2 9 ▁November ▁ 1 6 3 2 , ▁when ▁Edward ▁was ▁seven ▁years ▁old . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 4 ▁April ▁ 1 6 4 5 , ▁Edward ▁married ▁in ▁Paris ▁a ▁French ▁prin cess ▁of ▁Italian ▁extra ction , ▁Anna ▁Gonz aga ▁( 1 6 1 6 – 1 6 8 4 ). ▁N ine ▁years ▁older ▁than ▁Edward , ▁she ▁was ▁a ▁daughter ▁of ▁Carlo ▁I , ▁Duke ▁of ▁Mant ua ▁and ▁Catherine ▁de ▁Lor raine - Gu ise - May enne , ▁and ▁had ▁been ▁sp urn ed ▁by ▁her ▁alleg ed ▁previous ▁husband , ▁the ▁fifth ▁Duke ▁of ▁Gu ise . ▁She ▁had ▁been ▁raised ▁in ▁France , ▁where ▁her ▁father ▁held ▁the ▁du k edom ▁of ▁Ne vers ▁prior ▁to ▁inher iting ▁the ▁Italian ▁du chy . ▁ ▁He ▁was ▁embar rass ed ▁finan cially , ▁she ▁by ▁sc and alous ▁purs uit ▁of ▁a ▁cousin ▁who ▁had ▁rep udi ated ▁her ▁to ▁wed ▁another , ▁and ▁both ▁by ▁a ▁connection ▁forb idden ▁by ▁their ▁war ring ▁faith s , ▁thus ▁they ▁married ▁in ▁secret . ▁But ▁Edward ' s ▁prompt ▁conversion ▁v ind ic ated ▁the ▁couple ▁at ▁the ▁French ▁royal ▁court , ▁despite ▁his ▁mother ' s ▁thre ats ▁to ▁dis own ▁any ▁of ▁her ▁children ▁who ▁emb rac ed ▁the ▁Catholic ▁Church . ▁ ▁The ▁couple ▁took ▁up ▁residence ▁in ▁Paris , ▁where ▁they ▁were ▁referred ▁to ▁as ▁the ▁Prince ▁and ▁Princess ▁Pal at ine , ▁her ▁inheritance ▁and ▁the ▁king ' s ▁gener