Italian family of music patrons who ruled Mantua, 1328-1627. The most brilliant years at the Gonzaga court began with Isabella d′Este's arrival in 1490 as wife of Francesco II (d 1519). Many leading frottolists flourished there. In 1510 Francesco II established a court chapel, while Cardinal Ercole (ruled 1540-63) founded a rival ecclesiastical chapel. Guglielmo (d 1587) composed madrigals, motets and masses in a conservative style and founded the palatine basilica of S Barbara; during his reign, and in particular that of his son Vincenzo I (d 1612), such composers as Striggio, Gastoldi, Wert, Pallavicino and Monteverdi were employed. Musical productions under Vincenzo I included Monteverdi's early operas and Marco da Gagliano's Dafne (1608). Francesco Gonzaga (1590-1628), of the family's cadet branch, wrote sacred music, canzonettas and arias.
