Henriette de Clèves
Henriette de Clèves (German Henriette von Kleve-Nevers ; * October 31, 1542 ; † June 24, 1601 ) was by inheritance since 1564 Duchess of Nevers and Countess Rethel . She married Luigi Gonzaga and ruled her estate together with her husband.
family
She came from a sideline of the House of Kleve-Mark and was the daughter of Duke François I de Clèves, duc de Nevers and Marguerite de Bourbon. Her brother was François II. De Clèves, duc de Nevers married to Anne de Bourbon.
Life
She grew up with her two younger sisters at the royal court. Nothing is known about their upbringing. She is said to have been known for her conversational skills . She is also said to have translated the piece Aminta by Torquato Tasso . In addition, she should Heinrich III. have been very close.
After his father's death, he was succeeded by her brother Francois II (* July 31, 1540, † December 19, 1562) as duke. After his untimely death, she succeeded Nevers and Rethel as heir. That the inheritance and the title fell to Henriette in female succession, she had an exception provision by Charles IX. Thanks to. However, the property had been so heavily indebted since the grandfather's days that a liquidation process was threatened.
In 1565, a marriage to Luigi Gonzaga was arranged. Together they ruled the duchy for the next three decades. The marriage did not solve the financial problems, because Gonzaga also brought debts into the marriage. In addition, Henriette had to pay considerable sums of money to her two sisters as a severance payment. The couple had to sell numerous properties in order to raise the funds.
While Gonzaga pursued a military career and was often at the royal court, Henriette had to bear the brunt of the government. It was during this time that the Nevers House became one of the Crown's main lenders.
The marriage had five children:
- Catherine Gonzaga (1568-1629); ∞ Henri I. d'Orléans-Longueville
- Maria Henrietta Gonzaga (1571-1614); ∞ Henri de Lorraine, duc de Mayenne
- Frederick Gonzaga (1573–1574)
- Francis Gonzaga (1576-1580)
- Carlo I. Gonzaga , Duke of Mantua (1580–1637).
Individual evidence
- ^ Robert J Sealy: The Palace academy of Henry III. Geneva 1981, p. 20 f.
literature
- Guida Myrl Jacksons: Women rulers throughout the ages. An illustrated guide. Santa Barbara, 1999, pp. 166-167
| predecessor | Office | successor |
|---|---|---|
| Jacques de Clèves |
Duke of Nevers since 1566 together with: Luigi Gonzaga 1564–1601 |
Carlo I. Gonzaga |
| Jacques de Clèves |
Count von Rethel since 1566 together with: Luigi Gonzaga 1564–1601 |
Carlo I. Gonzaga |
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Henriette de Clèves |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Henriette von Kleve-Nevers |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Duchess of Nevers and Rethel |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 31, 1542 |
| DATE OF DEATH | June 24, 1601 |