The House of Gonzaga was an Italian dynasty and important family in Renaissance Italy. They served as sovereigns of Mantua, a city in the Italian province of Lombardy, for nearly four centuries from 1328 to 1707 and ruled Montferrat, an area in Italy's Piedmont, from 1536 to 1707. The Gonzagas, once prosperous farmers, rose to power as the commanders of mercenary troops or condottieri. They allied with the Holy Roman Emperor against Charles VIII of France and fought with the kingdoms of Naples and Tuscany. After the Peace of Cambrai in 1529, they received the title of duke as payment for their support. The Gonzaga family ruled Mantua with an iron fist but they were also busy builders and civic improvers. They left Mantua with a rich architectural heritage that includes the Ducal Palace, Palazzo Ducale in Italian, and Palazzo Te. The Gonzagas made Mantua into an important center for arts and learning.