Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma
Encyclopedia
Antonio Farnese was the eighth and ultimate Farnese Duke of Parma and Piacenza. He married, in 1727, Enrichetta d'Este
of Modena
with the intention of begetting an heir; the marriage, however, was childless, leading to the succession of Charles of Spain
–whose mother, Elisabeth Farnese, was Antonio's niece–to the ducal throne.
, Antonio was the third son of Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma
, and his wife Maria d'Este of Modena
. At the age of 18, Prince Antonio embarked on a Grand Tour of Europe with the intention of establishing contacts in courts across the continent; however, he simply dissipated 1,580,000 lire on galas.
As a prince he spent the bulk of his time at the court of his cousin the Hereditary Prince of Modena, because his sister-in-law, Duchess Sophia Dorothea, disbarred masques and other merriments, distractions which Antonio revelled in. The castle of Sala, which he zealously enlarged and renovated, served as his Parmese residence. Here, Antonio threw lavish parties frequented by his favourite and mistress, the "domineering" Countess Margherita Bori Giusti.
By the time of his accession in February 1727, morbidly obese Antonio had scant desire to rule. His life of hedonism continued unperturbed: he stayed up all night, sat for dinner one hour before dawn, played faro and basset and attended Countess Bori's salons on a daily basis. As there was no heir to the duchy, the secretary of state, Count Anvidi, and Bori coerced an unwilling Anotnio to marry Enrichetta d'Este
, his friend the Hereditary Prince of Modena's sister. On 21 July 1727 the marriage contract was signed. His bride was adored by the people of Parma, and Antonio treated her kindly. The marriage, despite all Anotnio's attempts at conception, was childless.
Spain, France, Great Britain, Austria and the Dutch Republic provisioned for a Parmese male-line succession failure in the Treaty of London (1718), promulgating that the heir to the duchy would be Elisabeth Farnese's elder son with Philip V of Spain
, Infante Charles
. Elisabeth, unconvinced of the treaty's permanence, extraced from France, in 1729, its permission to insert 6,000 Spanish troops into Parma. They too agreed to repudiate Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI's
claim of suzerainty over the duchy. An incensed Charles VI responded by stationing 40,000 soldiers in his Duchy of Milan
, north of Parma. In the midst of the diplomatic fray, Anotonio died, ostensibly from a boil, caused, according to a comteporary, by oft sporting "a wig that was too hot for him". Thus ending the House of Farnese, who for 184 years had served as sovereigns to Parma and Piacenza.
Six days after his death, 20 January 1731, Austrian troops marched into the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, intent on staying there until Spain re-subscribed to the terms of the Treaty of London. However, it was soon discovered that Antonio's will left the country to "the pregnant stomach of my wife". A diplomatic flurry ensued. Pope Clement XII
, the King of France
and Elisabeth Farnese spurned Enrichetta's pregnancy. They were correct: Austria convinced Enrichetta that she was pregnant to keep the Bourbons out of Italy long-enough for it to occupy Parma. Upon discovering she was in fact not pregnant, Spain and Austria put aside their differences so as not to worsen the "precarious state of European affairs"; the ensuing rapprochement saw Charles of Spain mount the ducal throne as a vassal of the Emperor. Charles, after resigning the throne of Parma in 1735, took all the Farnese treasures, including several pieces by Correggio
, the Ducal library and archives and the Ducal Palace's marble staircase, with him to Naples
, the seat of his new kingdom.
Enrichetta d'Este
Enrichetta d'Este was an Italian noblewoman. She was the Duchess of Parma by marriage to Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma, who was her first cousin as well as an uncle of Elisabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain....
of Modena
Duchy of Modena and Reggio
The Duchy of Modena and Reggio |Italian]] state that existed from 1452 to 1859, with a break between 1796 and 1814. It was ruled by the noble House of Este, from 1814 Austria-Este.-House of Este:...
with the intention of begetting an heir; the marriage, however, was childless, leading to the succession of Charles of Spain
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
–whose mother, Elisabeth Farnese, was Antonio's niece–to the ducal throne.
Biography
Born in ParmaParma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
, Antonio was the third son of Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma
Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma
Ranuccio II Farnese was the sixth Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1646 until his death nearly 50 years later.-Birth and Succession:...
, and his wife Maria d'Este of Modena
Duchy of Modena and Reggio
The Duchy of Modena and Reggio |Italian]] state that existed from 1452 to 1859, with a break between 1796 and 1814. It was ruled by the noble House of Este, from 1814 Austria-Este.-House of Este:...
. At the age of 18, Prince Antonio embarked on a Grand Tour of Europe with the intention of establishing contacts in courts across the continent; however, he simply dissipated 1,580,000 lire on galas.
As a prince he spent the bulk of his time at the court of his cousin the Hereditary Prince of Modena, because his sister-in-law, Duchess Sophia Dorothea, disbarred masques and other merriments, distractions which Antonio revelled in. The castle of Sala, which he zealously enlarged and renovated, served as his Parmese residence. Here, Antonio threw lavish parties frequented by his favourite and mistress, the "domineering" Countess Margherita Bori Giusti.
By the time of his accession in February 1727, morbidly obese Antonio had scant desire to rule. His life of hedonism continued unperturbed: he stayed up all night, sat for dinner one hour before dawn, played faro and basset and attended Countess Bori's salons on a daily basis. As there was no heir to the duchy, the secretary of state, Count Anvidi, and Bori coerced an unwilling Anotnio to marry Enrichetta d'Este
Enrichetta d'Este
Enrichetta d'Este was an Italian noblewoman. She was the Duchess of Parma by marriage to Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma, who was her first cousin as well as an uncle of Elisabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain....
, his friend the Hereditary Prince of Modena's sister. On 21 July 1727 the marriage contract was signed. His bride was adored by the people of Parma, and Antonio treated her kindly. The marriage, despite all Anotnio's attempts at conception, was childless.
Spain, France, Great Britain, Austria and the Dutch Republic provisioned for a Parmese male-line succession failure in the Treaty of London (1718), promulgating that the heir to the duchy would be Elisabeth Farnese's elder son with Philip V of Spain
Philip V of Spain
Philip V was King of Spain from 15 November 1700 to 15 January 1724, when he abdicated in favor of his son Louis, and from 6 September 1724, when he assumed the throne again upon his son's death, to his death.Before his reign, Philip occupied an exalted place in the royal family of France as a...
, Infante Charles
Charles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
. Elisabeth, unconvinced of the treaty's permanence, extraced from France, in 1729, its permission to insert 6,000 Spanish troops into Parma. They too agreed to repudiate Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
Charles VI's
Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles VI was the penultimate Habsburg sovereign of the Habsburg Empire. He succeeded his elder brother, Joseph I, as Holy Roman Emperor, King of Bohemia , Hungary and Croatia , Archduke of Austria, etc., in 1711...
claim of suzerainty over the duchy. An incensed Charles VI responded by stationing 40,000 soldiers in his Duchy of Milan
Duchy of Milan
The Duchy of Milan , was created on the 1st of may 1395, when Gian Galeazzo Visconti, Lord of Milan, purchased a diploma for 100,000 Florins from King Wenceslaus. It was this diploma that installed, Gian Galeazzo as Duke of Milan and Count of Pavia...
, north of Parma. In the midst of the diplomatic fray, Anotonio died, ostensibly from a boil, caused, according to a comteporary, by oft sporting "a wig that was too hot for him". Thus ending the House of Farnese, who for 184 years had served as sovereigns to Parma and Piacenza.
Six days after his death, 20 January 1731, Austrian troops marched into the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, intent on staying there until Spain re-subscribed to the terms of the Treaty of London. However, it was soon discovered that Antonio's will left the country to "the pregnant stomach of my wife". A diplomatic flurry ensued. Pope Clement XII
Pope Clement XII
Pope Clement XII , born Lorenzo Corsini, was Pope from 12 July 1730 to 6 February 1740.Born in Florence, the son of Bartolomeo Corsini, Marquis of Casigliano and his wife Isabella Strozzi, sister of the Duke of Bagnuolo, Corsini had been an aristocratic lawyer and financial manager under preceding...
, the King of France
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
and Elisabeth Farnese spurned Enrichetta's pregnancy. They were correct: Austria convinced Enrichetta that she was pregnant to keep the Bourbons out of Italy long-enough for it to occupy Parma. Upon discovering she was in fact not pregnant, Spain and Austria put aside their differences so as not to worsen the "precarious state of European affairs"; the ensuing rapprochement saw Charles of Spain mount the ducal throne as a vassal of the Emperor. Charles, after resigning the throne of Parma in 1735, took all the Farnese treasures, including several pieces by Correggio
Antonio da Correggio
Antonio Allegri da Correggio , usually known as Correggio, was the foremost painter of the Parma school of the Italian Renaissance, who was responsible for some of the most vigorous and sensuous works of the 16th century...
, the Ducal library and archives and the Ducal Palace's marble staircase, with him to Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, the seat of his new kingdom.