trino and Albi in Montferrat, while Cesare II of Guastalla was given Luzzara and Reggiolo.Later it was discovered that by a secret treaty with Vittorio Amedeo, Pinerolo was surrendered to France.
See also
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