The Execution of Agnese Visconti and the Rise of Francesco I
FRANCESCO I GONZAGA. Of Mantua. Count and marquis of Mantua. Lord of Lonato, Castel Goffredo, Solferino, Ostiglia, Castiglione delle Stiviere, Peschiera del Garda, Piadena, Casalmaggiore, Dosolo, Pomponesco, Asola, Carpenedolo, Canneto sull’Oglio, Castellaro Lagusello, Curtatone. Father of Gian Francesco Gonzaga, father-in-law of Conte da Carrara; brother-in-law of Pandolfo, Carlo, and Andrea Malatesta, and of Carlo Visconti.
Born: 1366
Death: 1407, March
| Year, Month | State, Comp. ventura | Opponent | Command | Area of Activity | Actions Undertaken and Other Salient Facts |
| 1382 | Lombardy | In mid-August, he marries Agnese Visconti, daughter of Bernabò. The dowry is 50,000 florins. Rich celebrations solemnize the event in Milan; magnificent receptions await the young couple in Mantua. Thanks to the marriage, he adds the Visconti surname to his own and transforms the family coat of arms by quartering the Visconti viper (biscione) with the three golden bars of his family. In the same year, he succeeds his father Ludovico. A period of popular rule follows in Mantua, temporarily overshadowing the Gonzaga lordship. | |||
| 1383 | |||||
| July | Lombardy and Emilia | The Emperor Wenceslaus of Bohemia (Venceslao di Boemia) appoints him vicar for Mantua, Reggio Emilia, Mirandola, Corti di Quarantoli, and San Possidonio. | |||
| 1385 | |||||
| May | Lombardy | Provides a safe conduct to his brother-in-law Carlo Visconti, son of Bernabò, so that he may go to Germany to solicit aid from German relatives (the Dukes of Austria and Bavaria) to fight Gian Galeazzo Visconti, who has seized the lordship of Milan. | |||
| 1387 | |||||
| Apr. | Mantua | Padua, Verona | Lombardy | Goes to Pavia. Allies with the Count of Virtù, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, to fight the Lord of Verona, Antonio della Scala, alongside the Carraresi. The agreement stipulates that Verona passes to the Lord of Milan, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Vicenza to the Lord of Padua, Francesco da Carrara, and some localities in the Mantuan territory controlled by the Scaligeri to the Gonzaga. Removes the viper from his coat of arms. | |
| July | Lombardy | Returns to Pavia. | |||
| 1388 | |||||
| Mar. | Veneto | Is aggregated into the Venetian nobility. | |||
| June | Piedmont and France | With the Marquis Teodoro of Montferrato (Teodoro di Monferrato), Antonio Porro, and Beltramo Guasco, he accompanies Visconti‘s daughter to France for her marriage to the Duke of Touraine (Duca di Turenna): he passes through Alessandria, where the bride is welcomed by Anderlino Trotti. | |||
| Oct. | Lombardy | Is recognized as Captain of Mantua six years after the death of his father Ludovico. In the same year, he joins the league organized by lordships and republics to fight mercenary companies. The procurators of Florence, Visconti, Pisa, Perugia, Bologna, Lucca, Ferrara, Cesena, and Forlì gather in Pisa at the palace of Pietro Gambacorta. Francesco Gonzaga commits to providing 30 lances for the enterprise. | |||
| ………. | Lombardy | Has his brother Febo captured and beheaded. | |||
| 1390 | |||||
| June | Milan | Florence, Padua | Sends 200 provisioned soldiers to aid the Visconti commander Ugolotto Biancardo to help him re-enter Verona. | ||
| 1391 | |||||
| Feb. | Lombardy | When he appears to change alliances, Gian Galeazzo Visconti exerts considerable pressure on him due to fear of his wife Agnese Visconti, daughter of Bernabò, who has nevertheless given Francesco Gonzaga four children. The woman is beheaded on a freezing morning, mid-month, in a corner of the current Piazza Pallone, on charges of adultery committed with Antonio da Scandiano, a servant of Gonzaga himself. The event occurs after letters revealing the wife’s adultery and his intervention in favor of her brother Carlo Visconti are made to be found. The alleged lover is instead hanged: subjected to torture, he confessed everything desired. | |||
| June | Milan | Lombardy | Buys Asola from Gian Galeazzo Visconti for 30,000 ducats; lends the Count of Virtù another 20,000 ducats and obtains Ostiglia, Asola, Canedole, Castellaro Lagusello, and Villimperia as pledges. Subsequently travels to Pavia and remains there for six months. | ||
| 1392 | |||||
| Feb. | Changes sides and enters the league opposing the Visconti (Florence and Bologna). The duration is set for ten years: he is granted a monthly provision for ten years of 1,000 florins in peacetime and 2,000 in wartime. | ||||
| Mar. | Emilia | In Bologna. Is received with great honors at the bishop’s palace. Moves to Forlì and meets with Carlo Malatesta, Pandolfo Malatesta, and Malatesta Malatesta. | |||
| Apr. | Umbria and Lazio | Asks Gian Galeazzo Visconti to accompany him on a pilgrimage to Rome to pay homage to Pope Boniface IX (Bonifacio IX). As expected, the Count of Virtù remains in Lombardy while he reaches the papal seat from Città di Castello. On the advice of the Marquis d’Este, he takes the opportunity to forge relations with the Papal States, Florence, and Bologna for a ten-year alliance. | |||
| June | Emilia and Tuscany | In Florence, where he stays in the church of Santa Croce. The commune covers expenses related to his presence and that of his entourage, from his entry into Florentine territory to his exit. Francesco Gonzaga‘s departure from Florence is saluted with sounds of trumpets, bagpipes, and flutes. He is gifted a mule and two chargers covered in scarlet, with the arms of the People, the Commune, and the Guelph party. Heads to Bologna, where he meets Astorre Manfredi and Alberto d’Este. | |||
| Sept. | 1000 lances | Lombardy | In Mantua, for the official signing of his adhesion to the anti-Visconti league. Obtains command of 1,000 lances, 500 of which are at the allies’ expense. In the same year, work begins on the erection of a bridge over the Po at Borgoforte designed to improve the Serraglio defenses. | ||
| Oct. | Emilia | In Ferrara, on the occasion of the marriage of his daughter Alda to Francesco III da Carrara. | |||
| Dec. | Veneto | Mid-month he is reported in Venice with Francesco Novello da Carrara. Jacopo dal Verme also arrives in the city and, on behalf of the Count of Virtù, accuses the Carraresi of alleged aggression against the castle of Bassano del Grappa. The Venetians try to mediate. Francesco Gonzaga accompanies Francesco Novello to Padua and stays in the city for eight days. | |||
| 1393 | |||||
| June | Lombardy, Emilia, and Tuscany | Gian Galeazzo Visconti, in retaliation, prepares works to divert the waters of the Mincio by constructing a bridge/dam at Valeggio sul Mincio: he also attempts to divert the river waters at Villafranca di Verona to dry up the lake of Mantua. The Mincio waters overwhelm the supports, rush towards the lake, and sweep away part of the Ponte dei Mulini. Francesco Gonzaga immediately goes to Bologna and Florence in search of allies to oppose the Lord of Milan; at the same time, he has a bridge built over the Po, near Borgoforte, designed to prevent Visconti ships from navigating towards Mantua. | |||
| Aug. | Obtains Melara as a pledge from Marquis Niccolò d’Este against a loan of 28,000 ducats previously granted by the Gonzaga to the Marquises of Ferrara. | ||||
| 1394 | |||||
| Sept. | Is named Count of Gonzaga by Pope Boniface IX (Bonifacio IX). He will never use this title as he is more interested in the title of Marquis, which will be granted to him years later (upon payment of 12,000 florins) by Emperor Wenceslaus of Bohemia (Venceslao di Boemia). The ducal title is also granted to Visconti upon payment by the latter: to solemnize the occasion, he organizes a great feast to which Gonzaga is not invited. | ||||
| Dec. | Veneto | Is hosted in Padua by Francesco Novello da Carrara. The Emperor grants him permission to add the heraldic device used by the Kings of Bohemia (the lion) to his family coat of arms. | |||
| 1395 | |||||
| May | Tuscany | In Florence, searching for valid allies. | |||
| Aug. | Veneto | In Padua, to witness the duel pitting Galeazzo da Mantova against Boucicaut. When the French warrior is wounded in the shoulder by a lance blow, he intervenes with Francesco Novello da Carrara to interrupt the challenge. | |||
| 1396 | Signs a treaty of alliance with the Kingdom of France. In the same year, he transfers the body of Saint Anselm from the place where it had been kept since the times of Countess Matilda of Canossa (Matilde di Canossa), into a chapel built in the church of San Pietro. Is excommunicated, to be absolved the following year. | ||||
| 1397 | |||||
| Mar. | Mantua | Milan | Lombardy | Jacopo dal Verme attacks his states by surprise. Under Francesco Gonzaga‘s orders serve 1,000 horse, 700 provisioned soldiers, and very many peasants. | |
| ………… | Lombardy | Upon news that Castellucchio is about to surrender, he enters the fortress with 500 horse and 100 infantry, arrests the proponents of surrender, and leads them in chains to Mantua: leaves a garrison of 100 horse and 100 infantry in the castle. Crosses the Po with Guido Torelli and heads towards Luzzara and Suzzara to prevent the Visconti forces from penetrating the Serraglio of Mantua. Recovers many lands, returns to Borgoforte, where Guido Torelli remains on guard. | |||
| July | Lombardy | Provides his men with supplies for three days, crosses the Po and heads for Borgoforte, whose castle is besieged by Jacopo dal Verme. Is put to flight by the opposing captain (800 dead in the combat, of which more than 500 among the allies). After the defeat, he succumbs to despair and is tempted to leave Mantua itself; he is dissuaded by Conte da Carrara. Francesco Gonzaga ensures Jacopo dal Verme receives a forged letter from Visconti ordering him to leave the Mantuan territory: this allows the arrival of reinforcements for Gonzaga of 3,000 horse led by Carlo Malatesta and Paolo Orsini, and a flotilla of 150 galleons and 12 Venetian galleys. | |||
| Aug. | Lombardy | Takes part in the battle of Governolo; during the combat, he succeeds in overcoming the resistance of Ugolotto Biancardo. Recovers Borgoforte. | |||
| Sept. | Veneto | Enters Melara. Recovers numerous localities previously conquered by the Visconti forces. | |||
| Oct. | Lombardy | With the defeat at Borgoforte at the hands of Jacopo dal Verme and Alberico da Barbiano, he loses Marcaria, Luzzara, Suzzara, and Solferino. | |||
| 1398 | |||||
| ………… | Lombardy | Concludes a ten-year truce with Milan with Jacopo dal Verme, which turns into peace two years later: he can fortify the Serraglio and rebuild the bridge at Borgoforte. The Mincio will no longer be diverted. Goes to Pavia to visit Visconti. | |||
| ………. | Venice | Padua | Veneto | Seizes Feltre. | |
| 1399 | Israel, Romagna | On pilgrimage to the Holy Land for a vow made after escaping the plague. In September he is in Rimini. With his brother-in-law Carlo Malatesta and sister Elisabetta, takes part, in view of the upcoming jubilee, in a penitential pilgrimage organized within the ambit of the “Bianchi” movement. | |||
| 1401 | |||||
| Oct. | Milan | Florence, Padua, Empire | Lombardy | Reported defending Brescia. Takes part in the battle of Nave in the Brescia area. | |
| ……….. | Milan | Bologna | Captain General | Emilia | Confronts the Lord of Bologna Giovanni Bentivoglio. Opposes adversaries in the Bolognese territory together with Pandolfo Malatesta. |
| 1402 | |||||
| Apr. | Emilia | Moves in the territory of Carpi. | |||
| May | Emilia | Reaches Cento. His ranks clash with those of Muzio Attendolo Sforza and Fuzzolino Tedesco. | |||
| June | Emilia | Has 8,000 horse under his orders. Takes part in the battle of Casalecchio di Reno inserted in the second line (strong with 2,500 horse) with Ludovico da Zagonara: fights with Sforza‘s troops. Obtains a complete victory over the opposing captain Bernardo della Serra and enters Bologna. Takes Giacomo da Carrara prisoner, leading him first to Milan and then to Mantua. With Barbiano, has Giovanni Bentivoglio, found in his nurse’s hut near the Sant’Arcangelo bridge on the Aposa, dragged into the Palazzo della Reggenza. In the city, he knights some horsemen at the palace gate, among whom is Alberto Pio; ensures the Duke of Milan is named Lord of Bologna, thus opposing the ambitions of Nanne Gozzadini. | |||
| Aug. | Lombardy | Is called to be part of the ducal council with Alberico da Barbiano, Carlo and Pandolfo Malatesta, the bishops of Pavia, Novara, and Feltre, Antonio da Montefeltro, Giovanni Colonna, Paolo Savelli, Jacopo dal Verme, Baldassarre Spinola, Leonardo Doria, the chamberlain Francesco Barbavara, the chancellor Giovanni da Carnago, and the two counselors Pietro di Corte and Filippo dei Migli. | |||
| Sept. | Lombardy | Upon news of Gian Galeazzo Visconti‘s grave illness, travels in great haste to Milan; attends the Duke of Milan’s funeral in the cathedral. Intervenes in the reading of the deceased’s will with Pandolfo Malatesta, Antonio da Montefeltro, and Francesco Barbavara. | |||
| Nov. | Lombardy | Asks Francesco Novello da Carrara for 100,000 florins for the ransom of his son Giacomo; the latter offers 50,000. In the same month, the young Carrara manages to escape to Castelbaldo, eluding the surveillance of his men. Giacomo da Carrara plays ball as usual near the lake of Mantua; there is a longer shot over the wall separating him from the waters; he exits through a small door to retrieve it and quickly enters a boat waiting for him; finally finds 12 Carrara horses, also waiting for him, which carry him to safety in Padua. | |||
| Dec. | Lombardy | In Milan. The Duke of Milan Gian Galeazzo Visconti dies. With dal Verme and Paolo Savelli, attends the ceremony where the Milanese swear loyalty to the new Duke Giovanni Maria Visconti. | |||
| 1403 | |||||
| ………… | Obtains the title of Marquis from Emperor Wenceslaus of Bohemia (Venceslao di Boemia). The latter is shortly afterwards deposed, so this appointment is considered null. In any case, two years later Gonzaga is reconfirmed in this capacity by Pope Boniface IX (Bonifacio IX). | ||||
| June | Lombardy | Ugolino Cavalcabò and Giovanni Ponzoni raise Cremona against the Visconti. Gonzaga is sent to the city to try to reconcile the factions. His mediation leads to no result. | |||
| July Aug. | Emilia | Negotiates the peace of Caledio on behalf of the Visconti with Carlo Malatesta and the papal legate, Cardinal Baldassarre Cossa. Bologna and Assisi are ceded by the Visconti; ducal armies are recalled from Piacenza; arbitration for questions regarding the Florentines, currently excluded from the peace, is given to Pope Boniface IX (Bonifacio IX). | |||
| Sept. | Emilia | In Bologna. With Jacopo dal Verme, convinces Facino Cane to accept the peace signed between the ducal and papal forces. | |||
| Oct. | Milan | Cremona | Lombardy | Demands the delivery of the fortresses of Cremona from Ugolino Cavalcabò and Giovanni Ponzoni. Having received a negative response, moves against that city with Galeazzo da Mantova. | |
| ……….. | Mantua | Padua | Veneto | Allies with the Visconti against the Lord of Padua Francesco Novello da Carrara. Recovers Legnago. | |
| 1404 | |||||
| Jan. | Lombardy | Returns to Milan with the victory of the Guelph faction over the Ghibelline one. With other dignitaries, welcomes Barbavara, driven out of the city due to his belonging to the Guelph party, outside a gate. Is called to be part of the regency council of Duchess Caterina Visconti with the Archbishop of Novara Pietro Filargo and Barbavara. | |||
| Feb. | Lombardy | Obtains Castiglione delle Stiviere, Lonato, Castel Goffredo, and Solferino from Visconti in exchange for 63,650 imperial lire, owed to him for back wages. | |||
| Mar. | Mantua | Cremona | Lombardy | Rushes to aid the Lord of Sabbioneta Michele Persico, threatened by Ugolino Cavalcabò. | |
| Apr. | Veneto | Favors the Carraresi when they seize Verona: for his support, he has some castles in the Veronese territory ceded to him. The Lord of Padua does not want to fulfill his promises and plots against Gonzaga‘s life. | |||
| May | Veneto | The Visconti recognize Ostiglia and Peschiera del Garda for him, thereby provoking the complaints of the Carraresi. At the same time, he supports the Rossi in the Parma area against the Lord of Parma Ottobono Terzi. | |||
| Aug. | Venice | Padua | Captain General, 200 lances and 100 infantry | Veneto | Allies with the Venetians. He is recognized a monthly fee of 500 florins: the Serenissima, in case of victory, assures him possession of Ostiglia, Villapenta, Castellaro Lagusello, Belforte, and Peschiera del Garda. Gonzaga moves to the siege of Peschiera del Garda. In Verona, on a capital, appears his challenge cartel against the Lord of Padua Francesco Novello da Carrara. Suddenly attacked by Cecco da San Severino, he must flee with the capture of 300 horses and all baggage. Stipulates a truce with the adversaries. |
| Sept. Oct. | Lombardy and Veneto | Reconciles with Ugolino Cavalcabò and Ottobono Terzi; raids the Veronese territory with Jacopo dal Verme and Terzi himself. Ravages the countryside up to Villafranca di Verona; breaks the defensive Serraglio in several points. | |||
| Nov. | Veneto | Re-joins with Jacopo dal Verme; has a bastia (fortification) built at Bussolengo and a bridge over the Adige. Other bastie are built between Arce and Pescantina, yet another at Castelrotto: supplies them all with men and means. Moves to Valpolicella with 100 lances; shortly reduces the whole territory to Venetian power. Nogarole Rocca also opens its gates to him. | |||
| Dec. | Veneto and Lombardy | Reaches Monselice; returns to the Veronese territory. With the defeat at Roncà of Giacomo Suriano and Francesco dall’Aquila, leaves the camp of Bussolengo in Valpolicella with Jacopo dal Verme to return quickly to the Mantuan territory. | |||
| 1405 | |||||
| Jan. | Veneto | Assaults Verona with dal Verme and Guido Torelli. Exits at night from Cavaion Veronese; arrives under the walls of the capital where a treaty has been organized with some sentries. The attack is brought near Porta Calzari; 300/400 soldiers scale the walls and seize three small towers. Some men descend to fight between the gate and the monastery of the Trinity: the prompt intervention of Ludovico degli Obizzi and Giacomo da Carrara repels the Gonzaga militias from the walls. In the clash, 400 men are killed, almost all Venetians; Gonzaga is wounded by a lance blow to the back inflicted by Giacomo da Carrara. Is summoned to Venice for a war council. | |||
| Feb. | Veneto | At San Bonifacio. With Jacopo dal Verme, occupies the castles of Illasi, Montorio Veronese, and almost all of Valpantena; has a strong bastia built at Albarè. | |||
| May | Veneto | After an offensive by the Carraresi led in Valpolicella by Paolo Lion, quickly crosses the Mount of San Leonardo, near San Mattia, recovers Arbizzano and Pescantina without effort; obtains Castelrotto by terms, which is set on fire. Retires to Avesa and Quinzano Veronese to avoid being attacked from behind by the Carraresi. | |||
| June | Veneto | Having asked for help from Galeazzo da Mantova, who is at Oppeano, attacks the adversaries coming out of Verona as far as the village of Sorio to fight him. The Carraresi, captained by Giacomo da Carrara, Paolo Lion, and Ludovico Obizzi, assault his rearguard and put him to flight. Gonzaga takes refuge in the village of Sorio, sets it on fire, and shelters in the castle of Zevio: in the combat, not counting the drowned, he loses 200 men, bombards, and some insignias. From Porta Calzari exits also Cecco da San Severino, who flushes him out at Acquaccio: retreats once again with the loss of 100 men (five killed among the Carraresi). Moves to Villafranca di Verona and no longer finds the usual welcome: the inhabitants fortify themselves in the castle and repel his assaults. Three days of useless attacks cost him heavy losses. At Vigasio to seize a strong bastia: Giacomo da Carrara anticipates him and sends 36 crossbowmen into the fortress; the defenders come out and set fire to the bastia together with another one. Gonzaga then assaults the fortress to avenge the defeats: repeated attacks prove fruitless in this case as well. After a few days, crosses the Adige at Albarè, reaches San Bonifacio, and from there moves to the Paduan territory. Returns to the siege of Verona. At the end of the month, the inhabitants surrender into the hands of dal Verme. Gonzaga enters the city solemnly through Porta Calzari with Jacopo dal Verme, Gabriele Emo, Giacomo Suriano, Rosso Marino, and Barbone Morosini. Peschiera del Garda and Ostiglia are delivered to him by the Serenissima as per agreements. | |||
| July | Veneto | Supports Jacopo dal Verme at the siege of Padua. Stations himself at Bassanello; leads various assaults on the city walls. The city is tormented by famine and plague. | |||
| Nov. | Veneto | With the conquest of Padua, the Venetians restore 4,600 moggia of coarse salt to him, as settlement for half the dowry that the Carraresi could not return to him due to the death of his daughter Alda, who married Francesco III da Carrara (Francesco Terzo da Carrara). | |||
| 1406 | |||||
| June | Veneto | On pilgrimage in the Veronese territory to visit the church of Santa Maria della Scala. | |||
| Dec. | Emilia | On Christmas Day is in Parma for the baptism of Niccolò Carlo, son of Terzi. | |||
| 1407 | |||||
| Feb. | Mantua | Facino Cane | Lombardy | Sends troops in support of the action of Jacopo dal Verme and Ottobono Terzi fighting Facino Cane. | |
| Mar. | Lombardy | Dies mid-month in the castle of Cavriana from a sudden illness. Is buried in Mantua in the church of San Francesco. Is remembered for his activity as a builder. Has the Castle of San Giorgio built in Mantua, a work by Bertolino da Novara, rebuilds the cathedral of San Pietro, constructs the bell tower of the church of Sant’Andrea and the sanctuary of Santa Maria delle Grazie at Curtarolo. The last work alone costs 30,000 ducats. A detailed inventory of his assets remains, drawn up in duplicate: prominent in it is the description of the library, characterized by many volumes in the French language, chansons de geste, and poetry. |
Sources
-“Fu senza dubbio un grande uomo di stato e seppe preparare al figlio Gianfrancesco le basi per consolidare la dinastia dei Gonzaga. Morto ancor giovane, a circa 42 anni, aveva vissuto intensamente le sue giornate e con il suo intervento diretto in guerre e combattimenti aveva preparato uno dei pilastri della politica gonzaghesca, da cui questi trassero in seguito grandi ricchezze: l’attività di capitani apprezzati talvolta per la loro perizia, ma molto spesso per la neutralità che così garantivano al belligerante che li avesse assoldati.” CONIGLIO
-“Non mantenendosi nel principato che mercé la più ossequiosa deferenza a tutta la volontà di Giovanni Galeazzo. Collegato sempre con il signore di Milano, il Gonzaga aveva preso parte a tutte le sue guerre, senza sperarne altro vantaggio che quello di andare protraendo l’istante in cui sarebbe anch’esso spogliato de’ suoi dominii.” SISMONDI
-“Principe assai rinomato pel suo valore.” MURATORI
-“Trattò questo signore l’arme con grande ingegno, e non minore laude..Fu huomo..savio. e di grande autorità, peritissimo nelle historie, amatore de i letterati, e virtuosi, ammirator dell’ antiche lodi, dolce di conversatione, faceto, liberale, e in honorare splendidissimo.” ALBERTI
-“Hebbe così talento di saper tirare a sé gli animi delle persone, con le sue amabili maniere, e di mantenerseli sempre affetionati; come valore, per vincere i suoi nemici e per tenerli a freno, dopo haverli vinti..Era di persona alta, di volto bianco, di capelli castagnicci e d’occhi neri.” ROSCIO
-“Huomo..savio, e più che stima facea della fede data, e del giuramento, che di niun’altra cosa offertagli. Fu di somma autorità..e non solamente mediatore ottimo, ma esecutore d’infinite cose honorevoli, e utili, appartenenti alla conservatione de’ suoi popoli e amatore della libertà d’Italia.” EQUICOLA
-“Riuscì nel progresso del tempo costante, guerriero, generoso e d’ogni virtù ripieno.” LOSCHI
-“Abile politico, e ad un tempo principe di rinomato valore fu uomo di molta pietà e attento all’amministrazione del suo stato.” LITTA
-“Dicono gli scrittori che fu savio huomo, d’auttorità grande, amator delle lettere e della virtù, ammiratore delle cose antiche e peritissimo nelle historie, dolce di conversatione, splendido e liberale.” SANSOVINO
-“Fu huomo di gran valore e di animo molto generoso e liberale.., la fortuna gli fu sempre molto amica, combattendo con diversi principi della Italia.” ULLOA
-“Munificus et liberalis in eos (guerra e pace) erat, quos aliqua insigni virtute praeditos norat.” PLATINA
-“Esso ci appare ambizioso di titoli, di onori, di parentadi e manomettitore dei diritti del nostro comune.” D’ARCO
-Con Ottobono Terzi, Jacopo dal Verme, Alberico da Barbiano, Pandolfo Malatesta, Facino Cane “Condottieri de stima assai in questo tempo.” PORRO LAMBERTENGHI
-“Generoso e magnanimo in guerra e in pace, e liberale verso quelli che dotato conosceva d’alcuna eminente virtù..Prencipe in vero degno di lode, d’invidia e d’imitatione..Huomo di tanto valore nell’armi..; ma savio oltre ciò e liberalissimo, religioso, osservatore di fede.., grand’amico e fautore de’ letterati.” MAFFEI
-Nella guerra contro i carraresi “Gonzaga in questo a cui soccorritore/ Giunto è dal Verme, sì Verona strigne,/ Sì la minaccia, che il più vil terrore/ Suo popol molle a prostenarsi spigne.” GABARDI BROCCHI
-“Chiamò alla sua corte il crittografo cremonese Martino Ghisolfi, che nel suo “Quaternetus ciffrarum M.ci D. N. exemplatum per me Martinum de Gisulphis eius scribam de anno 1406″, raccolse i codici (composti da simboli, figure geometriche, lettere e numeri) che vennero utilizzati per cifrare i messaggi.” WIKIPEDIA
-“Com’egli sapeva l’animo delle persone con sue laudevoli maniere ritrarre a se, e gli si mantenea affettionatissimi, così non fu mai suo nemico, che l’esquisito valor di lui no’l superasse e no’l tenesse sempre in freno..Era di persona alta, e di volto bianco: gli occhi havea neri: e i capelli castagnicci.” CAPRIOLO
-“E l’altro Mantovan di nome eterno,/Che tutta Lombardia volse e rivolse,/Onore e specchio del viver moderno.” Cambino Aretino riportato da FABRETTI
-“Benché fosse molto più dotato del padre, Francesco era sempre il figlio di un assassino, più precisamente di un duplice fratricida, da cui ereditò un’assoluta mancanza di scrupoli. Se le esigenze dello stato lo richiedevano, il Gonzaga non andava troppo per il sottile ed era disposto anche al delitto. Per sua fortuna non ebbe fratelli né altri parenti intenzionati a scalzarlo dal potere, ma ancora molto giovane dimostrò chiaramente di che pasta era fatto, liberandosi senza problemi di una moglie divenuta ingombrante.” BRAGLIA
-“Egli fu il più compito signore che fino ad ora fosse stato nella famiglia dei Gonzaga; fu il primo che avesse un vero e profondo senso politico, e sapesse amministrare e reggere lo stato con severità ed energia… Fece in Mantova costruire chiese e palazzi, aprire nuove strade, alzar nuove mura. Dette una nuova divisione alla città in quartieri e in contrade. Si ebbero così le contrade, come in altre città italiane del tempo, Aquila, Grifone, Cammello, Orso, Leopardo, Mastino, Corno, Falcone, Leon vermiglio, Pusterla, Rovere, Nave ecc. Iniziò il Santuario di Santa Maria delle Grazie, nella campagna di Curtatone, e fece costruire il Castello di San Giorgio.. Intraprese il viaggio di Terrasanta; strano contrasto, in un uomo che era arrivato al potere attraverso il tradimento e la strage, e vi si mantenne con la violenza, e non rifuggì dalla frode.” CIAMPINI
-“Francesco fu senza dubbio un grande uoomo di stato e seppe preparare al figlio Gianfrancesco le basi per consolidare la dinastia dei Gonzaga. Morto ancor giovane, a circa 42 anni, aveva vissuto intensamente le sue giornate e con il suo intervento diretto in guerre e combattimenti aveva preparato uno dei pilastri della politica gonzaghesca, da cui questi trassero in seguito grandi ricchezze: l’attività di capitani apprezzati talvolta per la loro perizia, ma molto spesso per la neutralità che così garantivano al belligerante che li avesse assoldati.” CONIGLIO
Featured image: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Francesco_I_gonzaga.jpg
