Margherita Maria Farnese
Encyclopedia
Margherita Maria Farnese (24 November 1664 – 17 June 1718) was an Italian noblewoman born into the House of Farnese. She was the Duchess of Modena and Reggio by marriage to her first cousin Francesco II d'Este, Duke of Modena. Her niece was Elisabeth Farnese, wife of Philip V of Spain
.
and his second wife Isabella d'Este. Her mother died in childbirth in 1666 after giving birth to Odoardo, Hereditary Prince of Parma (father of the famous Elisabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain).
Her father Ranuccio had previously been married to Margaret Yolande of Savoy
but the marriage produced no surviving issue; as such, Margherita Maria was the first of Ranuccio's children to survive infancy. Her younger half brothers Francesco Farnese
and Antonio Farnese
were successively the rulers of Parma. When the latter died, the House of Farnese became extinct.
Her father married her aunt Maria d'Este
with whom he had nine further children. She was married to her cousin Francesco II d'Este, Duke of Modena who had previously been part of a Franco-Modenese alliance was proposed with Francesco and a princess of Lorraine
named Béatrice Hiéronyme de Lorraine
but the marriage never materialised.
Francesco was the son of the late Alfonso IV d'Este, Duke of Modena and Laura Martinozzi
, niece of Cardinal Mazarin. He was also the sister of Mary of Modena
, wife of James II of England
She married Francesco 14 July 1692 in Parma
. The couple had no children, Francesco dying in 1694 after just two years of marriage of gout
and polyarthritis
. The widowed Duchess of Modena retired to ner native Parma
where she died in the summer of 1718 at the Ducal Palace of Colorno
, the summer residence of the Farnese. She was buried at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata
in Parma.
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...
.
Biography
Margherita Maria was the eldest child of Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of ParmaRanuccio 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 second wife Isabella d'Este. Her mother died in childbirth in 1666 after giving birth to Odoardo, Hereditary Prince of Parma (father of the famous Elisabeth Farnese, Queen of Spain).
Her father Ranuccio had previously been married to Margaret Yolande of Savoy
Princess Margaret Yolande of Savoy
Margaret Yolande of Savoy was Princess of Savoy from birth and later Duchess consort of Parma. A proposed bride for her first cousin Louis XIV of France, she later married Ranuccio Farnese, son of the late Odoardo Farnese and Margherita de' Medici...
but the marriage produced no surviving issue; as such, Margherita Maria was the first of Ranuccio's children to survive infancy. Her younger half brothers Francesco Farnese
Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma
Francesco Farnese reigned as the seventh and penultimate Farnese Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1694 until his death...
and Antonio Farnese
Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma
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...
were successively the rulers of Parma. When the latter died, the House of Farnese became extinct.
Her father married her aunt Maria d'Este
Maria d'Este
Maria d'Este was a Modenese princess and Duchess of Parma as the wife of Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma. She was a daughter of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and Maria Caterina Farnese.-Family:...
with whom he had nine further children. She was married to her cousin Francesco II d'Este, Duke of Modena who had previously been part of a Franco-Modenese alliance was proposed with Francesco and a princess of Lorraine
House of Lorraine
The House of Lorraine, the main and now only remaining line known as Habsburg-Lorraine, is one of the most important and was one of the longest-reigning royal houses in the history of Europe...
named Béatrice Hiéronyme de Lorraine
Béatrice Hiéronyme de Lorraine
Béatrice Hiéronyme de Lorraine was a member of the House of Lorraine and was the Abbess of Remiremont. She was a member of the household of Le Grand Dauphin and was the supposed wife of her cousin the Chevalier de Lorraine...
but the marriage never materialised.
Francesco was the son of the late Alfonso IV d'Este, Duke of Modena and Laura Martinozzi
Laura Martinozzi
Laura Martinozzi was a Duchess consort of Modena. On the death of her husband, she became the regent of the Duchy in the name of her son, Francesco.-Biography:...
, niece of Cardinal Mazarin. He was also the sister of Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena was Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of King James II and VII. A devout Catholic, Mary became, in 1673, the second wife of James, Duke of York, who later succeeded his older brother Charles II as King James II...
, wife of James II of England
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
She married Francesco 14 July 1692 in Parma
Parma
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....
. The couple had no children, Francesco dying in 1694 after just two years of marriage of gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
and polyarthritis
Polyarthritis
Polyarthritis is any type of arthritis which involves 5 or more joints simultaneously. It is usually associated with autoimmune conditions.Polyarthritis may be experienced at any age and is not gender specific.-Causes:...
. The widowed Duchess of Modena retired to ner native Parma
Parma
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....
where she died in the summer of 1718 at the Ducal Palace of Colorno
Ducal Palace of Colorno
The Ducal Palace, also known as Reggia di Colorno, is an edifice in the territory of Colorno , Emilia Romagna, Italy. It was built by Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma in the early 18th century on the remains of a former castle.-History:...
, the summer residence of the Farnese. She was buried at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata
Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata
The Shrine of Santa Maria della Steccata is a Greek-cross design Renaissance church in central Parma, Italy.-History:By 1392, the site held a small oratory to shelter a miraculous image of St. John the Baptist and was neighboring a religious confraternity that had an equally miraculous image of the...
in Parma.
Ancestry
Titles and styles
- 24 November 1664 – 14 July 1692 Her Highness Margherita Maria Farnese, Princess of Parma
- 14 July 1692 – 6 September 1694 Her Highness the Duchess of Modena
- 6 September 1694 – 17 June 1718 Her Highness the Dowager Duchess of Modena