Farnèse house

See also: Farnese

The Maison Farnèse is a noble house of Italy. It provided several generals to the small States of Italy, gave rise to the pope Paul III and reigned a long time on Parma and Plaisance in their capacity as duke.

Presentation

The family Farnèse is a former Roman family whose possessions are gathered around the Lac of Bolsena. It is an Italian family lords then dukes, originating in Latium in the Papal States and in Toscane which gives many soldiers within the papal army and of the armies of Florence, of Venice, Naples and His, a viceroy in Spain, as well as governors in Italy, with the Netherlands and in Spain, senators, bishops, cardinals, nuns and a pope from which goes down the most famous line which reigns on the duchies of Parma and Plaisance.

Many unions are done initially within the Italian minor nobility, then with more the big families Colonna, Aldobrandini, Habsbourg, Bragance, Médicis, Sforza, Savoy, Este, Wittelsbach, Bourbon, Borromée, Valois as well as illegitimate unions giving of the bastard ones.

Origins of the family

Although there is no historical evidence, extremely probably the origins of Farnèse are lombardes and their ground of origin is the antique ground of Fartenum. The single element which presents a certain certainty is that as from the 12th century, when the use of the patronym is diffused in Italy, they adopt the name of one of their older possessions. Certainly Farnèse would have disappeared in contact with their powerful neighbors, prefects of Rome, counts of Anguillara, lords of Bisenzio, if they had been limited to the borders of their grounds. For this reason they start to share their time between their properties and the city. At the 12th century, they are described as domicelli Tuscanienses because their possessions are located in the diocese of Tuscania. Annals of Orvieto are the testimony of their active presence in this commune. One finds them invested of load of Podestat, consul or bishop, but their main activity is that of condottiere, either while being with the head of the municipal militia for the defense of the city, or by taking share with the disorders caused by the dissensions between parties.

First Farnèse

The first information concerning the Farnese or Farneto is late (about 1210) and refers to the existence of Salted, Lombarde origin and with the territory of Farnèse belonging to a stronghold placed under the protection of Orvieto. In this city, the family members were called the lords " of Farneto" and their presence is largely documented.

First Farnèse of which we have information is certain Pietro, consul of Orvieto into 984.

In 996, another Pietro is ordering pontifical cavalry and, in 1110, it beats the armies gibelines of Tuscany and it most probably founds the borough of Orbetello. It is probable that " Petrus de Farneto" who fights the Norman ones in the Pouilles in 1134 is the same person.

His/her son Prudenzio, consul of Orvieto in 1154 accommodates the pope reducing Adrien IV Rome because of the tumults caused by Arnaud de Brescia. Four years after, same Prudenzio beats exiled of Orvieto supported by the Sienan gibelins.

Another Pietro defends the town of Orvieto of the attack of the emperor Henri VI.

Pepone de Pietro and Ranuce are other important characters of this time, present at the treaty of Paix of Venice in 1177 in the capacity as representatives of the town of Orvieto.

In 1254, Ranuce beats the troops of Todi. Urbain IV takes it with its service against Manfred of Sicily. His/her Niccolò son takes part as commander of the cavalry of Orvieto, within the troops of Charles Ier of Sicily, with the Bataille of Bénévent of the February 26th 1266 during which Manfred finds death, putting an end to the domination Souabe of Italy. Monseigneur Guido is bishop of the town of Orvieto starting from 1302 and it makes increase the duomo to preserve the Corporal stained blood of the Miracle of Bolsena 1263.

Another Pietro is ordering army during the war of 1320 - 1321 against Corneto. Farnèse turn over in Tuscia in 1319. This year, they take possession of the territories of Farnese and of Ischia, of the castle of Salted and that of San Savino, near Tuscania.

In 1340, Farnèse swear a blind obedience with the defenders of the Patrimonio di San Pietro. Thus in 1354, as a sign of gratitude for the military aid provided to the Pontiff for the recovery of the grounds and the castles lost during the captivity inhabitant of Avignon, the cardinal Egidio Albonoz concedes in Puccio, Pietro and Ranuce Farnèse the territory of Valentano.

In 1360, these warriors walk under the banners of Pandolfo d' Anguillara, chief of the faction guelfe against the gibelins ordered by the prefect Giovanni di Vico. In 1362, Pietro Farnèse is general captain of the florentins at the time of the war against Pisa for the control of Volterra. It gains the victory and an equestrian monument is set up in its honor with Santa Maria del Fiore. After its death the following year, it is buried in a sarcophagus in the same church.

In 1368, after the attack of the prefect Giovanni di Vico, Nicolò Farnèse puts initially at the shelter the pontiff Urbain V in the castle of Viterbo then in that of Montefiascone. This evidence of fidelity makes it possible the family to obtain the confirmation of the possessions put under their authority and to obtain a series of privileges on behalf of the apostolic Chambre. This enables them to be connected with the principal families of the time (the Orsini, the Savelli, the Colonna, the Monaldeschi and the Sforza of Santa Fiora) and to found diplomatic relationship with the seigniories of important cities like His while being presented in the form of a dominant family of the Lazio Viola.

The rise of the family

At the 15th century, one witnesses a rise to power of the family so that the territory placed under their influence extends until integrating the Western edge of the lake of Bolsena, including the two islands (Martana and Bisentina) and bandages it territory lain between the hills Vulsini and the sea, until Montalto. The promoter of this new expansion is Ranuce Farnèse the Old man, wire of Pietro and brother of Bartolomeo, stock of the branch of Latera. Ranuce, already in 1408, has the vicariate of Latera. In 1416, His appoints it general captain against the count of Pitigliano (a Orsini). With the victory of 1417, Ranuce is named senator of Rome. Under the terms of the friendship with the family Colonna and in particular with Martin V, it receives the castle of Piansano, then thanks to the favors of the pope Eugene IV, it can accumulate more important richnesses, insert the Farnèse house in the Roman big families, to occupy the grounds of Valturano, Latera, the castle of Marta, Montalto, part of the territories of Tessennano, Canino and Gradoli between 1431 and 1436. In 1434, the same pope confers the badges of the Rosa d' Oro and the to him Gonfalone of the Church ( Gonfalone della Chiesa ). Ranuce marries Agnese Monaldeschi and, among their many children, one can quote: Pier Luigi (Pierre Louis), Gabriele Francesco (Gabriel François) which thereafter wife Isabella Orsini, at the origin of the branch who continues the military action of the family, connects which dies out with the third generation. Ranuce dies on August 10th, 1450.

After the death of Ranuce the Old man, the policy of bringing together of the family with the papal court continues. By the marriage of Pier Luigi Seniore, wire of Ranuce and Giovanella Caetani, girl of Onorato lord of Sermoneta, Farnèse are related with downward of the pope Boniface VIII and thus with most of the Roman nobility. From this marriage are born five children: Angelo, Alessandro, Girolama, Beatrice and Giulia “the beautiful one”. It is really thanks to this “great lady” that their two children Giulia and Alessandro are distinguished within the Roman aristocracy.

Alexandre is born on February 28th, 1468 with the castle from Canino ( Rocca di canino ). Little time after, Farnèse leaves this residence to settle with Valentano. Of 1487 with 1489, Alexandre studies near humanistic the Pomponio Leto in Rome then with the Academy of Laurent de Médicis with Florence where it shines by his intelligence. In 1491, he is secretary and apostolic notary and, the following year, apostolic treasurer. In 1493, the pope Alexandre VI Borgia confers the title of cardinal to him. In Rome, it is question only intrigues between the pope and Giulia “the beautiful one”, sister of Alexandre. The famous Pasquino ignites against Alexandre and Hippolyte d' Este, the two new cardinals with this quatrain: Alexandre, you must in your sister/Giulia makes it be a cardinal, that the skirt/raised, and you, Hippolyte, in the mother/Adriana, which a time was so beautiful . In spite of these scandalmongerings its career does not stop and in 1494 it is named legate of the Inheritance of Saint Pierre in Tuscia. Lastly, even if he is not yet priest, he is named bishop of Corneto and Montefiascone in 1499.

Whereas Alexandre goes on his way to the court of the Borgia pope, Giulia is divided between the stronghold of her husband Orsino Orsini and the room of Alexandre VI. Girolama is married in Pucci of Florence and Angelo, the elder one of wire of Pier Luigi Seniore (death in 1489), assumes the post of “chief of clan” since the castle of Valentano. In 1488, at the time of the marriage with Lella, girl of Nicola Orsini of Pitigliano, their residence grows rich by a splendid court with lower columns and a higher loggia. On the capitals of the columns, in addition to the weapons of the two families, are carved the wishes of fertility and prosperity of the couple with the allegorical representation of the flowers of lily farnésiens. Angelo Farnèse dies in 1494 with Capodimonte and Lella Orsini, to be faithful to the oath of the marriage, becomes sister recluse in the convent of Murate (immured) of Florence.

Even if Alexandre is regarded as a creature of the Borgia pope, his successor and adversary the pope Jules II keeps it with his with dimensions by appointing it legate of the Steps of Ancône in 1502. During this period, it has an illicit relation with Silvia Rufini, widow of Giovanni Battista Crispo with which it has four children: Pier Luigi (1503) and Paolo (1504) legitimated by Jules II, Ranuce and Costanza. In 1509, it is named bishop of Parma and the Christmas Day of 1519, it celebrates the first mass after its ordination. This one coincides with a radical change of mentality and self-discipline related to the purification of manners following the Concile of Thirty. The October 13rd 1534, at the 67 years age, after a conclave which lasts two days, it assembles on the papal throne with the name of Paul III. The new pope encourages the development of new religious congregations: Teatini, Barnabiti and Orselines. He also supports, by the papal bubble Regimi militantis ecclesiae of the September 27th 1540, the Society of Jesus and the congregation of the Roman Inquisition, created to fight with the full powerss against the heresy. Its pontificate is sullied with Népotisme. Immediately after its election, it names cardinal its Alexandre nephews, wire of Pier Luigi, and Guidascanio Sforza, wire of Costanza. But its preferred creature remains his/her oldest son, Pier Luigi, married to Gerolama Orsini of Pitigliano since 1519.

The duchy of Castro

Paul III names his son Pier Luigi " gonfalonier of the holy Romaine" Church; and, in 1537, it grants to him the title of duke of Castro what confers to him the full powerss in the old possessions lain between the sea and the Lac of Bolsena (Castro, Montalto, Musignano, Ponte della Badia, Canino, Cellere, Pianiano, Arlena, Tessennano, Piansano, Valentano, Ischia, Gradoli, Grotte, Borghetto, Bisenzio, Capodimonte, Marta, islands of Bisentina and Martana) and of the county of Ronciglione (Ronciglione even, Caprarola, Nepi, Carbognano , Fabrica di Roma, Canepina, Vallerano, Vignanello, Corchiano, Manor house Sant' Elia).

Castro is selected like capital of the new duchy even if, in 1527, the city undergoes an important confusion by the fault of Alexandre Farnèse who having made it occupy causes the anger of the pope Clément VII. For this reason Castro has on his escutcheon the badges of Farnèse, the crawling lion, three blue lilies and the currency “Castrum Civitas Fidelis”. Farnèse helped by Antonio da Sangallo it Giovane, entirely rebuild the city.

The duchy of Parma and Pleasure

Following creation in 1545 of the duchy of Parma and Plaisance, Pier Luigi gives up Castro and goes to Parma by leaving behind him the territories of the apostolic Chambre for a duchy which is almost a principality.

However Pier Luigi is not accepted by its new subjects and the September 10th 1547, it is assassinated in Plaisance by a group of men under the command of Giovanni Anguissola. Pier Luigi is cut the throat of and his body thrown in the ditch located at the lower part of the palate.

One year after, its widow, the duchess Gerolama Orsini ¹, made exhumed the corpse of his/her husband to make it bury in the tomb of family on the island of Bisentina. The news of death is a terrible blow for the pope, more especially as a conflict with the emperor Charles V for the domination starts on the duchy. The installation on the ducal throne of Octave Farnèse, wire of Pier Luigi, brings a solution.

The November 10th 1549, at the 82 years age, after 15 years of pontificate, Paul III dies out assisted by his/her small Alexandre son who will represent the Farnèse family in Rome during fifty years following.

Alexandre Farnèse, wire elder of Pier Luigi is born with the castle from Valentani the October 7th 1520. He becomes cardinal at age the fourteen years and he immediately is intended for évêché from Parma. The laic and ecclesiastical benefit of which he enjoys are evaluated with five hundred and thousand ecus per annum. This important sum enables him to be essential in second half of the 16th century like a large patron. In 1539, it is sent in Spain like representative of the Saint Sits Apostolic to negotiate peace with the king of France, the transfer of Milan and the marriage of a girl of Charles V. In 1541, he is apostolic nuncio with Avignon and bishop of several dioceses. In 1550, he is a partisan of the election of Jules III who rewards it by definitively allotting to his Octave brother the duchy for Parma and Pleasure. Alexandre Farnèse dies the March 4th 1589.

In 1551, Octave marries Marguerite of Austria, girl of Charles V. It must defend the duchy of Parma and Plaisance of the invasions of the imperial and papal troops, thus reaffirming its own authority. It is him which, with a political agreement with Philippe II of Spain, definitively confirms the capacity of Farnèse on the duchy and it succeeds in maintaining on his emblems the “post of Gonfalonier of the Holy Roman Church” (1566) in recognition of the capacity granted by the Saint Sits. In spite of various important reforms, he escapes a conspiracy perpetrated by the count Claudio Landi (1579 - 1580).

When Octave dies in 1586, his/her son Alexandre (1545 - 1592) succeeds to him. He is married with Marie of Portugal. The duke takes part in the Bataille of Lépante in 1571 at the side of Marcantonio Colonna and with other battles against the infidels in the Balkans. Its military actions facilitate its nomination with the rank of general ordering during the war of Flanders where it finds death in 1592 following his wounds.

The duke Ranuce Ier succeeds Alexandre. He controls the duchy with one comes up of iron during thirty years. In 1599, it marries Marguerite Aldobrandini niece of Clément VIII. In 1611, it thwarts a conspiracy in its opposition and makes stop the many noble ones. A faked lawsuit condemns entreated to the decapitation and the confiscation of their goods. The duke dies in 1622 at the 52 years age.

His/her son Edouard, old hardly ten years, succeeds to him. The regency of the duchy is ensured by his/her mother Marguerite Aldobrandini and her uncle the cardinal Edouard Farnèse. In 1628, Edouard Ier marries Marguerite de Médicis. In 1636, it is implied in the war between France and Spain and, on this occasion, it undergoes a demolished cuisante. Only, the intervention of the pope and the large duke of Tuscany, saves his duchy. In 1641, it uses the revenue of the grounds of Latium to guarantee the very important loans for the creation of Monti Farnesiani. The absence of the payment of refundings is the cause of the first war of Castro against the pope Urbain VIII Barberini. Only the intervention of France restores peace between the two belligerents (1644). Edouard dies in 1646.

His/her son Ranuce II, then 16 years old, succeeds Edouard. During its reign, Farnèses lose Castro because of the nepotism of Paul III who had caused the hatred of many Italian noble houses.

The December 3rd 1649, Giulio Spinola, governor of Viterbe and vice-chancellor of the Inheritance of Saint Pierre of Tuscia, communicates to the pope Innocent X Pamphili the news of the destruction of the town of Castro. The pretext of this decision goes back to the March 18th same year: two killers (Domenico Cocchi de Valentano and Ranuce Zambrini de Gradoli) had killed, near Monterosi, the father barnabite Cristoforo Giarda, had appointed bishop of Castro against wanting it of Farnèse. Innocent X then excommunicates the agents and the executants of the offense, grateful in Ranuce II one of the agents. It then makes occupy the duchy of Castro. Innocent X, by not respecting the established pacts of rendering the September 2nd 1649 between Sansone Asinelli, ordering garrison of Castro, and the commander of the pontifical troops, Davide Vidman, program not only destruction of the fortifications but also total destruction of the city, including the many places of worship. According to the habit, salt is widespread on the ruins of the city and one sets up a column on which “ Ici is written was Castro ”. Following this destruction, Farnèse disappear from Tuschia. The membership of Castro and Ronciglione to the Church of Rome is effective in 1667 by the pope Clément IX.

Ranuce II Marie three times, the first time with Marguerite-Yolande of Savoy (1659) dead three years later, the second time with Isabelle d' Este and the third time with Maria d' Este. Ranuce dies in 1694.

François Farnèse (born in 1678), successor of Ranuce II and husband of the widow of the prince Edouard II, Dorothée Sophie de Neubourg is recognized like a fine policy to have allowed the marriage between his/her beautiful daughter Elisabeth and the king Philippe V of Spain.

To its brutal death in 1727, the duchy passes under the regency of Antoine Farnèse, born in 1679. In 1728, Antoine marries Enrichetta d' Este but he dies in 1731 without leaving of heir. With him, the male line of the Farnèse family dies out.

Arts and Architecture

The family Farnèse was influential at the time of the Renaissance in Italy.

The Farnèse family is famous for the protection which it gave to arts. She had with Rome a Palais Farnèse where she had constituted a collection of the masterpieces of the ancient sculpture. One knows especially the Taureau of Farnèse , today with Naples; the Flora , the Hercules , the Gladiator , known as also of Farnèse.

Many architectural monuments carry the mark and are associated with this family, whether it is in the construction industry or acquisition. As follows:

Some members

Genealogy

Connect Farnèse (1100-1549), joint base

  1. Niccolò Farnèse († February 3rd 1339)

    1. Piero Farnèse († 1363)
    2. Ranuccio Farnèse
      1. Piero von Montalto
        1. Ranuccio Farnèse
          1. Pier Luigi Farnèse († 1487)
            1. Bartolomeo von Montalto
            2. Giulia Farnèse
            3. Alessandro Farnèse (1468 - 1549)

Connect Farnèse-Latera (1549-1622), first part

  1. Alexandre Farnèse (1468 - 1549)

    1. Pierre Louis Farnèse (1503 - 1547)
      1. Alexandre Farnèse (1520 - 1589)
      2. Octave Farnèse (1524 - 1586)
        1. Alexandre Farnèse (1545 - 1592)
          1. Margherita Farnèse (1567 - 1643)
          2. Ranuce I {{er}} Farnèse (1569 - 1622)
          3. Oduardo Farnèse (1573 - 1626 )
      3. Horace Farnèse († 1553)
      4. Ranuce Farnèse (1530 - 1556)
      5. Victoire Farnèse (1513 - 1574)
    2. Ranuce Farnèse († 1529)
    3. Costanza Farnèse

Connect Farnèse-Latera (1569-1766), second part

  1. Ranuccio I {{er}} Farnèse (1569 - 1622)

    1. Alessandro Farnèse (1610 - 1630)
    2. Edouard I {{er}} Farnèse (1612 - 1646)
      1. Ranuccio II Farnèse (1630 - 1694)
        1. Margherita Farnèse (1664 - 1718)
        2. Edouard II Farnèse (1666 - 1693)
          1. Elisabeth Farnèse (1692 - 1766)
        3. François Farnèse (1678 - 1727)
        4. Antoine Farnèse (1679 - 1731)
      2. Alexandre Farnèse (1635 - 1689)
      3. Orazio Farnèse (1636 - 1656)
      4. Piero Farnèse (1639 - 1677)
    3. Maria Farnèse (1615 - 1646)
    4. Vittoria Farnèse (1618 - 1649)
    5. Francesco Farnèse (1620 - 1647)

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