Paola Malatesta

Paola Agnese Malatesta also Paola of Mantua was an Italian noblewoman of the noble family House of Malatesta, rulers of Rimini and Pesaro. She was born in Pesaro in 1393 to Malatesta IV Malatesta, lord of Pesaro and Fossombrone, and Elisabetta da Varano. On 22 August 1409 she married Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, leader of Mantua, in Pesaro. She was the first Marchesa of Mantua after her husband received the title. Paola had six children. This union introduced the genetic disease of kyphosis to the Gonzaga family which showed in subsequent generations.