Francesco Gonzaga was born in Palermo on 12 June 1538 and died in Rome on 6 January 1566. Duke of Ariano, brother of the Cardinal Gianvincenzo Gonzaga, nephew of Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga and of Francesco III Gonzaga, the Duke of Mantua.

He was a member of the Academy of the Vatican Nights.

As prothonotary apostolic he obtained from Pius IV the Abbey of Acqua Nera and on 26 February 1562 was created Cardinal of San Nicola in Carcere.

He died at the young age of 28.

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