View source for House of Farnese

{{Short description|Influential family in Renaissance Italy}}
{{For|the homonymous town in Italy|Farnese, Lazio}}

{{Infobox noble house|name=House of Farnese|coat of arms=Arms of the House of Farnese.svg|caption=[[Blazon]]: ''Or, six fleurs-de-lis azure<br />set 3, 2 and 1''|country={{flag|Papal States|old}}<br />{{nowrap|[[File:Flag of the Duchy of Parma.svg|18px]] [[Duchy of Parma and Piacenza]]}}<br />[[File:Duchy of Castro CoA.svg|16px]] [[Duchy of Castro]]|estates=[[Ducal Palace of Colorno]]<br>Palazzo del Giardino ([[:it:Palazzo del Giardino|it]])<br>[[Palazzo della Pilotta]]<br>[[Palazzo Farnese]]<br>[[Villa Farnese]]|titles=* [[Pope]] (non-hereditary)
* [[Duke of Parma]]
* [[Piacenza|Duke of Piacenza]]
* [[Castro, Lazio|Duke of Castro]]
* [[Ronciglione|Count of Ronciglione]]|styles="[[His Holiness]]" (papacy)<br>"[[Grace (style)|Grace]]"|founded={{Start date|1419}}|founder=[[Ranuccio Farnese il Vecchio|Ranuccio Farnese the Old]]|final ruler=Parma: [[Antonio Farnese]] <br /> Spain: [[Elisabeth Farnese]]|dissolution={{End date|1766}}}}

The '''House of Farnese''' ({{IPAc-en|f|ɑːr|ˈ|n|eɪ|z|i|,_|-|z|eɪ}}, <small>also</small> {{IPAc-en|US|-|eɪ|s|i}},<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190531135131/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/Farnese,_Alessandro "Farnese, Alessandro"] (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Farnese,+Alessandro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923033419/https://www.lexico.com/definition/farnese,_alessandro |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-09-23 |title=Farnese, Alessandro |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Merriam-Webster|Farnese|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|it|farˈneːze, -eːse|lang}}) was an influential family in [[Renaissance]] [[Italy]]. The titles of [[Duke of Parma|Duke of Parma and Piacenza]], [[Latera#History|Duke of Latera]] and [[Duchy of Castro|Duke of Castro]] were held by various members of the family.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://w.genealogy.euweb.cz/italy/farnese3.html | title=Farnese 3 }}</ref>
 
Its most important members included [[Pope Paul III]], [[Alessandro Farnese (cardinal)|Alessandro Farnese]] (a cardinal), [[Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma|Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza]] (a military commander and [[Governor of the Spanish Netherlands]]), and [[Elisabeth Farnese]], who became Queen of Spain and whose legacy was brought to her Bourbon descendants.

A number of important architectural works and [[Artifact (archaeology)|antiquities]] are associated with the Farnese family, either through construction or acquisition. Buildings include the [[Palazzo Farnese, Rome|Palazzo Farnese]] in Rome and the [[Villa Farnese]] at [[Caprarola]], and ancient artifacts include the [[Naples National Archaeological Museum#Marbles|Farnese Marbles]].

==History==
===Origins===
[[File:Stemma ducato di Parma e Piacenza-Stroehl.png|thumb|262px|Coat of Arms of the House of Farnese as Dukes of Parma]]
[[File:Titian – Portrait of Pope Paul III with his Grandsons – Google Art Project – edited.jpg|thumb|right|262px|''[[Pope Paul III and his Grandsons]]'' by [[Titian]] shows [[Pope Paul III]] with his [[cardinal-nephew]] [[Alessandro Farnese (cardinal)|Alessandro Farnese]] (left) and his other grandson, [[Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma]]]]
[[Image:Parma, palazzo della pilotta 01.jpg|thumb|262px|The Farnese's Palazzo della Pilotta, [[Parma]]]]
[[File:Castello_latera.JPG|thumb|262px|Entrance to the Ducal palace in [[Latera]]]]
[[File:Castro_blaeu.jpg|thumb|262px|Castro, capital of the [[Duchy of Castro]]]]
<!-- Arms as Dukes of Parma: 1st & 4th quarter, Farnese, 2nd & 3rd quarter, Austria impaled with Burgundy ancient (Habsburg), center the arms of, the papal gonfaloniere center sur-le-tout, Portugal -->
The family could trace its origins back to around AD 984 and took its name from one of its oldest feudal possessions - ''Castrum Farneti''. There has been some debate as to the origins of the name Farnesi/Farnese. Some suggest that it derives from the vernacular name for an oak found in the region, the Farnia (''Quercus robur''), but others believe that the name owes its origins to the Fara, a term of [[Lombards|Lombard]] origin used to denote a particular social group.

In the 12th century, they are recorded as minor feudatories in the areas of [[Tuscania]] and [[Orvieto]], several members holding political positions in the latter commune. One Pietro defeated the Tuscan [[Ghibellines]] in 1110 and, most likely, fought against the [[Italo-Normans]] in 1134. His son Prudenzio was consul in Orvieto and defeated the Orvieto Ghibellines backed by [[republic of Siena|Siena]]; another Pietro defended the town against [[Henry VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Henry VI]]. In 1254, one Ranuccio defeated [[Todi]]'s troops and fought for [[Pope Urban IV]] against [[Manfred of Sicily]]. His son Niccolò was in the [[Guelphs and Ghibellines|Guelph]] army in the [[Battle of Benevento]] (1266).

The Farnese returned to [[Tuscia]] (southern Tuscany-northern Lazio) in 1319, when they acquired [[Farnese, Lazio|Farnese]], [[Ischia di Castro]], and the castles of Sala and San Savino. In 1354, Cardinal [[Gil Álvarez Carrillo de Albornoz|Albornoz]], in return for the family's help in the war against the Papal riotous barons, gave them the territory of [[Valentano]]. In this period they fought against the fierce Papal rivals, the [[Prefetti di Vico]].

In 1362, [[Pietro Farnese]] was commander-in-chief of the [[Republic of Florence|Florentine army]] against [[republic of Pisa|Pisa]] in the war for [[Volterra]]. Six years later Niccolò Farnese saved Pope [[Urban V]] from the attack of [[Giovanni di Vico]], first in the castle of [[Viterbo]] and then in that of [[Montefiascone]]. The loyalty to the Papal cause meant that the Farnese were granted confirmation of their possessions in the northern Lazio and given a series of privileges which raised them to the same level as more ancient and powerful Roman barons of the time, such as the [[Savelli family|Savelli]], [[Orsini family|Orsini]], [[Monaldeschi]] and [[Sforza]] of [[county of Santa Fiora|Santa Fiora]].

===Rise===
The family substantially increased its power in the course of the 15th century, as their territories reached the southern shore of the [[Lake Bolsena]] and [[Montalto di Castro|Montalto]], largely due to [[Ranuccio Farnese il Vecchio|Ranuccio the Elder]]. He was commander-in-chief of the forces of neighbouring Siena against the Orsini of [[Pitigliano]] and, after his victory, received the title of Senator of Rome. His son, Gabriele Francesco, also took up a military career, a line of employment which disappeared after three generations.

Ranuccio's son, Pier Luigi, married a member of the ancient baronial family of the [[Caetani]] (that of [[Pope Boniface VIII]]), thus giving the Farnese further importance in Rome. His daughter, [[Giulia Farnese|Giulia]], who was a mistress of [[Pope Alexander VI]], further expanded the Roman fortunes of her family by persuading the Pope to bestow on her brother [[Pope Paul III|Alessandro]] the title of cardinal. Under Alexander's successor, [[Pope Julius II]], he became governor of the [[Marca Anconetana]] and, in 1534, he was elected as pope and took the name of Paul III. Notable features of his reign included the establishment of the [[Council of Trent]] and an unprecedented level of [[nepotism]]. For example, two months after becoming pope in 1534, he made his 14-year-old grandson [[Alessandro Farnese (cardinal)|Alessandro]] a [[cardinal deacon]].

Paul III died in 1549 and his political role in the Curia passed to his grandson Alessandro, who remained an influential cardinal and patron of the arts until his death in 1589.

===Rule in Castro and Emilia===
Paul III used his position as pontiff to increase the power and possessions of his family. He gave his illegitimate son, [[Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma|Pier Luigi]], the title of ''[[gonfaloniere]]'' or [[Gonfalone of the Church]]. He also gave him the town of [[Castro, Lazio|Castro]] with the title of [[Duchy of Castro|Duke of Castro]], granting him possession of lands from the [[Tyrrhenian Sea]] to the Lake of Bolsena, as well as the area of [[Ronciglione]] and many other smaller fiefdoms.

In 1545, Paul handed over, from land once belonging to the Papal States, further territories in northern Italy to his son, who took the additional title of [[Duke of Parma]]. Paul thus established his family as an Italian ducal dynasty, a project at which the [[House of Borgia|Borgia]] [[Pope Alexander VI]] had failed. Two years later, Pier Luigi was assassinated by his new subjects under a Spanish mandate. Despite intrigues by [[Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor|Charles V]], the Pope reacted promptly and soon established [[Ottavio Farnese|Ottavio]], Pier Luigi's son, on the ducal throne. He secured this by marrying Ottavio (1547–86) to the eldest illegitimate daughter of Charles V, [[Margaret of Parma|Margaret]]. Ottavio was given the additional title of Duke of [[Piacenza]] and initially established his court there, where work was begun on a huge Farnese palace on the banks of the River Po. However, during construction, and probably in response to political intrigues by the Piacentine nobility, Ottavio Farnese moved his court to [[Parma]], where he had the [[Palazzo della Pilotta]] constructed in 1583.

In 1580, [[Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma|Ranuccio I]] was first in the succession line to the [[Kingdom of Portugal]]. His great-uncle Henry I of Portugal's death triggered the [[struggle for the throne of Portugal]] when Ranuccio was 11 years old. As the son of the late elder daughter of Infante Edward, 4th Duke of Guimarães, the only son of King Manuel I whose legitimate descendants survived at that time, Ranuccio was according to the succession law the first heir to the throne of Portugal. However, his father was an ally and even a subject of the Spanish king, another contender, so Ranuccio's rights were not very forcibly claimed.

The Farnese court in [[Parma]] and [[Piacenza]] under Duke [[Ranuccio II Farnese|Ranuccio II]] (1630–94) was one of the most splendid in Italy.

The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza continued to be ruled by the Farnese until the 17th century. However, the city of Castro was removed from the Farnese family holdings when the Farnese fell out with the [[Barberini]] family of [[Pope Urban VIII]], sparking the [[Wars of Castro]]. In 1649, the conflict ended when [[Pope Innocent X]] had the city razed.<ref>[http://www.zum.de/whkmla/military/17cen/parma16411644.html World History at KMLA: War over Parma]</ref>
 
The small dukedom eventually fell under Spanish control and influence; the family lost Parma and Piacenza in 1731 when the last Farnese duke, [[Antonio Farnese]], died without direct heirs. His collateral heir, his niece [[Elizabeth Farnese]], Queen of Spain, passed a successful claim on to her sons, Don Carlos (later King [[Carlos III of Spain]]) and [[Philip, Duke of Parma|Filippo]], who established the [[House of Bourbon-Parma]], still extant as of today.

==Family tree==
{{Tree chart/start}}
{{Tree chart |border=0| | | | | |.1| | | | | | | | | | |.1=[[Pope Paul III|Alessandro Farnese]]<br />(Pope Paul III)<br />(1468–1549)}}
{{Tree chart | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| |}}
{{Tree chart |border=0| |.5| |.4| |.2| |.3|.2=(illeg.) Ranuccio|.3=(illeg.) Paolo|.4=(illeg.) [[Pier Luigi Farnese|Pier Luigi]]<br />(1503–1547)|.5=(illeg.) [[Costanza Farnese|Costanza]]<br />(1500–1545)}}
{{Tree chart | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.|}}
{{Tree chart |border=0| |.8| |.6| |.7| |.9| |.10|.6=Vittoria<br />(1521–1602)|.7=[[Ottavio Farnese|Ottavio]]<br />(1524–1586)|.8=[[Alessandro Farnese (cardinal)|Alessandro]]<br />(1520–1589)|.9=[[Ranuccio Farnese (cardinal)|Ranuccio]]<br />(1530–1565)|.10=(illeg.) [[Orazio Farnese, Duke of Castro|Orazio]]<br />(1531–1553)}}
{{Tree chart | | | | | | | | |,|-|^|-|.|}}
{{Tree chart |border=0| | | | | | | |.11| |.12|.11=[[Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza|Alessandro]]<br />(1545–1592)|.12=Carlo}}
{{Tree chart | | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | | | |}}
{{Tree chart |border=0| | | |.12| |.14| |.13|.12=[[Margherita Farnese|Margherita]]<br />(1567–1643)|.13=[[Odoardo Farnese (cardinal)|Odoardo]]<br />(1573–1626)|.14=[[Ranuccio I Farnese|Ranuccio I]]<br />(1569–1622)}}
{{Tree chart | | |,|-|-|-|v|-|^|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|.|}}
{{Tree chart |border=0| |.30| |.16| |.15| |.17| |.18| |.31|.30=Alessandro|.15=[[Maria Farnese|Maria]]<br />(1615–1646)|.16=[[Odoardo I Farnese|Odoardo I]]<br />(1612–1646)|.17=[[Vittoria Farnese d'Este|Vittoria]]<br />(1618–1649)|.18=[[Francesco Maria Farnese|Francesco Maria]]<br />(1619–1647)|.31=(illeg.) [[Ottavio Farnese (1598–1643)|Ottavio]]<br />(1598–1643)}}
{{Tree chart | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.|}}
{{Tree chart |border=0| |.22| |.20| |.21| |.24| |.23|.19=[[Maria Maddalena Farnese|Maria Maddalena]]<br />(1633–1693)|.20=[[Alessandro Farnese, Prince of Parma|Alessandro]]<br />(1635–1689)|.21=Orazio<br />(1636–1656)|.22=[[Ranuccio II Farnese|Ranuccio II]]<br />(1630–1694)|.23=Pietro<br />(1639–1677)|.24=Caterina<br />(1637–1684)}}
{{Tree chart | | |)|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.|}}
{{Tree chart |border=0| |.24| |.25| |.26| |.27| |.28|.24=[[Margherita Maria Farnese|Margherita Maria]]<br />(1664–1718)|.25=Teresa<br />(1665–1702)|.26=[[Odoardo II Farnese|Odoardo II]]<br />(1666–1693)|.27=[[Francesco Farnese|Francesco]]<br />(1678–1727)|.28=[[Antonio Farnese|Antonio]]<br />(1679–1731)}}
{{Tree chart | | | | | | | | | | |!|}}
{{Tree chart |border=0| | | | | | | | | |.29|.29=[[Elisabetta Farnese|Elisabetta]]<br />(1692–1766)}}
{{Tree chart | | | | | | | | | | |!|}}
{{Tree chart |border=0| | | | | | | | | |.30|.30=[[House of Bourbon-Parma]]}}
{{Tree chart/end}}

==Most notable members==
[[Image:COA Farnese.JPG|thumb|220px|Early arms of the family]]
*[[Pietro Farnese]] (c. 1310–1363)
*[[Ranuccio (Rinalduccio) Farnese (b. 1390)|Ranuccio Farnese]] (1390&ndash;1450)
*Pier Luigi Farnese (1435&ndash;87)
*[[Pope Paul III]], born Alessandro Farnese (1468&ndash;1549)
*[[Giulia Farnese]], mistress of [[Pope Alexander VI]] and sister of Pope Paul III
*[[Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma|Pier Luigi Farnese]], first [[Duke of Parma]] (1503&ndash;47)
*[[Alessandro Farnese (cardinal)|Alessandro Farnese]], [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] (1520&ndash;89)
*[[Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma|Ottavio Farnese]], second Duke of Parma (1524&ndash;86)
*[[Ranuccio Farnese (Cardinal)|Ranuccio Farnese]], Cardinal (1530&ndash;65)
*[[Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza|Alessandro Farnese]], third Duke of Parma (1545&ndash;92)
*[[Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma|Ranuccio I Farnese]], fourth Duke of Parma (1569&ndash;1622)
*[[Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma|Odoardo Farnese]], fifth Duke of Parma (1612&ndash;46)
*[[Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma|Ranuccio II Farnese]], sixth Duke of Parma (1630&ndash;94)
*[[Francesco Farnese, Duke of Parma|Francesco Farnese]], seventh Duke of Parma (1678&ndash;1727)
*[[Antonio Farnese, Duke of Parma|Antonio Farnese]], eighth Duke of Parma (1679&ndash;1731)
*[[Elizabeth Farnese]], [[List of Spanish royal consorts|Queen of Spain]], wife of King [[Philip V of Spain|Philip V]], mother of [[Charles III of Spain|Charles III]] (1692&ndash;1766)

== Armorial ==
{| class=wikitable
|- valign=top align=center
| width="200px" | '''Figure'''
| '''Date and blason'''

|- valign=top
|align=center | [[Image:Blason famille it Farnese01.svg|100 px]]
| '''The Farnèse family''' 
''Or, six fleurs-de-lis azure set 3, 2 and 1.''{{CN|date=November 2024}}

|- valign=top
|align=center | [[Image:Armoiries Farnèse-Parme.svg|100 px]]
| '''1545–1586'''
''Per pale: 1 and 3, or, three fleurs-de-lis azure, 2. gules, papal tiara or, surmounted by two keys argent and or in saltire and interlaced at their intersection with a cord azure (for Papal State).''{{CN|date=November 2024}}

|- valign=top
|align=center | [[Image:Armoiries Parme 1586.svg|100 px]]
| '''1586–1592'''
''I, quarterly: 1 and 4, or, six fleurs-de-lys azure, in three, two and one, (for Farnèse); 2 and 3, per pale, gules, a fess argent (for Austria) and bendy of six, or and azure, a bordure gules (for Burgundy). II, tierced in fess: Gules, papal tiara or, surmounted by two keys argent and or in saltire and interlaced at their intersection with a cord azure (for Papal State).''{{CN|date=November 2024}}

|- valign=top
|align=center | [[Image:Armoiries Parme 1592.svg|100 px]]
| '''1592–1731'''
''I, quarterly: 1 and 4, or, six fleurs-de-lys azure, in three, two and one, (for Farnèse); 2 and 3, per pale, gules, a fess argent (for Austria) and bendy of six, or and azure, a bordure gules (for Burgundy). II, tierced in fess: Gules, papal tiara or, surmounted by two keys argent and or in saltire and interlaced at their intersection with a cord azure (for Papal State), overall, argent, five escutcheons in cross azure, each charged with five plates in saltire, a bordure gules charged with seven three-towered castles or (for Portugal).''{{CN|date=November 2024}}
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book| first= Flaminio Maria | last= Annibali| title= Notizie Storiche della Casa Farnese| location= Montefiascone | year= 1817–18}}
* {{cite book| first= Edoardo | last= del Vecchio| title= I Farnese| publisher= Istituto di studi romani editore| location= Rome| year= 1972}}
* {{cite book| first= Giovanni | last = Drei| title = I Farnese grandezza e decadenza di una dinastia italiana| publisher = La Libreria dello Stato| location = Rome| year = 1954}}
* {{cite book| first= Emilio |last= Nasalli Rocca| title= I Farnese| year= 1969|publisher= dell’Oglio}}

==External links==
* [http://www.onlipix.com/kings/italy/farnese.htm Farnese family tree] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090719102105/http://www.onlipix.com/kings/italy/farnese.htm |date=2009-07-19 }} from about 1390 to 1766.
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Farnese|volume=10|pages=183–184}}

{{Royal houses of Italy}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:House Of Farnese}}
[[Category:House of Farnese| ]]
[[Category:Italian noble families|Farnese]]
[[Category:Papal families]]
[[Category:Duchy of Parma]]
[[Category:Duchy of Castro]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic families]]