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Italian ptincipalities -- Parma boys clothing: European royalty -- Italian states Parma
European Royalty: Italian States--Parma
Figure 1.--Alessandro (Alexanfer) Farnese, Duke of Parma, was one of the great military commanders of his age. This is a portrait of Prince Alessandro Farnese painted by Sofonisba Anguissola about 1560. His mother was the half-sister of King Philip II of Spain and John of Austria. Farnese waged a significant military and diplomatic career in the service of his uncle the King. He mot only fought in the Battle of Lepanto (1571) and then in the Netherlands against the rebels.
As Governor of the Spanish Netherlands (1578-92). King Philip provided him a substantil body of Spanish troops during the Dutch War of Independence (1581–87). Farnese suceeded in capturing more than 30 rebel Protestant towns in the southern area of the Spanish Nethelands (modern Belgium) and returned them to the control of Catholic Spain. During the French Wars of Religion he relieved Paris which was beseigned by the Protestantsm maintaing Catholic control. He ptoved to be a talented if brutal field commander. He was to be the field commanders whose troops were to be transported to England by the Spanish Armada.
Parma is located in the heart of northern Italy part of the modern Emilia-Romagna region. Emilia-Romagna is on an elongated east west axis of the via Aemilia and Parma is located innthe estern region. It is part of the north-south route from the Po River valley to Liguria and Tuscany. The city is sitiated halfway between Milan and Florence. Parma has relatively recent origins..I was founde durong the Roman era. The city was founded (183 BC. Some 2000 Roman citizens launched a colonization project. Other towns (Piacenza, Modena and Bologna) were also formed as part of the project. During the Imperial Age, Parma had a forum (in the Piazza Garibaldi), a theater, an ampitheater, public baths and a basilica. The city's principal expansion negan duing the medieval era. As a result, Parma played a role in all the principal artistic and cultural movements. During the Byzantine era, Parma became known as Chrysopolis, meaning the "Golden City", referring to the richness of its soil and the administrative seat of the Treasury. The towm was ruled by the Visconti, the Sforza, the French and the Papacy from the (14th to 16th centuries). Pope Paul III established a Duchy with his son Pier Luigi Farnese as its ruler (1545). The Duchy would last for nearly 200 years. Napoleon contolled Param (1802-14). The city wa sthen given to Napoleon's second wife, Maria Luigia of Austria. This regime lasred until her death (1847). The Bourbons regained control for a short period. Parma joined in the Kingdom of Italy through a plebiscite (1860).
Rome
Parma has relatively recent origins..I was founde durong the Roman era. The city was founded (183 BC. Some 2000 Roman citizens were settled in the araes as part of a colonization project. Other towns (Piacenza, Modena and Bologna) were also formed as part of the project. Parma had a regional importance as a road hub over the Via Aemilia and the Via Claudia. It had a forum, in what is today the central Garibaldi Square. During the Imperial Age, Parma had a forum (in the Piazza Garibaldi), a theater, an ampitheater, public baths and a basilica. The city was destroyed (44 BC). Augustus rebuilt it. Parma gained the title of Julia for its loyalty to the imperial house.
Medieval Era
With the decline of Rome, Attila sacked the city (452 AD). The Germanic king Odoacer gave the city to his followers. In the subsequent Gothic War, Totila destroyed it. At the time it was part of the Byzantine Exarchate of Ravenna. Parma became known as Chrysopolis, the Golden City. his was probably a reference to the location of the Imperial Treasury. Parmathen became part of the Lombard Kingdom of Italy (569). Parma became an important stage of the Via Francigena, the main trade route connecting Rome to northern Europe. Castles, hospitals and inns appeared to host the pilgrims and merchants.
The city's principal expansion negan duing the medieval era. As a result, Parma played a role in all the principal artistic and cultural movements.
Under Frankish rule, Parma became the capital of a county (774). As was the case throughput northern Italy, Parma was nominally a part of the Holy Roman Empire established by Charlemagne (800). It was actually ruled by its bishops beginning with Guibodus. As the Papacystruggled with the Empire to control Italy, Parma usually supported the side. Two Parma bishops became antipopes: Càdalo, founder of the cathedral, as Honorius II; and Guibert, as Clement III. An essentially independent commune was established (anout 1140).
The Peace of Constance confirmed the Italian communes' rights of self-governmrnt (1183). Parma bevame involved in a struggle with the neighbouring communes of Reggio Emilia, Piacenza, and Cremona over control of the lucrative trading route over the Po River. The struggle between Guelphs and Ghibellines (factions supporting the paapl and Imperial power) which racked norther Italy involved Parma.
An imprtant Parma leader was (podestà) was the Guelph Rambertino Buvalelli (1213). After supporting the imperial cause for some time, the Papal families seized control (1248). Emperor Frederick II besiged the city (1247-48), but after important defeats died soon after. After Frederuck, the power of the Empire began to decline. Milan subsequently gained comtrol pf Parma (1341). Parma then vecame indepedent for a short period under the Terzi family (1404–09). The Sforza imposed their rule through an alliance of related families -- Pallavicino, Rossi, Sanvitale and Da Correggio (1404-09). A kind if new feudalism began as feudalism was meginning to decline in the West. New fiedoms appeared with towers and castles. These fiefdoms were essentially ndependent states. The Landi gained control over the higher Taro valley (1257-1682). The Pallavicino seignory extended over eastern areas, establishing a capital in Busseto. Developments in Parma difference from much of northernn Italy. Several of Parma's feudal subdivision continued into the modern era. Solignano was a Pallavicino family possession into the Napoleonic era (1805). San Secondo belonged to the Rossi beyond the Napoleonic era. The Italian Wars cebntered on Parma (14th and the 15th centuries), in part because of its location at the center of northern Italy. The imprtant Battle of Fornovo was fought near Parma. The French took the city (1500–21). The Papacy seized control (1512–15). With the expuilsion nof the foreigners, Parma became part of the Papal States. Pope Paul III was amember of the Farnese family. For family reasons, he separated Parma and Piacenza from the Papal States and created a duchy for his illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese (1545). The family would rule in Parma for nearly two centuries. Under the Farnese, a constitution was promulgated (1594). Other achievements included expanding the university and the Nobles' College founded. Resistance to the Farnese continued for some time and other families held several fiefdoms. . The Pallavicini were defeated (1588). Barbara Sanseverino was executed in the central square of Parma, together with six other fellow nobles charged with plotting against the Duke (1612). The Landi were defeated (1682). This meant vthat the Farnese firmly controlled all Parmense territories. Ferdinando Bibiena converted the castle seized from the Sanseverino in Colorno into a luxurious summer palace . Antonio Farnese, last male eir of the Farnese dynasty died (1731).
The Bourbons
The boubons seized control (1748). The youngest son of Bourbon King Philip V of Spain conquered Parma and became Philip, Duke of Parma (1720-65). He married the Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King Louis XV of France (1710-74). Their son was Ferdinand, Duke of Parma.
Napoleonic Era
Napoleon contolled Param (1802-14). Ferdinand 's grandson was Louis, made King of Etruria by the French (1801). Charles Louis, son of Louis, was subsequently driven from Etruria by the French in 1807.
The city was then given to Napoleon's second wife, Maria Louisa of Austria. Charles Louis was made Duke of Lucca by the Allies who defeated Napoleon (1815). This regime lasred until her death (1847). Napoleon's Austrian widow, , neame Duchess of Parma. The Bourbons regained control for a short period.
On Maria Louisa's death (1847) Charles Louis received Parma in exchange for Lucca. His son, Charles III, Duke of Parma, was in turn succeeded by his son, Robert, who then lost the duchy as part of the unification of Italy (1860). The last ruling duke of Parma was Duke Robert of Bourbon-Parma (1848- ). Duke Robert had an impressive 24 children with two wives. His first wife was Maria Pia of Sicily (1849- ). Parma joined ihe Kingdom of Italy through a plebiscite (1860). One of their children was Elias of Bourbon-Parma (1880-1959). Elias married Maria Anna of the Austrian Teschen Line (1903). They had eight children: Elizabeth (1904-83), Charles (1905-12), Maria (1906-94), Robert (1909-74), Franz (1913- ), Johanna (1916- ), Alice (1917- ), and Maria Christine (1925- ). We are not sure just what the status of the Duke of Parma was after the creation of the Italian Kingdom (1860). I think it was more of an honorific title than any actual reigning dynasty, but hopefully our European readers will provide some insights here.
