PARMA, Duchy of, a sovereign state in Northern Italy, which extends from the Apennines to the Po, and forma part of the great basin of that river. It is bounded N. by Austrian Italy, from which it is divided by the Po; E. by the duchy of llodena; W. by the Sardinian territory; and S. partly by the Riviera of Genoa, and partly by Tuscany. The length of the duchy from east to west is about 50 miles, and Its breadth I. from 40 to 45 miles ; the area is 2391 square miles, and the population in 1852 amounted to 502,841. The state of Parma consist, of five provinces :-1. Parma, between the Erma and the Taro, population 143.898 ; 2. forgo San Domino, between the Taro and the ttiglio, population 142,y0; 3. Piacenza, between the Riglio and the Bardoneggia, population 133,973; 4. Val di Taro, on the Apennines, population 60,952; and 6. Lunegiane Parmeasna, also an the Apennines about Pontremoli, the chief town, population 31,478. In consequence of changes that followed the death of the ex-empress Maria Louie*, Parma obtained the territories of Pontremoli and Lunigiane, which formerly belonged to Tuscany and Modena Grastalla, which was formerly united to Parma, now belongs to 110DZNA.
The mountain region, which constitutes about one-third of the whole country, is rugged, poor in produce, and bleak in winter ; the forests of chestnut-trees, which clothe the sides of the mountain'', supply the inhabitants with their chief article of food. Thousands of these high landers quit their homes every year, many to seek employment in other and often distant countries, whilst others migrate with their flocks to paw the winter in the low lands. The lower hills and plains, which extend between the Apennines and the Po, and along the southern bank of that river, are very fertile, well cultivated, and populous ; the lands have the advantage of a regular 'Intern of artificial irrigation. Tba pasture-lande are remarkably rich. The principal products are—corn, pulse, froft, wine, silk, wool, remarkably cattle, and poultry. Good cheese is made, but no Parmesan. [Lore.] The mineral wealth of the country consists of iron, copper, salt, Ames for lithography, marble, and alabaster. The manufactures consist of paper, gunpowder, woollen stuffs, glass, and delft ware.
The Ligurien Apennines eater the state of Parma from the west ; the central ridge runs in an eastern direction, separating the waters of the Taro, which run into the Po, from those of the Ilsgra, which flow into the Mediterranean, and detaching various offsets to the north east towards the Po. Between these offsets flow numerous streams, all of which are affluents of the Po ; and though nearly dry in seasons of drought, become impetuous torrents during rains. Among these streams are the Thiene and the Trebbla, a larger stream, which joins the Po above Piaceuza. On the banks of the Trebbia river
Hannibal defeated the cousul Seropronius ; and here also Snwarrow defeated the French under Macdonald, after three days desperate fighting, in June, 1799. East of the Trebbi* flows the Nuns, which enter. the Po below Piacenza. Farther east is the Taro, the largest river of the state of Parma, which rises in the Ligurian Apennines, and after flowing through a deep and long valley called by its name, enter, the plain of Parma near Castel Guelfo, and joins tho I'o after a win/ling course of about 60 miles. A road leads from the Taro to Pontremoli and Banana in the valley of the Magra, paasing over the Apennines of La Cisa at an elevation of about 3000 feet. The other rivers of the duchy are the Parma, which flows through the capita], and the Enza, which forms the boundary between Parma and Modena.
The principal towns are :—Psams. PIACENZA. Borgo San Donnino, a bustling town in a fertile plain, with 3000 inhabitants, a bishop's see, a gymnasium, and a clerical seminary. Borgo Tare, the chief town of the province of Val di Taro, in the highlands of the Apennines, with about 1000 inhabitants, two elementary schools, and an old castle. Poniremoli, on the southern slope of the Apennines, is divided into an upper and a lower town; the former is defended by massive fortifi cations and on old castle. The lower town is well built, and has many good houses : the cathedral is the principal building. The population numbers about 8500. Some Bilks and linen are manufactured.
After the fall of Napoleon in 1814, the Congress of Vienna decided that the duchy of Parma and Piacenza should ho the apanage of his wife, Maria Louisa of Austria, during her lifetime ; that after her death the Duke of Lucca should be restored to his paternal states of Parma, which had been incorporated with the French empire ; and that Lucca should be annexed to the grand duchy of Tuscany. On the death of the ex-empress, Maria Louisa, in 1847, the territorial changes intended by the Congress of Vienna were made, and certain districts were exchanged with Modena for others on the left bank of the Enza, so as to leave that river the boundary between these two states. During the war between Sardinia and Austria, in 1848-9, the Sardinians twice occupied the duchy of Parma. In consequence of the death by assassination in the public street of the late Duke of Parma, Charles ILL, in 1852, the state is now governed by his widow, the Duchess of Farina, a sister of the Duke of Bordeaux.
The revenue of the duchy amounts to about 9,500,000 lire, or francs; the expenditure is about the same. The military force maintained numbers 8597 men and officers.