Robert I, Duke of Parma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Robert I |
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Duke Robert I in 1900
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| Duke of Parma and Piacenza | |
| Reign | 27 March 1854 – 9 June 1859 |
| Predecessor | Charles III |
| Regent | Louise Marie Thérèse d'Artois |
| Head of the House of Bourbon-Parma | |
| Tenure | 9 June 1859 – 16 November 1907 |
| Successor | Henry |
| Born | 9 July 1848 Florence, Tuscany |
| Died | 16 November 1907 (aged 59) Viareggio, Italy |
| Spouse |
Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies
(m. 1869; died 1882) |
| Issue more... |
Marie Louise, Princess of Bulgaria Henry, Duke of Parma Joseph, Duke of Parma Elias, Duke of Parma Prince Sixtus Xavier, Duke of Parma Zita, Empress of Austria Felix, Prince consort of Luxembourg Prince René Prince Gaetano |
| House | Bourbon-Parma |
| Father | Charles III, Duke of Parma |
| Mother | Louise Marie Thérèse d'Artois |
Robert I (born Roberto Carlo Luigi Maria; 9 July 1848 – 16 November 1907) was the last ruler of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza. He was the Duke from 1854 until 1859. In 1859, his duchy became part of Sardinia-Piedmont. This happened during the Risorgimento, a time when Italy was becoming a united country. Robert was a member of the House of Bourbon-Parma, a royal family with roots in Spain.
Contents
Becoming Duke
Robert was born in Florence on July 9, 1848. He was the older son of Charles III, Duke of Parma and Louise Marie Thérèse d'Artois. His mother was the granddaughter of King Charles X of France.
Robert became Duke when he was only six years old in 1854. This happened after his father was assassinated. His mother, Louise Marie Thérèse d'Artois, became the regent. This meant she ruled the duchy until Robert was old enough.
Losing His Throne
When Robert was eleven, he lost his position as Duke. Troops from Piedmont took over other Italian states. These states eventually formed the Kingdom of Italy.
Even though he lost his throne, Robert and his family were still very wealthy. They owned large castles in different countries. They traveled in a special private train with many cars. Their homes included castles near Vienna, in Italy, and the famous Château de Chambord in France.
Family Life and Children
Robert I was married two times and had many children.
First Marriage
On April 5, 1869, Robert married Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. She was the daughter of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies. Maria Pia was also from a royal family, the Bourbons, just like Robert.
They had 12 children together. Sadly, many of their children had special needs. Maria Pia passed away in 1882 while giving birth to their last child.
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Marie Louise | 17 January 1870 | 31 January 1899 | Married Ferdinand I, Prince of Bulgaria. They had children. |
| Ferdinando, Prince of Piacenza | 5 March 1871 | 14 April 1871 | Died as a baby. |
| Princess Luisa Maria | 24 March 1872 | 22 June 1943 | |
| Henry, Duke of Parma | 13 June 1873 | 16 November 1939 | Was considered the Duke of Parma after his father's death. |
| Princess Maria Immacolata | 21 July 1874 | 16 May 1914 | |
| Joseph, Duke of Parma | 30 June 1875 | 7 January 1950 | Also considered the Duke of Parma after Henry. |
| Princess Maria Teresa | 15 October 1876 | 25 January 1959 | |
| Princess Maria Pia | 9 October 1877 | 29 January 1915 | |
| Princess Beatrice | 9 January 1879 | 11 March 1946 | Married Count Pietro Lucchesi-Palli and had children. |
| Elias, Duke of Parma | 23 July 1880 | 27 June 1959 | Became the head of the family and guardian for his older siblings. He was the last surviving child from Robert's first marriage. |
| Princess Maria Anastasia | 25 August 1881 | 7 September 1881 | Died as a baby. |
| Prince Augusto | 22 September 1882 | 22 September 1882 | Stillborn. His mother, Maria Pia, died during this birth. |
Second Marriage
After his first wife died, Robert married again on October 15, 1884. His second wife was Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal. She was the daughter of the former King Miguel I of Portugal.
Robert and Maria Antonia had another 12 children.
| Name | Birth | Death | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princess Maria della Neve Adelaide | 5 August 1885 | 6 February 1959 | Became a nun. |
| Prince Sixtus | 1 August 1886 | 14 March 1934 | Married Hedwige de La Rochefoucauld and had a daughter. |
| Xavier, Duke of Parma | 25 May 1889 | 7 May 1977 | Also considered the Duke of Parma later on. |
| Princess Francesca | 22 April 1890 | 7 October 1978 | Became a nun. |
| Princess Zita | 9 May 1892 | 14 March 1989 | Married Charles I of Austria, who became the last Emperor of Austria. She was the last surviving child from both of Robert's marriages. |
| Prince Felix | 28 October 1893 | 8 April 1970 | Married Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg. They had children, including the current Grand Duke. |
| Prince René | 17 October 1894 | 30 July 1962 | Married Princess Margrethe of Denmark and had children, including Queen Anne of Romania. |
| Princess Maria Antonia | 7 November 1895 | 19 October 1977 | Became a nun. |
| Princess Isabella | 14 June 1898 | 28 July 1984 | Never married. |
| Prince Luigi | 5 December 1899 | 4 December 1967 | Married Princess Maria Francesca of Savoy and had children. |
| Princess Henrietta | 8 March 1903 | 13 June 1987 | Never married. She was deaf. |
| Prince Gaetano | 11 June 1905 | 9 March 1958 | Married Princess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis. They had a daughter, Diana. |
Later Life and Legacy
Robert I passed away in November 1907. After his death, six of his children from his first marriage were declared legally unable to manage their own affairs. This was because they had significant special needs.
Robert's main heir was his son Elias. Elias was the youngest son from Robert's first marriage. He was the only one of his brothers from that marriage to have children. Elias also became the legal guardian for his six older siblings.
Two of Robert's children from his second marriage made very important marriages:
- Felix married the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. Their grandson is the current Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
- Zita married Charles I of Austria, who became the last Emperor of Austria. Her grandson is the current claimant to the Austrian throne.
Honors and Awards
Robert I received several important honors during his life:
Duchy of Parma: Grand Prefect of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George
Spain: Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece, given on January 19, 1854
Duchy of Modena and Reggio: Grand Cross of the Order of the Eagle of Este, given in 1856
Kingdom of Bavaria: Knight of the Order of St. Hubert, given in 1897
Grand Duchy of Hesse: Grand Cross of the Ludwig Order, given on November 9, 1899
See also
In Spanish: Roberto I de Parma para niños
- Duchy of Parma
- List of Dukes of Parma
