Of rustic origin, the Corradi from Gonzaga lived under the protection of the Monastery of San Benedetto (St. Benedict) in Polirone founded by the Canossas.
Vast expanses of land were rented and often given to those who worked them or enjoyed the monks' friendship.
Thus the Gonzagas could make up very large estates. Later on they moved into town where occasionally took part to Mantuan political life.
In 1328, Luigi Gonzaga, on a sultry August night, by a spectacular sudden attack in the town-center (see the painting: the Bonacolsis' driving out), wrested Mantua from the Bonacolsi.
In the early times the new lords were so engaged in strengthening their rule, that the urban building was neglected.
Then, the Magna Domus and the Captain's Palace underwent changes.
The town was endowed with new difensive walls with five door-ways: San Giorgio, Cerese, Pusterla, Pradella, Mulina.
In the meanwhile the present Piazza Sordello was created, pulling down the crumbling Bonacolsis buildings, and the Romanic Cathedral was given a new Gothic facade.
In 1433 Gianfrancesco Gonzaga was given, thanks to a tribute of 12.000 golden florins, the title of marquess and Barbara of Brandeburgo to wife. She was the grand-daughter of the German Emperor Sigismund.
In this period the bell-tower of St. Andrea was built and Cà Zoiosa became the seat of Vittorino da Feltre's humanistic school for the marquess's children. Pisanello frescoed some halls of the Ducal Palace and made the famous medals portraying Vittorino da Feltre, Cecilia, Gianfrancesco and Ludovico Gonzaga.
Ludovico II, who succeeded to Gianfrancesco, called to his court humanists, men of letters and artists such as Donatello, Leon Battista Alberti,Andrea Mantegna and Luca Fancelli.
He moved from Corte Vecchia (the old Court) to Castello di San Giorgio (St. George's Castle) that Luca Fancelli changed into a confortable mansion, without altering the exterior.
In this period the construction of St. Andrea was begun, after obtaining permission from Pope Sixtus IV, of demolishing the pre-existing gothic church which was too small. The construction was realized after plans by Leon Battista Alberti and carried out by Luca Fancelli who in 1473 directed the building of Torre dell'Orologio (Clock-Tower).
Ludovico II died owing to a pestilence and was succeeded by his son Federico I who ruled only 6 years. The latter was called by a Mantuan chronicler "kind and obliging hump-backedman" owing to the physical imperfection the Gonzagas' family was affected by.
In 1490 Isabella d'Este came to Mantova as wife of the marquiss Francesco II. Federico II, Isabella d'Este is son, duke of Mantova since 1530, called to his court Giulio Romano, Raphael's pupil, who erected Palazzo Te and rearranged mantuan urbanistic plan, leaving signs of his work in many places and buildings of the town.
In the meanwhile the Gonzagas' dominions extended with the annexation of Monferrato, reaching the height of economic and political power.
After Federico II's death, Francesco III came next in succession, then Guglielmo who married Eleonor of Asburgo and then Vincenzo I who died in 1612, and with him the glorious time of the Gonzagas' family and fief came to an end.
He was succeeded by Francesco IV and then by his brother Ferdinando who rejected the cardinalate to become Lord of Mantova.
Ferdinando wishing to move his seat far from the city-center, ordered the construction of "La Favorita" designed by Nicolò Sebregondi between 1616 and 1624.
Ferdinando's brother, Vincenzo II was obliged to sell most of the family's portrait collection to Charles 1st of England at a very low price in comparison with the value of the paintings. In 1627, with Vincenzo II death, the Gonzagas' descendants came to an end and thus began the decline of the Gonzagas' domination.