Ferrante Gonzaga, Marquess of Castiglione

Ferrante or Ferdinando Gonzaga, first marquess of Castiglione (28 July 1544 – 13 February 1586[1]) was an Italian nobleman and condottiero.

He returned to Spain again in 1570 for the war against the Moors in Granada and remained there until 1571, when Maximilian II made him a marquess, and he prepared to expand his residence.

In 1577, to avoid the plague infecting Castiglione, he and his family travelled to Monferrato, where an attack of gout forced him to spend long periods on medical treatment.

In December he and his wife left Castiglione for Casale Monferrato, where he had been made governor of the Marquisate of Monferrato by duke Guglielmo, which included the difficult task of strengthening the city militarily against its own subjects, who considered the Gonzagas to be usurpers.

In 1584 he finally returned to his estates, whilst his eldest son Luigi retired to the monastery of Santa Maria in Castiglione delle Stiviere, renouncing the marquisate in 1585 in favour of his brother Rodolfo.