Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma
Encyclopedia
Ranuccio I Farnese reigned as Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro
from 1592. A firm believer in absolute monarchy, Ranuccio, in 1594, centralised the administration of Parma and Piacenza, thus rescinding the nobles' hitherto vast prerogative. He is best remembered for the "Great Justice" of 1612, which saw the executions of many Piacentine nobles suspected of plotting against him. Because one of the conspirators, Gianfrancesco Sanvitale, falsely implicated several Italian monarchs, namely Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena, in the plot, Vincenzo and Cesares' names appeared on the list of conspirators during formal court proceedings; as a result, Ranuccio's reputation among the monarchs of Italy was irreparably damaged because it was evident that he gave credence to Gianfrancesco's obviously false confession. When, consequently, in the early 1620s, Ranuccio was scouting for a bride for his younger legitimate son and heir, Odoardo, none of the Italian ruling families were forthcoming with princesses. He did, however, manage to engineer a match with Margherita de' Medici
, daughter of Cosimo II of Tuscany
.
The husband of Margherita Aldobrandini
, niece of Pope Clement VIII
, Ranuccio, the son of a Portuguese infanta
, was considered as a potential monarch of Portugal when his childless great-uncle King Henry I died. The throne, however, passed to Philip II of Spain
, whose troops had promptly occupied the country after Henry I's death.
when Ranuccio was 11 years old. As the son of the late elder daughter of Infante Edward, 4th Duke of Guimarães, the only son of King Manuel I
whose legitimate descendants survived at that time, Ranuccio was according to the feudal custom the first heir to the throne of Portugal. However his father was an ally and even a subject of the Spanish king, another contender, so Ranuccio's rights were not very forcibly claimed. Instead, Ranuccio's mother's younger sister Catherine, Duchess of Braganza
, claimed the throne, very ambitiously, but failed.
Under Ranuccio I's rule, the dukedom annexed
the territories of Colorno
, Sala Baganza
, and Montechiarugolo
. He guided a cultural renewal in the city of Parma, supporting the arts and constructing the 4,500 seat Farnese Theater
. Numerous improvements and monuments in Parma were constructed under Ranuccio I at his behest, including a revitalization of the University of Parma
and the final expansion of the city walls
. Construction of the Palazzo della Pilotta
, the court palace of the Farnese family, was completed in 1620.
Ranuccio I is also remembered for his cruelty, one infamous example being the public execution of over 100 Parma residents suspected of conspiring against him.
He was succeeded by his son Odoardo
, initially under the regency of Ranuccio's brother, Odoardo Farnese.
. The couple had nine children:
Duchy of Castro
The Duchy of Castro was a fiefdom in central Italy formed in 1537 from a small strip of land on what is now Lazio's border with Tuscany, centred on Castro, Lazio, a fortified city on a tufa cliff overlooking the river Fiora which was its capital and ducal residence...
from 1592. A firm believer in absolute monarchy, Ranuccio, in 1594, centralised the administration of Parma and Piacenza, thus rescinding the nobles' hitherto vast prerogative. He is best remembered for the "Great Justice" of 1612, which saw the executions of many Piacentine nobles suspected of plotting against him. Because one of the conspirators, Gianfrancesco Sanvitale, falsely implicated several Italian monarchs, namely Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua and Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena, in the plot, Vincenzo and Cesares' names appeared on the list of conspirators during formal court proceedings; as a result, Ranuccio's reputation among the monarchs of Italy was irreparably damaged because it was evident that he gave credence to Gianfrancesco's obviously false confession. When, consequently, in the early 1620s, Ranuccio was scouting for a bride for his younger legitimate son and heir, Odoardo, none of the Italian ruling families were forthcoming with princesses. He did, however, manage to engineer a match with Margherita de' Medici
Margherita de' Medici
Margherita de' Medici was Duchess of Parma and Piacenza by her marriage to Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma...
, daughter of Cosimo II of Tuscany
Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
Cosimo II de' Medici was Grand Duke of Tuscany from 1609 until 1621. He was the elder son of the then incumbent Grand Duke and Christina of Lorraine. He married Maria Magdalena of Austria, and had eight children....
.
The husband of Margherita Aldobrandini
Margherita Aldobrandini
Margherita Aldobrandini was a Duchess consort of Parma. She was the regent of Parma 1626-1628.-Life:...
, niece of Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...
, Ranuccio, the son of a Portuguese infanta
Infanta Maria of Guimarães
Maria of Portugal was a Portuguese infanta daughter of Infante Duarte, Duke of Guimarães , and Isabel of Braganza. She married Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza on November 11, 1565. She was a princess of Parma by marriage.-Issue:-Ancestry:-See also:...
, was considered as a potential monarch of Portugal when his childless great-uncle King Henry I died. The throne, however, passed to Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, whose troops had promptly occupied the country after Henry I's death.
Early life
His great-uncle Henry I of Portugal's death triggered the struggle for the throne of PortugalStruggle for the throne of Portugal
The 1580 Portuguese succession crisis came about as a result of the 1578 death of young King Sebastian I of Portugal in the Battle of Ksar El Kebir...
when Ranuccio was 11 years old. As the son of the late elder daughter of Infante Edward, 4th Duke of Guimarães, the only son of King Manuel I
Manuel I of Portugal
Manuel I , the Fortunate , 14th king of Portugal and the Algarves was the son of Infante Ferdinand, Duke of Viseu, , by his wife, Infanta Beatrice of Portugal...
whose legitimate descendants survived at that time, Ranuccio was according to the feudal custom the first heir to the throne of Portugal. However his father was an ally and even a subject of the Spanish king, another contender, so Ranuccio's rights were not very forcibly claimed. Instead, Ranuccio's mother's younger sister Catherine, Duchess of Braganza
Catherine, Duchess of Braganza
Infanta Catherine of Guimarães, Duchess of Braganza by marriage was a Portuguese infanta claimant to the throne following the death of King Henry of Portugal in 1580....
, claimed the throne, very ambitiously, but failed.
Under Ranuccio I's rule, the dukedom annexed
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
the territories of Colorno
Colorno
Colorno is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 90 km northwest of Bologna and about 15 km north of Parma...
, Sala Baganza
Sala Baganza
Sala Baganza is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 90 km northwest of Bologna and about 12 km southwest of Parma....
, and Montechiarugolo
Montechiarugolo
Montechiarugolo is a comune in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 80 km northwest of Bologna and about 13 km southeast of Parma....
. He guided a cultural renewal in the city of Parma, supporting the arts and constructing the 4,500 seat Farnese Theater
Teatro Farnese
Teatro Farnese is a Baroque-style theatre in Parma, Italy. It was built in 1618 by Giovanni Battista Aleotti. The theatre was almost destroyed by an Allied air raid during World War II...
. Numerous improvements and monuments in Parma were constructed under Ranuccio I at his behest, including a revitalization of the University of Parma
University of Parma
The University of Parma is one of the oldest universities in the world, founded in the 11th century. It is organised in twelve faculties. The University of Parma has currently about 30,000 students.-History:...
and the final expansion of the city walls
Defensive wall
A defensive wall is a fortification used to protect a city or settlement from potential aggressors. In ancient to modern times, they were used to enclose settlements...
. Construction of the Palazzo della Pilotta
Palazzo della Pilotta
The Palazzo della Pilotta is a complex of edifices in the historical centre of Parma, in northern Italy. Its name derives from the game of pelota.-History:...
, the court palace of the Farnese family, was completed in 1620.
Ranuccio I is also remembered for his cruelty, one infamous example being the public execution of over 100 Parma residents suspected of conspiring against him.
He was succeeded by his son Odoardo
Odoardo Farnese
Odoardo Farnese was Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1622 to 1646.-Biography:Odoardo was the sole legitimate son of Ranuccio I Farnese and Margherita Aldobrandini...
, initially under the regency of Ranuccio's brother, Odoardo Farnese.
Issue
He married Donna Margarita Aldobrandini daughter of Don Giovanni Francesco Aldobrandini, Prince of Carpineto and his wife the heiress Donna Olimpia Aldobrandini, Princess Campinelli on 7 May 1600 in Rome, St. SixtusSan Sisto Vecchio
San Sisto Vecchio is a church in Rome, devoted to St. Pope Sixtus II. It was built in the 4th century, and is recorded as the Titulus Crescentianae, thus relating the church to some Crescentia, possibly a Roman woman who founded the church. According to tradition, the church was established by Pope...
. The couple had nine children:
- Alessandro Francesco Maria Farnese (8 August 1602) died at birth
- Maria Farnese (5 September 1603-?) died in infancy
- Alessandro Farnese (5 September 1610-July 1630) died unmarried
- Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma (28 April 1612 – 11 September 1646) married Margherita de' MediciMargherita de' MediciMargherita de' Medici was Duchess of Parma and Piacenza by her marriage to Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma...
and had issue - Onorato Farnese (7 July 1613-28 February 1614) died in infancy
- Maria Caterina FarneseMaria Caterina FarneseMaria Caterina Farnese was a member of the Ducal House of Farnese. She was the Duchess of Modena as the first wife of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena...
(18 February 1615 – 25 July 1646) married Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and had issue - Maria Farnese (29 Apr 1618) died at birth;
- Vittoria FarneseVittoria Farnese d'EsteVittoria Farnese was an Italian noblewoman. She was the daughter of Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma and Margherita Aldobrandini, niece of pope Clement VIII. On 12 February 1648 she married Francesco I d'Este, widower of her sister Maria Farnese...
(29 April 1618-10 Aug 1649) married Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and had issue - Francesco Maria FarneseFrancesco Maria FarneseFrancesco Maria Farnese was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal.He was born in Parma, the son Ranuccio I Farnese, duke of Parma, and Margherita Aldobrandini, niece of Pope Clement VIII. He was appointed as cardinal by Pope Innocent X in 1644, but he never came to Rome to received the cardinal hat...
(19 August 1620-13 July 1647) Cardinal