Margherita Gonzaga, Marquise of Ferrara

Margherita Gonzaga
Marquise of Ferrara
Margherita in the Genealogia dei principi d'Este (1470s)
Born1418
Mantua
Died7 July 1439
Governolo
BuriedMantua
Noble familyGonzaga
Spouse(s)Leonello d'Este, Marquis of Ferrara
IssueNiccolò d'Este (Niccolò di Leonello)
FatherGianfrancesco I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua
MotherPaola Malatesta

Margherita Gonzaga, Marquise of Ferrara (1418–1439) was a noblewoman of the House of Gonzaga, from Mantua in modern-day Italy. She was the daughter of Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga, Marquess of Mantua and Paola Malatesta. In 1435, she became the first wife of Leonello d'Este, Marquess of Ferrara, making her the Marquise of Ferrara and creating an alliance between the House of Gonzaga of Mantua and the House of Este of Ferrara. The artist Pisanello gave them a painting of Julius Caesar as a wedding gift. The couple had a son, Niccolò, who is also known as Niccolò di Leonello to avoid confusion with his grandfather, Niccolò III d'Este.