The Farnese

Alessandro Farnese, third Duke of Parma, Piacenza, and Castro (1545-1592).
Ranuccio I Farnese, fourth Duke of Parma and Piacenza (1569-1622).

A noble family from Lazio, the Farnese distinguished themselves as men-at-arms in the service of the Pope and the various cities of the Guelph faction. The first important figure was Pier Luigi, who, by marrying into the illustrious Caetani family, entered the ranks of the Roman aristocracy. His son Alessandro, the future Pope Paul III (1503-1547), created the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, which later passed to his son Ranuccio. The next seven dukes reigned until 1731.
Alessandro Farnese spent his childhood in Parma and showed an early interest in mathematics and military art. In 1556, he accompanied his mother, Margaret of Austria, to Madrid, where he remained until his twenties. In 1565, he married Maria of Portugal and returned to Parma, remaining there until 1570. In 1571, he distinguished himself in the Battle of Lepanto. In 1577, Don Juan of Austria (Alessandro’s uncle and recently appointed governor of the Netherlands) entrusted Alessandro with command of the Spanish regiments stationed in Italy. With this appointment, he was appointed lieutenant and designated as Don Juan’s successor. After assuming the position of governor of the Netherlands, in 1586 he assumed the title of Duke of Parma, Piacenza, and Castro and asked Philip II to allow him to return to the city; the king refused, and he was forced to entrust the regency to his eldest son, Ranuccio.

Ranuccio I Farnese continued Pier Luigi’s policy of dispossessing the minor feudal nobility and reorganized administrative and economic activity: the well-known Farnese Constitutions, issued in 1594, modified the structure of public law and regulated many aspects of life in the Duchy, remaining in force for centuries. These centralizing measures led to the usual frictions with the local nobility, which culminated in the Sanseverino-Sanvitale conspiracy of 1611-12. Sanvitale, the Marchioness Sanseverino, and her husband, with the support of Vincenzo I Gonzaga, Prince Pico della Mirandola, and Duke Carlo Emanuele I of Savoy, were accused of intending to eliminate members of the Farnese family. Ranuccio was relentless: he beheaded the conspirators and confiscated their assets. His attention to cultural life was notable: he financed the Studium parmense, created the College of Nobles, reserved for the scions of the best European aristocracy, and the Accademia degli Innominati, which counted among its members Torquato Tasso and Guarino Guarini, and built the Palazzo della Pilotta and the Teatro Farnese.
From his marriage to Margherita Aldobrandini, niece of Clement VIII, Ranuccio I had three legitimate children: Maria, who married Francesco D’Este, Francesco, destined for the cardinalate, and his designated successor Odoardo.