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Duchy of Parma and Piacenza

Ducato di Parma e Piacenza (Italian)
Ducatus Parmae et Placentiae (Latin)

1545–1802 (1808)
1814–1859

Top: 1545–1731
Bottom: 1851–1859

Coat of Arms under the Farnese

Coat of Arms under the Bourbon-Parma

Motto: Dirige me Domine!
"Lead me, oh Lord!"

The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza (green)

Northern Italy in 1815.

Status

Duchy

Capital

Parma
Piacenza

Common languages

Emilian
Italian
Latin

Religion

Roman Catholicism

Government

Absolute monarchy (Duchy)

Duke

• 1545–1547

Pier Luigi Farnese (first)

• 1854–1859

Robert I (last)

History

• Creation and granting of the title of duke to Pier Luigi Farnese by Pope Paul III

16 September 1545

• Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle

24 April 1748

• French administration

1 November 1802

• Formal annexation by France

1808

• Restored

11 April 1814

• Italian unification

3 December 1859

Population

• Estimate

501,000 in the 19th century

Currency

Parman lira

Preceded by

Succeeded by

	Papal States
	Taro (department)
	Duchy of Guastalla
	Kingdom of Etruria

Taro (department)
Kingdom of Etruria
United Provinces of Central Italy

The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza was an Italian state. It was created in 1545 in northern Italy. Today, this area is part of the Emilia-Romagna region.

The duchy was first ruled by the Farnese family. Pope Paul III made it a hereditary duchy for his son, Pier Luigi Farnese. The Farnese family ruled until 1731. Then, the last duke, Antonio Farnese, died without children.

After a short period of Habsburg rule, the duchy passed to the House of Bourbon-Parma. Later, Napoleon's French army took over the duchy. It became part of France.

In 1814, after Napoleon's defeat, the duchy became independent again. Napoleon's wife, Marie Louise, ruled as its duchess. In 1847, the Bourbon family returned to power. Finally, in 1859, the duchy joined the new Italian state.

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History of the Duchy of Parma

The city of Parma in the 1500s, when the duchy began.

The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545. It was formed from parts of the Duchy of Milan. These lands, south of the Po River, were taken by the Papal States in 1512.

The city of Parma was at the center of these lands. Pope Paul III gave these territories as a fief (a land given in exchange for loyalty) to his son, Pier Luigi Farnese.

In 1556, the second Duke, Ottavio Farnese, also received the city of Piacenza. From then on, the state was known as the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza. The Farnese family ruled until 1731. This was when their male family line ended.

Growing the Duchy

Ottavio Farnese worked hard to make the duchy successful. He wanted to make the people happy. He also wanted to please the local nobles. He helped the economy grow and improved trade. He also expanded the duchy's land. By 1573, Parma's population grew to 26,000 people.

Alexander Farnese became the next duke. He was also a skilled general for the Spanish army. He had to let his son, Ranuccio I Farnese, rule as regent. This was because the Spanish King needed Alexander for his military skills.

Alexander died in 1592. Before his death, he ordered the building of the Citadel fortress. This project gave jobs to 2,500 poor people. Ranuccio I loved arts and music. He made the ducal court a leading place for music in Italy.

During his rule, Parma gained famous buildings. These included the Palazzo della Pilotta and the Teatro Farnese. New laws were passed, making Parma a modern and cultural city.

In 1628, Ranuccio I died. His sixteen-year-old son, Odoardo, became duke. He married Margherita de' Medici from Florence.

These were hard times for the duchy. A terrible plague in 1630 reduced the population. Odoardo also spent a lot on his army. He made his people pay high taxes and borrowed money. His military campaigns were not successful. Piacenza was taken by Spanish troops. Odoardo had to sign a peace treaty with Spain.

Odoardo died in 1646 at age 34. His son, Ranuccio II, became duke. His mother and uncle ruled for him until he turned eighteen. In 1691, the Imperial army invaded Parma. They took many things from the duchy.

Ranuccio II tried to help his people. But the court spent a lot of money. To pay for it, the duke taxed almost everything. He bought many valuable paintings and books. He moved many family art collections to Parma. In 1688, a new Ducal Theater opened. Ranuccio II had a son, Odoardo, who was supposed to be the next duke. But Odoardo died before his father.

Odoardo had two children with Countess Palatine Dorothea Sophie of Neuburg. One was a son who died young. The other was a daughter, Elisabeth. When Ranuccio II died in 1694, his younger son, Francesco, became duke at age sixteen. He married his brother's widow, Dorothea.

Duke Francesco Farnese's Rule

Parma in the early 1700s.

Francesco Farnese helped the Farnese family regain its importance in politics. He inherited a very bad financial situation. To fix it, he cut many unnecessary court expenses. He fired many servants, musicians, and entertainers. He also stopped court parties and banquets.

He built a water system to protect Piacenza from the Po River. He also supported the growth of the University of Parma. He encouraged the study of law, history, languages, and geography. Artists, writers, and musicians were protected by the court. In 1712, work began to renovate the Ducal Palace of Colorno.

In 1714, the duchy had a big diplomatic success. Francesco's niece, Elisabeth, married Philip V of Spain. This marriage was very important for the future of the duchy.

End of Farnese Rule and Bourbon-Parma

Since there were no male heirs, Elisabeth Farnese was named the Farnese family's heir. She married Philip V of Spain in 1714. When Duke Antonio died without children in 1731, Philip V claimed the duchies. He said his wife had rights to them. So, the duchy went to their son, Infante Carlos of Spain. He became Duke Charles I of Parma and Piacenza.

Duke Charles I ruled for four years. After the War of the Polish Succession, he gave the duchies to the House of Habsburg. In return, he received the Kingdoms of Naples and Sicily.

The Habsburgs ruled until 1748. Then, the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle gave the duchy back to the Bourbons. This time, it went to Infante Philip of Spain. He was Charles I's younger brother. Duke Philip started the House of Bourbon-Parma. He ruled over an expanded duchy. It was now called the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla. This was because the rulers of nearby Guastalla had died out in 1746.

In 1796, French troops led by Napoleon occupied the duchy. The political situation became very unclear. Ferdinand remained duke under French control. In 1801, an agreement between the Bourbons and Napoleon gave the duchy to France. In return, the Bourbons received Tuscany. Duke Ferdinand stayed in Parma until he died in 1802.

Napoleon's Era (1796-1814)

Napoleon Bonaparte was unsure what to do with the duchy. He wanted the Bourbons to be his allies in European wars. French laws and government were slowly introduced. But the duchy was officially made part of the French Empire only in 1808. It became a French region called the département of Taro.

Last Years of the Duchy (1814 to 1860)

In 1814, the duchies were given to Napoleon's wife, Marie-Louise. She ruled them for the rest of her life. After she died in 1847, the Duchy was returned to the Bourbon-Parma family. They had been ruling the small Duchy of Lucca. Guastalla was given to Modena.

The Bourbons ruled until 1859. They were forced out by a revolution. This happened after France and Sardinia won a war against Austria.

In December 1859, the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza joined with the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Duchy of Modena. They formed the United Provinces of Central Italy. In March 1860, after a public vote, this new state joined the Kingdom of Sardinia. In 1861, the Kingdom of Sardinia changed its name to the Kingdom of Italy.