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Francesco Maria I Della Rovere

Francesco Maria I
Tizian 062.jpg
Portrait by Titian
Duke of Urbino
Reign 11 April 1508 – 1516
Predecessor Guidobaldo I
Successor Lorenzo II de' Medici
Reign December 1521 – 20 October 1538
Predecessor Lorenzo II de' Medici
Successor Guidobaldo II
Born (1490-03-22)22 March 1490
Senigallia, Duchy of Urbino
Died 20 October 1538(1538-10-20) (aged 48)
Urbino, Duchy of Urbino
Spouse Eleonora Gonzaga
Issue Giulia, Lady of Montecchio
Elisabetta, Marchioness of Massa
Guidobaldo II, Duke of Urbino
Cardinal Giulio
Ippolita, Duchess of Montalto
House Rovere
Father Giovanni della Rovere
Mother Giovanna da Montefeltro

Francesco Maria I della Rovere (22 March 1490 – 20 October 1538) was an Italian condottiero, who was Duke of Urbino from 1508 to 1516 and 1521 to 1538 when he retook the throne from Lorenzo II de' Medici.

He was born in Senigallia, the son of the Papal captain and lord of that city, Giovanni della Rovere, and of Giovanna da Montefeltro, daughter of Federico III da Montefeltro. He was also the nephew of Giuliano della Rovere, Pope Julius II.

His uncle Guidobaldo I of Urbino, who was heirless, called him at his court, and named him as heir of that dukedom in 1504 through the intercession of Julius II. In 1502 the della Rovere had lost the seigniory of Senigallia, occupied by Cesare Borgia, then the most powerful figure in the Marche: Francesco Maria and his mother were saved from the slaughter perpetrated by Borgia's troops by the then-land soldier Andrea Doria. When in 1508 Guidobaldo died, Francesco Maria became duke of Urbino; thanks to the support of his uncle the pope he could also recover Senigallia after Borgia's death.

In 1508 he married Eleonora Gonzaga (1493–1570), daughter of Francesco II Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua and Isabella d'Este.

In 1509 he was appointed as capitano generale (commander-in-chief) of the Papal States, and subsequently fought in the Italian Wars against Ferrara and Venice. In 1511, after he had failed to conquer Bologna, he had the cardinal Francesco Alidosi killed by his troops, a cruel action for which he was compared to Borgia himself. In 1513 he was created also lord of Pesaro.


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