Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma
| Pier Luigi Farnese | |
|---|---|
Pier Luigi Farnese in a portrait by Titian.
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| Duke of Parma and Piacenza | |
| Reign | 16 September 1545 – 10 September 1547 |
| Predecessor | Position created; Papal States |
| Successor | Ottavio |
| Born | 19 November 1503 |
| Died | 10 September 1547 (aged 43) |
| Spouse | Gerolama Orsini |
| Issue |
Cardinal Alessandro Ottavio, Duke of Parma Cardinal Ranuccio Farnese Vittoria, Duchess of Urbino |
| Father | Pope Paul III |
| Mother | Silvia Ruffini |
Pier Luigi Farnese (19 November 1503 – 10 September 1547) was the first Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro, from 1545 to 1547.
Born in Rome, Pier Luigi was the illegitimate son of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (who later became Pope Paul III). He became a soldier and participated in the sack of Rome in 1527.
Pier Luigi Alexander Farnese was born in 1503 from the union between Cardinal Alexander Farnese (future Pope Paul III) and probably Silvia Ruffini - a Roman noblewoman who also gave birth with Alexander to three other children: Constanza, Paul and Ranuccio.
His illegitimacy tormented Pier Luigi all his life, and doubtless contributed to the formation of his character. The nobility of Piacenza was frequently known to insult him as "the bastard son of the Pope." As the eldest and beloved son he was legitimised along with his brother Paul at the age of two in 1505 by Pope Julius II. He was given a famous humanist tutor, Baldassarre Malosso di Casalmaggiore, nicknamed "Tranquillus," and quickly developed a love of war and fortifications.
Alexander was, however, keen to make Pier Luigi the true head of the Farnese family and so arranged a favourable marriage alliance with Gerolama (also known by the spelling Girolama) Orsini, daughter of Lodovico, Count of Pitigliano. In 1513 the engagement contract was drawn up, and in 1519 the wedding celebrated.
Despite a loveless marriage, Gerolama remained a faithful devoted wife, tolerating Pier Luigi's excesses, brutality, and extravagances with dignity. Delays in the construction at the palace in Gradoli, meant the young couple had to lodge in the Castle at Valentano. The following year their first son Alexander was born.
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Wikipedia