Ranuccio I Farnese (28 March 1569 – 5 March 1622) reigned as
Duke of Parma
The Duke of Parma and Piacenza () was the ruler of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, a historical state of Northern Italy, which existed between 1545 and 1802, and again from 1814 to 1859.
The Duke of Parma was also Duke of Piacenza, except ...
,
Piacenza
Piacenza (; egl, label= Piacentino, Piaṡëinsa ; ) is a city and in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, and the capital of the eponymous province. As of 2022, Piacenza is the ninth largest city in the region by population, with over ...
and
Castro
Castro is a Romance language word that originally derived from Latin ''castrum'', a pre-Roman military camp or fortification (cf: Greek: ''kastron''; Proto-Celtic:''*Kassrik;'' br, kaer, *kastro). The English-language equivalent is '' chester''.
...
from 1592. A firm believer in
absolute monarchy
Absolute monarchy (or Absolutism as a doctrine) is a form of monarchy in which the monarch rules in their own right or power. In an absolute monarchy, the king or queen is by no means limited and has absolute power, though a limited constitut ...
, 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 a large number of Piacentine nobles suspected of
plotting against him.
Claudia Colla his mistress and her mother were accused of using witchcraft to stop him from having offsprings, and both were sentenced to death by burning.
Because one of the conspirators, Gianfrancesco Sanvitale, falsely implicated several Italian princes, namely
Vincenzo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua
Vincenzo Ι Gonzaga (21 September 1562 – 9 February 1612) was ruler of the Duchy of Mantua and the Duchy of Montferrat from 1587 to 1612.
Biography
Vincenzo was the only son of Guglielmo Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua, and Archduchess Eleanor of Au ...
and
Cesare d'Este, Duke of Modena
Cesare d'Este (8 October 1562 – 11 December 1628) was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1597 until his death.
Biography
Born in Ferrara, Cesare was the son of Alfonso d'Este, Marquis of Montecchio, fourth son of Alfonso I d'Este and the ...
, in the plot, Vincenzo and Cesare's names appeared on the list of conspirators during formal court proceedings; as a result, Ranuccio's reputation among the rulers of Italy was irreparably damaged because it was evident that he gave credence to Gianfrancesco's obviously
false confession
A false confession is an admission of guilt for a crime which the individual did not commit. Although such confessions seem counterintuitive, they can be made voluntarily, perhaps to protect a third party, or induced through coercive interrogat ...
. When, consequently, in the early 1620s, Ranuccio was looking for a bride for his younger legitimate son and heir,
Odoardo Odoardo is a given name. Notable people with the name include:
*Odoardo Barri (1844–1920), the pseudonym of Edward Slater
*Odoardo Beccari (1843–1920), Italian naturalist, discovered the titan arum in Sumatra in 1878
*Odoardo Borrani (1833–19 ...
, none of the Italian ruling families were forthcoming with princesses.
He married
Margherita Aldobrandini
Margherita Aldobrandini (29 March 1588 — 9 August 1646), was an Italian noblewoman member of the Aldobrandini family and by marriage Duchess consort of Parma and Piacenza during 1600–1622. She was also Regent of both Duchies during 1626–1628 ...
, niece of
Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII ( la, Clemens VIII; it, Clemente VIII; 24 February 1536 – 3 March 1605), born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 February 1592 to his death in March 1605.
Born ...
. Ranuccio, the son of a
Portuguese infanta, was considered as a potential king of Portugal when his childless great-uncle
King Henry died. The throne, however, passed to
Philip II of Spain
Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from ...
, whose troops had promptly occupied the country after
King Henry's death.
His great-uncle
King Henry's death triggered the
struggle for the throne of Portugal
Struggle may refer to:
Film and TV
* ''Struggle'' (2003 film), an Austrian film
* Struggle (2013 film)
* ''Struggle'' (TV series), 2007 Chinese TV series
Music
* ''Struggle'' (Nonpoint album), 1999 release
* Struggle (Woody Guthrie album), 199 ...
when Ranuccio was 11 years old. As the son of the late eldest daughter of
Duarte, Duke of Guimarães, the only son of
King Manuel I
Manuel I (; 31 May 146913 December 1521), known as the Fortunate ( pt, O Venturoso), was King of Portugal from 1495 to 1521. A member of the House of Aviz, Manuel was Duke of Beja and Viseu prior to succeeding his cousin, John II of Portugal, as ...
whose legitimate descendants survived at that time, Ranuccio was according to the feudal custom, first in line to the throne of Portugal. However his father
Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma
Alexander Farnese ( it, Alessandro Farnese, es, Alejandro Farnesio; 27 August 1545 – 3 December 1592) was an Italian noble and condottiero and later a general of the Spanish army, who was Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro from 1586 to 159 ...
was an ally of the Spanish king, another contender, so Ranuccio's rights were not claimed at the time. Instead, Ranuccio's maternal aunt
Catarina, Duchess of Braganza
Infanta Catherine of Portugal, Duchess of Braganza by marriage ( pt, Catarina; , 18 January 1540 – 15 November 1614) was a Portuguese ''infanta'' (princess) claimant to the throne following the death of King Henry of Portugal in 1580.
L ...
, claimed the throne in an ambitious manner, but failed to become queen.
Under Ranuccio I's rule, the dukedom
annexed the territories of
Colorno
Colorno (Parmigiano dialect, Parmigiano: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Parma in the Italy, Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about northwest of Bologna and about north of Parma.
Colorno borders the following municipal ...
,
Sala Baganza
Sala Baganza ( Parmigiano: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about northwest of Bologna and about southwest of Parma.
Sala Baganza borders the following municipalities: Cales ...
, and
Montechiarugolo
Montechiarugolo (Parmigiano: ) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Parma in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about northwest of Bologna and about southeast of Parma.
Montechiarugolo borders the following municipalities: ...
. 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
The University of Parma ( it, Università degli Studi di Parma, UNIPR) is a public university in Parma, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. It is organised in nine departments. As of 2016 the University of Parma has about 26,000 students.
History
During the ...
and the final expansion of the
city walls. Construction of the
Palazzo della Pilotta
The Palazzo della Pilotta is a complex of edifices located between Piazzale della Pace and the Lungoparma in the historical centre of Parma, region of Emilia Romagna, Italy. Its name derives from the game of pelota played at one time by Spanish ...
, the court palace of the Farnese family, was completed in 1620.
Ranuccio was succeeded by his son
Odoardo Odoardo is a given name. Notable people with the name include:
*Odoardo Barri (1844–1920), the pseudonym of Edward Slater
*Odoardo Beccari (1843–1920), Italian naturalist, discovered the titan arum in Sumatra in 1878
*Odoardo Borrani (1833–19 ...
, initially under the regency of Ranuccio's brother,
Odoardo Farnese
Odoardo Farnese (28 April 1612 – 11 September 1646), also known as Odoardo I Farnese to distinguish him from his grandson Odoardo II Farnese, was Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro from 1622 to 1646.
Biography
Odoardo was the eldest legit ...
.
Issue
He married ''Donna'' Margarita Aldobrandini—the daughter of ''Don'' Giovanni Francesco Aldobrandini, Prince of Carpineto and his wife the heiress ''Donna''
Olimpia Aldobrandini
Olimpia Aldobrandini (20 April 1623 – 18 December 1681) was a member of the Aldobrandini family of Rome, and the sole heiress to the family fortune.
Biography
Donna Olimpia Aldobrandini was born 20 April 1623, the daughter of Giorgio Aldob ...
, Princess Campinelli—on 7 May 1600 in
Rome, St. Sixtus. The couple had nine children:
*Alessandro Francesco Maria Farnese (8 August 1602), died at birth.
*Maria Farnese (5 September 1603), died at birth.
*Alessandro Farnese (5 September 1610 – 24 July 1630), Hereditary Prince of Parma and Piacenza, deaf and mentally disabled from birth, excluded from the succession.
*
Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma
Odoardo Farnese (28 April 1612 – 11 September 1646), also known as Odoardo I Farnese to distinguish him from his grandson Odoardo II Farnese, was Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro from 1622 to 1646.
Biography
Odoardo was the eldest legit ...
(28 April 1612 – 11 September 1646), married
Margherita de' Medici
Margherita de' Medici (31 May 1612 – 6 February 1679) was Duchess of Parma and Piacenza by her marriage to Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma. Margherita was regent of Piacenza in 1635, and regent of the entire duchy from 1646 until 1648 during ...
and had issue.
*Orazio Farnese (7 July 1613 – 28 February 1614), died in infancy.
*
Maria Farnese
Maria may refer to:
People
* Mary, mother of Jesus
* Maria (given name), a popular given name in many languages
Place names Extraterrestrial
* 170 Maria, a Main belt S-type asteroid discovered in 1877
*Lunar maria (plural of ''mare''), large, d ...
(18 February 1615 – 25 July 1646), married
Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena
Francesco I d'Este (6 September 1610 – 14 October 1658) was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1629 until his death. The eldest son of Alfonso III d'Este, he became reigning duke after his father's abdication.
Biography
The pestilence of 1630–16 ...
and had issue.
*Maria Farnese (29 April 1618), died at birth.
*
Vittoria Farnese
Vittoria Farnese (not to be confused with Vittoria Farnese, Duchess of Urbino) (29 April 1618 – 10 August 1649) was an Italian noblewoman. She was born in Parma, the daughter of Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma and Margherita Aldobrandini, niece ...
(29 April 1618 – 10 Aug 1649), married
Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena
Francesco I d'Este (6 September 1610 – 14 October 1658) was Duke of Modena and Reggio from 1629 until his death. The eldest son of Alfonso III d'Este, he became reigning duke after his father's abdication.
Biography
The pestilence of 1630–16 ...
and had issue.
*
Francesco Maria Farnese
Francesco Maria Farnese (15 August 1619 – 12 July 1647) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal.
He was born in Parma, the son of Ranuccio I Farnese, duke of Parma, and Margherita Aldobrandini, niece of Pope Clement VIII. He was appointed as ca ...
(19 August 1620 – 13 July 1647), Cardinal.
Before his marriage Ranuccio I had a relation with Briseide Ceretoli, who was at that time unmarried; she was the daughter of Ottavio Ceretoli, a captain who had died in Flanders in the following of Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma. The couple had two natural children:
* (illeg.)
Ottavio Farnese (1598–1643) and Isabella.
References
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farnese, Ranuccio I
1569 births
Regents of Parma
17th-century Italian nobility
1622 deaths
Ranuccio I
Ranuccio 1
Burials at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata