Francesco III Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
Francesco III Gonzaga was Duke of Mantua and Marquess of Montferrat from 1540 until his death. He was the eldest son of Federico II Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and his wife Margaret Paleologina.Life
On 22 October 1549, he married Catherine of Habsburg, a daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand I. The marriage lasted only four months as Francesco died of pneumonia on 21 February 1550, after falling into one of Mantua lakes during a hunt. Widowed Catherine returned home to Innsbruck. Habsburgs claimed that the marriage was not consummated to increase Catherine's chances for a better second marriage.Honours
