Regents of Mantua

Like so many other Italian city-states was Mantua a self governing commune, which made itself independent from the emperor during the middle age. With time the government was to be dominated by strong men who were called "signores". From 1328 did these belong to the house of Gonzaga and they bought the title margrave (or marquis) of Mantua from the emperor 1432. In 1530 were they elevated to ducal status and from 1536 were they also in control over the margraviate of Monferrato, which also became a duchy 1573. A French collateral branch of the house of Gonzaga inherited the duchies 1627 after they had won the war over the Mantuan succession with French support. The war over the Spanish succession led however to the annexation of Mantua by Austria in 1708, where after it shared its history with the duchy of Milan. The city of Mantua's greatest son was the Roman poet Virgil who lived in the first century before Christ.

1272-1291 1291-1299 1299-1309 1309-1328	Pinamonte Bonacolsi Bardallone Bonacolsi Guido Botticela Rinaldo il Passerino
House of Gonzaga
1328-1360 1360-1369 1369-1382 1382-1407 1407-1432	Luigi I Guido Luigi II Francesco I Gian Francesco
Margraviate of Mantua
1432-1444 1444-1478 1478-1484 1484-1519 1519-1530	Gian Francesco (same as above) Ludovico Federico I Francesco II Federico II (same as below)
Duchy of Mantua
1530-1540	Federico II
1540-1550	Francesco III
1550-1587	Guglielmo
1587-1612	Vincenzo I
1612	Francesco IV
1612-1626	Ferdinando
1626-1627	Vincenzo II
House of Gonzaga-Nevers
1627-1637	Carlo I
1637-1665	Carlo III
1665-1708	Carlo IV