Francesco Maria I della Rovere was an Italian nobleman born in 1490, known for being the Duke of Urbino from 1516 until his death in 1538. He was a member of the Della Rovere family, which played a significant role in the politics of the Italian Renaissance. His reign was marked by efforts to strengthen the duchy and promote the arts. Francesco Maria I was also a military leader, participating in various conflicts of the time, including the Italian Wars. He was a patron of artists and scholars, contributing to the cultural development of Urbino, which became a center of Renaissance art and learning under his rule.