Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma
Encyclopedia
Ranuccio II Farnese was the sixth Duke of Parma
and Piacenza
from 1646 until his death nearly 50 years later.
, the fifth sovereign duke of Parma, and his Tuscan wife, Margherita de' Medici
. After his father's sudden death , Ranuccio succeeded as duke. As he was a minor and had not yet reached his majority, he ruled the first two years of his reign under the regency of his uncle, Francesco Maria Farnese
and his mother.
Ranuccio belonged to the House of Farnese, founded by Pope Paul III
, formerly Alessandro Farnese. The farnese Dukes had been ruling Parma and Piacenza since Pope Paul's illegitimate son Pier Luigi Farnese
was given it as a possession. Pier Luigi was also Duke of Castro, a title he was bestowed upon by his father, after the latter created it from the lands recovered after the death of Ranuccio the Elder, Pier Luigi's elder brother.
During Odoardo's reign the declining Duchy had been involved in the Wars of Castro
, over the above mentioned duchy of Castro, which was a Farnese fief in the Papal States
, north of Rome, which the powerful Pope Urban VIII
's family, the Barberini
, was eager to acquire. They found the excuse when Odoardo was unable to repay his creditors, from whom he had incurred debts. Urban responded to the creditors plea for help and had Castro occupied. However, the first war ended with Papal defeat
Ranuccio refused to repay the debts incurred by his father, despite the latter having a signed a peace treaty agreeing to do so. He also refused to recognise the new bishop of Castro, appointed by Urban's successor, Innocent X. In 1649, the new bishop, Cardinal Cristoforo Giarda, was murdered on his way to Castro. Innocent accused Ranuccio of the murder and in retaliation, forces loyal to the Pope besieged Castro, and then razed it to the ground. In August of that same year the Parmense troops had been crushed not far from Bologna
, and Ranuccio remained with no means to gain back his fief, despite his attempts to buy it back through money.
In 1672 he bought the principate of Bardi
and Compiano
from Gianandrea Doria Landi, giving the Duchy its final shape.
In the last days of his reign, the Duchy suffered heavily from the presence of Imperial
troops, who were fighting in the dispute
between Victor Amadeus II of Savoy and France.
On 29 April 1660, Ranuccio married firstly Marguerite Yolande of Savoy (b. 15 November 1635 - d. 29 April 1663), a daughter of Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy
and Christine Marie of France
. They had two children:
On 18 February 1664 Ranuccio married secondly Isabella d'Este of Modena
(b. 3 October 1635 - d. 17 August 1666), a daughter of Francesco I d'Este
and his cousin. They had three children:
On 1 October 1668 he married Maria d'Este of Modena, (b. 8 December 1644 - d. 20 August 1684), his second wife's sister. They had nine children:
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....
and Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
from 1646 until his death nearly 50 years later.
Birth and Succession
Ranuccio was the eldest son of Odoardo FarneseOdoardo 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...
, the fifth sovereign duke of Parma, and his Tuscan wife, Margherita de' Medici
Margherita de' Medici
Margherita de' Medici was Duchess of Parma and Piacenza by her marriage to Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma...
. After his father's sudden death , Ranuccio succeeded as duke. As he was a minor and had not yet reached his majority, he ruled the first two years of his reign under the regency of his uncle, Francesco Maria Farnese
Francesco Maria Farnese
Francesco 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...
and his mother.
Ranuccio belonged to the House of Farnese, founded by Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III
Pope Paul III , born Alessandro Farnese, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1534 to his death in 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era following the sack of Rome in 1527 and rife with uncertainties in the Catholic Church following the Protestant Reformation...
, formerly Alessandro Farnese. The farnese Dukes had been ruling Parma and Piacenza since Pope Paul's illegitimate son Pier Luigi Farnese
Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma
Pier Luigi Farnese was the first Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro, from 1545 to 1547.Born in Rome, Pier Luigi was the illegitimate son of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese...
was given it as a possession. Pier Luigi was also Duke of Castro, a title he was bestowed upon by his father, after the latter created it from the lands recovered after the death of Ranuccio the Elder, Pier Luigi's elder brother.
Conflicts with the Papacy
Wars of Castro
The Wars of Castro is a term referring to a series of events in the mid-17th century revolving around the ancient city of Castro , which eventually resulted in the city's destruction on 2 September 1649...
, over the above mentioned duchy of Castro, which was a Farnese fief in the Papal States
Papal States
The Papal State, State of the Church, or Pontifical States were among the major historical states of Italy from roughly the 6th century until the Italian peninsula was unified in 1861 by the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia .The Papal States comprised territories under...
, north of Rome, which the powerful Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII
Pope Urban VIII , born Maffeo Barberini, was pope from 1623 to 1644. He was the last pope to expand the papal territory by force of arms, and was a prominent patron of the arts and reformer of Church missions...
's family, the Barberini
Barberini
The Barberini are a family of the Italian nobility that rose to prominence in 17th century Rome. Their influence peaked with the election of Cardinal Maffeo Barberini to the papal throne in 1623, as Pope Urban VIII...
, was eager to acquire. They found the excuse when Odoardo was unable to repay his creditors, from whom he had incurred debts. Urban responded to the creditors plea for help and had Castro occupied. However, the first war ended with Papal defeat
Ranuccio refused to repay the debts incurred by his father, despite the latter having a signed a peace treaty agreeing to do so. He also refused to recognise the new bishop of Castro, appointed by Urban's successor, Innocent X. In 1649, the new bishop, Cardinal Cristoforo Giarda, was murdered on his way to Castro. Innocent accused Ranuccio of the murder and in retaliation, forces loyal to the Pope besieged Castro, and then razed it to the ground. In August of that same year the Parmense troops had been crushed not far from Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
, and Ranuccio remained with no means to gain back his fief, despite his attempts to buy it back through money.
In 1672 he bought the principate of Bardi
Bardi
Bardi can refer to:*Bardi, Emilia-Romagna, a city in the province of Parma, northern Italy*Bardi, Western Australia, a town in Australia*Bardi bush, an Australian plant, Acacia victoriae...
and Compiano
Compiano
Compiano is a medieval walled town in the Taro Valley , a 50 minute-drive to the Ligurian Sea and to Parma.The top of Compiano's hill is home to the medieval Castello di Compiano.-History:...
from Gianandrea Doria Landi, giving the Duchy its final shape.
In the last days of his reign, the Duchy suffered heavily from the presence of Imperial
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
troops, who were fighting in the dispute
War of the Grand Alliance
The Nine Years' War – often called the War of the Grand Alliance, the War of the Palatine Succession, or the War of the League of Augsburg – was a major war of the late 17th century fought between King Louis XIV of France, and a European-wide coalition, the Grand Alliance, led by the Anglo-Dutch...
between Victor Amadeus II of Savoy and France.
Family
Ranuccio II was married three times:On 29 April 1660, Ranuccio married firstly Marguerite Yolande of Savoy (b. 15 November 1635 - d. 29 April 1663), a daughter of Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy
Victor Amadeus I, Duke of Savoy
Victor Amadeus I was the Duke of Savoy from 1630 to 1637. He was also titular King of Cyprus and Jerusalem. He was also known as the Lion of Susa-Biography:...
and Christine Marie of France
Christine Marie of France
Christine of France was the sister of Louis XIII and the Duchess of Savoy by marriage. At the death of her husband Victor Amadeus I in 1637, she acted as regent of Savoy between 1637 and 1648....
. They had two children:
| Name of child | Lifespan | Marriages and Issue |
|---|---|---|
| unnamed daughter | 14 December 1661 - 14 December 1661 | None |
| unnamed son | 27 April 1663 - 28 April 1663 | None |
On 18 February 1664 Ranuccio married secondly Isabella d'Este of Modena
Isabella of Modena
Isabella d'Este was Duchess of Parma, and second wife of Duke Ranuccio II Farnese. She was the paternal grandmother of Elisabetta Farnese.-Princess of Modena:...
(b. 3 October 1635 - d. 17 August 1666), a daughter of Francesco I d'Este
Francesco I d'Este
Francesco I d'Este 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:...
and his cousin. They had three children:
| Name of child | Lifespan | Marriages and Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Margherita Maria Farnese Margherita Maria Farnese Margherita Maria Farnese 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... |
24 November 1664 - 17 June 1718 | Francesco II d'Este, Duke of Modena, no issue |
| Teresa Farnese | 10 October 1665 - 9 November 1702 | Never Married; Benedictine nun in Sant’ Alessandro Monastery of Parma |
| Odoardo Farnese, Hereditary Prince of Parma | 12 August 1666 - 6 September 1693 | Countess Palatine Dorothea Sophie of Neuburg, had issue |
On 1 October 1668 he married Maria d'Este of Modena, (b. 8 December 1644 - d. 20 August 1684), his second wife's sister. They had nine children:
| Name of child | Lifespan | Marriages and Issue |
|---|---|---|
| Isabella Francesca Maria Lucia | 14 December 1668 - 9 July 1718 | Never Married; Benedictine nun in Santa Maria di Campagna Monastery of Piacenza. |
| Vittoria Maria Francesca Farnese | 24 December 1669 - 15 September 1671 | |
| Unnamed son | 24 June 1671 - 28 June 1671 | |
| Vittoria Farnese | 19 November 1672 - 19 November 1672 | |
| Caterina Farnese | 19 November 1672 - 19 November 1672 | |
| Unnamed son | 26 December 1674 - 26 December 1674 | |
| Eleonora Farnese | 1 September 1675 - 3 November 1675 | |
| Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma Francesco Farnese reigned as the seventh and penultimate Farnese Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1694 until his death... |
19 May 1678 - 26 February 1727 | Countess Palatine Dorothea Sophie of Neuburg, no issue |
| Antonio, Duke of Parma | 29 November 1679 - 20 January 1731 | 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.... , no issue |