Maria Caterina Farnese
Encyclopedia
Maria Caterina Farnese was a member of the Ducal House of Farnese. She was the Duchess of Modena as the first wife of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena. In some sources she is known simply as Maria Farnese.
to Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma
and his wife Donna Margherita Aldobrandini
, she was the couples sixth child and second daughter.
Her older brother Odoardo Farnese was later the Duke of Parma.
Her mother was Margherita Aldobrandini
, daughter of Olimpia Aldobrandini who in turn, was a member of the House of Aldobrandini of Rome
, and the sole heiress to the family fortune.
She was a propsed bride of Charles II of England
but the marriage plans never materialised Charles instead married Catherine of Braganza
.
She was engaged to Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena, son of the defunct Alfonso III d'Este, Duke of Modena and Princess
Isabella of Savoy
.
She married Francesco on 11 January 1631 in Parma
; the marriage produced nine children, three of which went on to have progeny.
She died in July 1646 having give birth to a son. She died at the Ducal Palace of Sassuolo
outside Modena, the summer residence of the Dukes of Modena.
Her nephew Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma
married two of Maria Caterina's daughters, Isabella in 1664 and Maria
in 1668. Isabella died in childbirth like her mother. Her husband married again twice, firstly to her sister Vittoria Farnese in 1648 and then to Lucrezia Barberini who was the mother of Rinaldo d'Este, Duke of Modena.
Biography
Born in ParmaParma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
to Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma
Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma
Ranuccio I Farnese reigned as Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro from 1592. A firm believer in absolute monarchy, Ranuccio, in 1594, centralised the administration of Parma and Piacenza, thus rescinding the nobles' hitherto vast prerogative...
and his wife Donna Margherita Aldobrandini
Margherita Aldobrandini
Margherita Aldobrandini was a Duchess consort of Parma. She was the regent of Parma 1626-1628.-Life:...
, she was the couples sixth child and second daughter.
Her older brother Odoardo Farnese was later the Duke of Parma.
Her mother was Margherita Aldobrandini
Margherita Aldobrandini
Margherita Aldobrandini was a Duchess consort of Parma. She was the regent of Parma 1626-1628.-Life:...
, daughter of Olimpia Aldobrandini who in turn, was a member of the House of Aldobrandini of Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, and the sole heiress to the family fortune.
She was a propsed bride of Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
but the marriage plans never materialised Charles instead married Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza
Catherine of Braganza was a Portuguese infanta and queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the wife of King Charles II.She married the king in 1662...
.
She was engaged to Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena, son of the defunct Alfonso III d'Este, Duke of Modena and Princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
Isabella of Savoy
Isabella of Savoy
Isabella of Savoy was a daughter of Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and Catherine Michelle of Spain. Her maternal grandparents where Philip II of Spain and Elisabeth of Valois, her paternal grandparents where Charles Emmanuel I, Duke of Savoy and Margaret of France, Duchess of Berry...
.
She married Francesco on 11 January 1631 in Parma
Parma
Parma is a city in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna famous for its ham, its cheese, its architecture and the fine countryside around it. This is the home of the University of Parma, one of the oldest universities in the world....
; the marriage produced nine children, three of which went on to have progeny.
She died in July 1646 having give birth to a son. She died at the Ducal Palace of Sassuolo
Ducal palace of Sassuolo
thumb|250px|Façade.The Ducal Palace in Sassuolo is a Baroque villa located in the town of Sassuolo, near Modena, northern Italy.-History:The palace was built on the site of a medieval castle or rocca...
outside Modena, the summer residence of the Dukes of Modena.
Her nephew Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma
Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma
Ranuccio II Farnese was the sixth Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1646 until his death nearly 50 years later.-Birth and Succession:...
married two of Maria Caterina's daughters, Isabella in 1664 and Maria
Maria d'Este
Maria d'Este was a Modenese princess and Duchess of Parma as the wife of Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma. She was a daughter of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and Maria Caterina Farnese.-Family:...
in 1668. Isabella died in childbirth like her mother. Her husband married again twice, firstly to her sister Vittoria Farnese in 1648 and then to Lucrezia Barberini who was the mother of Rinaldo d'Este, Duke of Modena.
Issue
- Alfonso d'Este, Hereditary Prince of Modena (1632) died in infancy.
- Alfonso IV d'Este, Duke of Modena (2 February 1634 – 16 July 1662) married Laura MartinozziLaura MartinozziLaura Martinozzi was a Duchess consort of Modena. On the death of her husband, she became the regent of the Duchy in the name of her son, Francesco.-Biography:...
and had issue. - Isabella d'Este (3 October 1635 – 21 August 1666) married Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of ParmaRanuccio II Farnese, Duke of ParmaRanuccio II Farnese was the sixth Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1646 until his death nearly 50 years later.-Birth and Succession:...
and had issue. - Leonore d'Este (1639–1640) died in infancy.
- Tedald d'Este (1640–1643) died in infancy.
- Almerigo d'Este (8 May 1641 – 14 November 1660) died unmarried.
- Eleonore d'Este (1643 - 24 February 1722) died unmarried.
- Maria d'Este (8 December 1644 – 20 August 1684) married Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of ParmaRanuccio II Farnese, Duke of ParmaRanuccio II Farnese was the sixth Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1646 until his death nearly 50 years later.-Birth and Succession:...
and had issue. - Tedald d'Este (1646) died in infancy.
Titles and styles
- 18 February 1615 – 11 January 1631 Her Highness Maria Caterina Farnese, Princess of Parma
- 11 January 1631 – 25 July 1646 Her Highness the Duchess of Modena