Eleonora Gonzaga (1630–1686)
| Eleonora Gonzaga | |
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Holy Roman Empress; German Queen; Queen consort of Hungary and Bohemia; Archduchess consort of Austria |
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| Tenure | 30 April 1651 – 2 April 1657 |
| Born |
18 November 1630 Mantua, Duchy of Mantua |
| Died | 6 December 1686 (aged 56) Vienna, Austria |
| Spouse | Ferdinand III, Holy Roman Emperor |
| Issue |
Eleanor, Queen of Poland Maria Anna Josepha, Electoral Princess of the Palatinate |
| House | House of Gonzaga |
| Father | Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers |
| Mother | Maria Gonzaga, Duchess of Montferrat |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Eleonora Gonzaga (18 November 1630 – 6 December 1686), was by birth Princess of Mantua, Nevers and Rethel from the Nevers branch of the House of Gonzaga and by marriage Holy Roman Empress, German Queen, Queen consort of Hungary and Bohemia.
Nicknamed the Younger (de: Jüngere) to distinguish herself from her namesake aunt, she was considered one of the most educated and virtuous women of her time. Fascinated by religious poetry, she founded a literary academy and was also a patron of musical theater. As Holy Roman Empress, she promotes the development of cultural and spiritual life at the Imperial court in Vienna, and despite being an staunch Catholic and benefactress of several monasteries, she had a tolerant attitude towards the Protestantism.
She established two female orders: the Order of Virtuosity (1662) and the Order of the Starry Cross (1668).
Eleonora was born on 18 November 1630 in Mantua, as the second child of Charles Gonzaga, styled Duke of Nevers (heir of the Duchy of Mantua) and his wife and cousin Maria Gonzaga (heiress to the Duchy of Montferrat). On her father's side her grandparents were Charles Gonzaga, Duke of Nevers and Rethel and Catherine of Mayenne –a member of the House of Lorraine– and on her mother's side her grandparents were Francesco IV Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Margaret of Savoy.
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