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. It was created by Pope Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) for his son Pier Luigi Farnese. It existed between 1545 and 1802, and again from 1814 to 1859.

The Duke of Parma was also Duke of Piacenza, except for the first years of the rule of Ottavio Farnese (1549–1556), and the time of the Napoleonic Wars, when the two were established as separate positions held by two different individuals. The Duke of Parma also usually held the title of Duke of Guastalla from 1746 (when Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor occupied the Duchy of Guastalla after the last Gonzaga duke died childless) until 1847 (when the territory was ceded to Modena), except for the Napoleonic era, when Napoleon's sister Pauline was briefly Duchess of Guastalla and of Varella. The last duke, Robert I, was driven from power in a revolution following France and Sardinia's victory over Austria. Its territory was merged into Sardinia in 1860.

The position is currently claimed by a member of the House of Bourbon-Parma. A recent pretender to the extinct Parmese throne, the late Carlos-Hugo, was also a pretender to the Spanish throne in the 1970s (see Carlism).

Reigning Dukes of Parma and Piacenza (1545–1802)

House of Farnese 1545–1731 Duke Portrait Birth Marriages Death Pier Luigi16 September 1545 – 10 September 1547 19 November 1503Romeson of Cardinal Alexander Farnese (future Pope Paul III) and probably Silvia RuffiniGirolama Orsini1519Rome4 children10 September 1547Piacenzaaged 43 Ottavio9 November 1549 – 18 September 1586 9 October 1524Valentanoson of Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma and Girolama OrsiniMargaret of Parma4 November 1538Rome2 children18 September 1586Parmaaged 61 Alessandro18 September 1586 – 3 December 1592 27 August 1545Romeson of Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma and Margaret of ParmaMaria of Portugal11 November 1565Brussels3 children3 December 1592Saint Waast, Netherlandsaged 47 Ranuccio I3 December 1592 – 5 March 1622 28 March 1569Parmason of Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma and Maria of PortugalMargherita Aldobrandini7 May 1600Rome9 children5 March 1622Parmaaged 52 Odoardo5 March 1622 – 11 September 1646 28 April 1612Parmason of Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma and Margherita AldobrandiniMargherita de Medici11 October 1628Florence4 children11 September 1646Piacenzaaged 34 Ranuccio II11 September 1646 – 11 December 1694 17 September 1630Casalmaggioreson of Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma and Margherita de Medici(1) Marguerite of Savoy29 April 1660Turin2 children(2) Isabella of Modena18 February 1664Modena3 children(3) Maria of Modena1 October 1668Modena9 children11 December 1694Parmaaged 64 Francesco11 December 1694 – 26 February 1727 19 May 1678Parmason of Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma and Maria of ModenaDorothea Sophie of Neuburg7 December 1696Parmano issue26 February 1727Piacenzaaged 48 Antonio26 February 1727 – 20 January 1731 29 November 1679Parmason of Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma and Maria of ModenaEnrichetta d'Este5 February 1728Parmano issue20 January 1731Parmaaged 51

House of Bourbon 1731–1735

Duke Portrait Birth Marriages Death Charles I26 February 1731 – 3 October 1735 20 January 1716Madridson of Philip V of Spain and Elizabeth of ParmaMaria Amalia of Saxony19 June 173813 children14 December 1788Madridaged 72

House of Habsburg 1735–1748 Duke Portrait Birth Marriages Death Emperor Charles VI3 October 1735 – 20 October 1740 1 October 1685Vienna son of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor and Eleonore-Magdalena of NeuburgElisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel1 August 1708Barcelona4 children20 October 1740Viennaaged 55 Maria Theresa20 October 1740 – 18 October 1748 13 May 1717Viennadaughter of Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor and Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-WolfenbüttelFrancis I, Holy Roman Emperor12 February 173616 children29 November 1780Viennaaged 63

House of Bourbon-Parma 1748–1802 Duke Portrait Birth Marriages Death Philip18 October 1748 – 18 July 1765 15 March 1720Madrid son of Philip V of Spain and Elisabeth FarnesePrincess Louise Élisabeth of France25 October 17393 children18 July 1765Alessandriaaged 45 Ferdinand18 July 1765 – 9 October 1802 20 January 1751Parmason of Philip, Duke of Parma and Princess Louise Élisabeth of FranceArchduchess Maria Amalia of Austria19 July 17697 children9 October 1802Fontevivoaged 51

French Dukes of Parma (1808–1814) These did not actually rule over any territory of Parma and Piacenza, but were of the honorary, hereditary type duché grand-fief, granted by Napoleon I in 1808. The title of Duc de Parme became extinct in 1824 upon the death of the 1st Duke, the title of Duc de Plaisance became extinct in 1926 upon the death of the 6th Duke.

Duke Portrait Birth Marriages Death Jean-Jacques-Régis de Cambacérès1808–1814 18 October 1753Montpellier son of Jean-Antoine de Cambacérès and Marie-Rose Vassalnever married8 March 1824Parisaged 70 Charles-François Lebrun, duc de Plaisance1808–1814 19 March 1739 Saint-Sauveur-Lendelin fourth son of Paul Lebrun and Louise Le CronierAnne Delagoutte 1773 3 sons and 2 daughters16 June 1824Sainte-Mesmeaged 85

Reigning Dukes of Parma (1814–1859)

House of Habsburg-Lorraine, 1814–1847 Duke Portrait Birth Marriages Death Marie Louise11 April 1814 – 17 December 1847 12 December 1791Vienna daughter of Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor and Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily(1) Napoleon I1 April 1810Louvre1 son(2) Adam Albert, Count von Neipperg7 September 1821Parma3 children(3) Charles René, Count of BombellesParma17 February 1834no issue17 December 1847 Parmaaged 56 Napoléon François Joseph Charles Bonaparte, the son of Marie Louise and Napoleon I, was at one time in the line of succession, but he was never Duke of Parma. He predeceased his mother in 1832.

House of Bourbon-Parma, 1847–1859 Duke Portrait Birth Marriages Death Charles II17 December 1847 – 17 May 1849 22 December 1799Madridson of Louis of Etruria and Maria Louisa, Duchess of LuccaMaria Teresa of Savoy5 September 18202 children16 April 1883Niceaged 83 Charles III17 May 1849 – 27 March 1854 14 January 1823Pianoreson of Charles II, Duke of Parma and Maria Teresa of SavoyLouise Marie Thérèse of France10 November 18454 children27 March 1854Parmaaged 31 Robert I27 March 1854 – 9 June 1859 9 July 1848Florenceson of Charles III, Duke of Parma and Louise Marie Thérèse of France (1) Maria Pia of the Two Sicilies5 April 186912 children(2) Maria Antonia of Portugal15 October 188412 children 16 November 1907Viareggioaged 59

Titular Dukes of Parma (1859–present) Duke Portrait Birth Marriages DeathRobert I1859–1907 9 July 1848Florenceson of Charles III, Duke of Parma and Louise Marie Thérèse of ArtoisMaria Pia of the Two Sicilies5 April 186912 childrenMaria Antonia of Portugal15 October 188412 children16 November 1907Viareggioaged 59Henry1907–1939' 13 June 1873Warteggson of Robert I, Duke of Parma and Maria Pia of the Two Sicilies never married 16 November 1939Pianoreaged 66Joseph1939–1950 30 June 1875Biarritzson of Robert I, Duke of Parma and Maria Pia of the Two Sicilies never married 7 January 1950Pianoreaged 75Elias1950–1959 23 July 1880Biarritzson of Robert I, Duke of Parma and Maria Pia of the Two SiciliesMaria Anna of Austria25 May 1903Vienna8 children 27 June 1959Friedbergaged 79Robert II1959–1974 7 August 1909Weilburgson of Elias, Duke of Parma and Maria Anna of Austrianever married 25 November 1974Viennaaged 65Xavier1974–1977 25 May 1889Viareggioson of Robert I, Duke of Parma and Maria Antonia of PortugalMadeleine de Bourbon-Busset12 November 1927Lignières6 children 7 May 1977Zizersaged 87Carlos Hugo1977–2010 8 April 1930Parisson of Xavier, Duke of Parma and Madeleine de Bourbon-BussetPrincess Irene of the Netherlands29 April 1964Rome4 children 18 August 2010Barcelonaaged 80Carlossince 2010 27 January 1970Nijmegenson of Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma and Princess Irene of the NetherlandsAnnemarie Gualthérie van Weezel20 November 2010Brussels3 children incumbent

See also Timeline of Parma

References