Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma

See also, Odoardo Farnese (cardinal).

See also, Odoardo Farnese, Hereditary Prince of Parma for Odoardo II Farnese, grandson of this Odoardo and father of Elizabeth Farnese.

Odoardo Farnese
Duke of Parma and Piacenza
Reign	5 March 1622 – 11 September 1646
Predecessor	Ranuccio I
Successor	Ranuccio II
Regent	Odoardo Farnese Margherita Aldobrandini
Born	(1612-04-28)28 April 1612 Parma, Parma
Died	Parma, Parma
Spouse	Margherita de' Medici
Issue	Ranuccio II Farnese Alessandro Farnese
House	House of Farnese
Father	Ranuccio I Farnese
Mother	Margherita Aldobrandini
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Odoardo Farnese (28 April 1612 – 11 September 1646), also known as Odoardo I Farnese to distinguish him from his grandson Odoardo II Farnese, was Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro from 1622 to 1646.

Biography

File:Italian States-Piacenza 1626 2 Doppie.jpg

Odoardo Farnese depicted on a gold 2 doppie coin (1626).

Odoardo was the eldest legitimate son of Ranuccio I Farnese and Margherita Aldobrandini. After Ranuccio's natural son and his potential rival, Ottavio, was relegated in a prison, he reigned initially under the regency of his uncle Odoardo Farnese and, after the latter's death, of his mother, Margherita Aldobrandini.

Margherita de' Medici

He came of age in 1628 and in the same year he married Margherita de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo II de' Medici's daughter. His first notable act as Duke was an alliance with France in 1633, a move designed to counter Spanish predominance in northern Italy and support his territorial ambitions. He also asked for loans to improve the army, but his first campaigns were ineffective: Piacenza was occupied by the Spanish troops, and his army was defeated by Francesco I d'Este. Spanish troops overran the duchy and devastated the countryside, but did not attempt to lay siege to the cities. In the absence of French assistance, Odoardo was convinced by Pope Urban VIII to sign a treaty of peace with Spain in 1637.

His aggressive rule of Castro, a Farnese fief in the Papal States north of Rome, who the Barberini (Pope Urban's family) were eager to acquire, caused Odoardo to be excommunicated in 1641. Instead of reconciliation, he sought alliances with Venice, Florence and the Duchy of Modena, and invaded northern Lazio with 7,000 troops. His army was composed mostly of cavalry, and were unable to recover Castro by siege. Although the Farnese fleet was destroyed and the Duke often proved recalcitrant, in the peace of 1644, the city of Castro was returned to him and Odoardo was reconciled with the Roman Catholic Church and readmitted to the Sacraments.

Odoardo died suddenly in Piacenza, his favorite residence, on 11 September 1646.

Marriage and children

Odoardo Farnese married Margherita de Medici (31 May 1612 – 6 February 1679) on 11 October 1628, the daughter of Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. They had the following sons:

• Ranuccio II Farnese (1630–1694) married Princess Margaret Yolande of Savoy (1), Isabella d'Este (2), Maria d'Este
• Alessandro Farnese (10 January 1635 – 18 February 1689), Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands from 1678 to 1682
• Orazio Farnese (24 January 1636 – 2 November 1656)
• Caterina Farnese (3 September 1637 – 24 April 1684) Carmelitan nun
• Pietro Farnese (4 April 1639 – 4 March 1677)

Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma House of Farnese Born: 28 April 1612 Died: 11 September 1646
Regnal titles
Preceded by Ranuccio I	Duke of Parma 1622–1646	Succeeded by Ranuccio II
	Duke of Piacenza 1622–1646

Ancestry

Family of Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma

16. Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma               8. Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma                       17. Girolama Orsini               4. Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma                             18. Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor               9. Margaret of Austria                       19. Johanna Maria van der Gheynst               2. Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma                                   20. Manuel I of Portugal               10. Infante Duarte, Duke of Guimarães                       21. Infanta Maria of Aragon               5. Infanta Maria of Guimarães                             22. James, Duke of Braganza               11. Infanta Isabel of Portugal                       23. Eleonor of Mendoza               1. Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma                                         24. Jacopo Aldobrandini               12. Giorgio Aldobrandini                       25. Bartolomea Ambrogi               6. Giovanni Francesco Aldobrandini, Prince of Carpineto                             26. Donato Dal Corno               13. Margherita Dal Corno                       3. Margherita Aldobrandini                                   28. Salvestro Aldobrandini               14. Pietro Aldobrandini                       29. Elisabeta Dati               7. Olimpia Aldobrandini                             15. Flaminia Ferracci

See also

• First War of Castro