FARNESE, the name of a princely family of Italy, whose origin dates from the middle of the 13th century. At that time it possessed the castle of Farneto, near Orvieto. Pope Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) instituted the duchy of Parma and Piacenza in favor of his natural son, Peter Louis Farnese, whom he had begotten previous to his entry into holy orders. From 1545 to 1731 the Farnese were the sovereign dukes of Parma. The most celebrated members of this house were PIETRO LUIGI, natural son of Paul III, b. 1503; assassinated 1547. He built a citadel at Piacenza and ruled with great severity over his subjects. Despised and hated by the latter for his despotism and debauchery he was assassinated and Piacenza was handed over to Ferdinand de Gonzaga, the governor of Milan, by appointment of Charles V. FARNESE, OCTAVIUS, son of the preceding: b. 1520; d. 1586. After his father's death he managed to retain hold of Parma but was unable to re cover Piacenza at first until he received aid from Pope Julius III. He married Margaret of Austria, natural daughter of Charles V. His Son, ALESSANDRO FARNESE, b. Rome, 1545; d. near Arras, 1592, followed his mother to Brussels, when she was made regent of the Netherlands. In 1571 he distinguished himself at the battle of Lepanto and a few years later on the death of Don Juan of Austria became governor of the Spanish Netherlands, where he was successful in re-establishing the author ity of the King of Spain throughout the South ern provinces, by taking Brabant, Maastricht, Malines, Bois-le-Duc and Tournai. He was less successful in the North because of the sup port given Holland and Zealand by Elizabeth of England. Called to France to help the Cath
olic cause he compelled Henry IV to raise the sieges of Paris and of Rouen. He died from the effects of a wound received before Caude bec. His son and successor, %%Nyco°, b. 1569; d, 1622, was a despot who alienated the support of the nobility. He cast his natural son, OT into prison where he perished miserably. Despite his cruelty he was a scholar and artist and embellished Parma with many monuments. He married Margaret Aldobrandini, grand niece of Pope Clement VIII. He was succeeded by his second son, ODVARDO, b. 1612; d. 1646, a prince remarkable for the elegance of his man ners and his fastidiousness in dress. His son, RANUCCIO II, b. 1630; d. 1694, succeeded him in the duchy. FRANCIS, son of Ranuccio II, b. 1678; d. 1727, during the War of the Spanish Succession, placed himself under the protection of the clurch, but despite this, the Imperial forces several times violated his territory. Since Francis had no children, it was agreed in 1720 between England, France, Austria and Spain, that the heritage of the Farnese house should pass to the eldest son of Elizabeth Farnese, consort of Philip V of Spain. With the death of ANTON'S, brother of Francis, in 1731, the male line became extinct and the suc cession passed into the hands of the Infanta Don Carlos. Consult Gregorovius 'History of Rome' (London 1900); Scarabelli, 'Storm civile dei ducati di Parma' (Piacenza 1858); Pezzano 'Storia della citta di Parma' (Parma 1859).