Margherita Aldobrandini

Margherita Aldobrandini (29 March 1588 — 9 August 1646), was an Italian noblewoman member of the Aldobrandini family and by marriage Duchess consort of Parma and Piacenza during 1600–1622. She was also Regent of both Duchies during 1626–1628 on behalf of her minor son.

Life Family and early years Born in the castle of Capodimonte in the Duchy of Castro on 29 March 1588, Margherita was the eldest child and daughter of Gianfrancesco Aldobrandini and Olimpia Aldobrandini, (Margherita's parents were distant cousins, both members of the Aldobrandini family: Gianfrancesco was a descendant of Jacopo Aldobrandini (born ca.) 1388), Priori di Libertà during 1431–1437, while Olimpia was a descendant of Jacopo's older brother Aldobrandino Aldobrandini (died 1453), also Priori di Libertà in 1417 and Gonfaloniere di Giustizia della Repubblica di Firenze in 1434. In 1593, at the invitation of her uncle, the pontiff, Margherita's parents moved to Rome. The Pope wanted to strengthen the position of the Aldobrandini family in the Papal States and provided patronage to his relatives. Margherita's father enjoyed special confidence in the pontiff, who bestowed on him the titles of Count of Sarsina and Meldola (later elevated to the rank of Prince in 1597), and her mother was his favorite niece. The pontiff also patronized the children of the spouses: he elevated their eldest son Salvestro to the rank of Cardinal, and for the eldest daughters Margherita and Elena began to look for husbands of sovereign houses.

As suitors for Margherita, the Pope considered the candidacies of princes from the Houses of Savoy and Medici, and even King Henry IV of France. However, the candidates were not interested in the proposal. From 1598, the Pope began negotiations for the marriage of Margherita with Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza. This marriage was supposed to stabilize the relationship between the Houses of Aldobrandini and Farnese and lead to a political alliance between the Holy See and the Duchy of Parma. In the course of lengthy and difficult negotiations, the parties came to an agreement on the amount of the bride's dowry, most of which was paid from the treasury of the Papal States. The marriage agreement was signed in Rome with the active participation of Spanish diplomats and Cardinals Pietro Aldobrandini and Odoardo Farnese.

In 1610, Margherita finally gave birth a child who survived. The boy, named Alessandro after his paternal grandfather, raised the hopes of the court until it became clear that he was deaf and, as a result, dumb. After numerous unsuccessful attempts to correct his condition, in 1618 Alessandro was officially declared unable to govern the state. The position of Ducal heir went instead to Odoardo, Margherita's second surviving child, born in 1612. By this time the gynecological problems of Margherita had apparently been resolved: between 1613 and 1620 she gave birth to five more children, three of whom survived infancy. To the delight of Margherita, the illegitimate Ottavio Farnese was removed from court. He resented his demotion and was caught participating in a conspiracy against his father, after which he was confined in the Rocchetta prison until his death.

Like most political marriages in the House of Farnese, Margherita's union was unhappy. The interests of the relatives of the Duchess and her husband often overlapped, which led to conflicts between them. The hot-tempered and cruel Duke Ranuccio I did not change his love habits: Margherita had to be patient with the Duke's promiscuous relationships with other women. According to contemporaries, the Duchess had a meek character. She was a pious woman, helped the poor and the sick, and patronized the monks, especially the Theatines, whom in 1629 she helped to settle down at the Church of St. Christina in Parma. Margherita loved art and poetry, patronized the poet Claudio Achillini, whom she helped to take a chair at the University of Parma. Only once during the years of marriage did the Duchess travel with her husband outside Parma: in 1620, they paid an official visit to Piacenza, where they attended the unveiling of the equestrian monuments of the Duke and his father Alessandro Farnese. Alessandro Francesco Maria Farnese (8 August 1602), Hereditary Prince of Parma and Piacenza, died at birth. Maria Farnese (5 September 1603), died at birth. Alessandro Farnese (5 September 1610 – 24 July 1630), Hereditary Prince of Parma and Piacenza, deaf and dumb from the birth, excluded from the succession. Odoardo Farnese, Duke of Parma (28 April 1612 – 11 September 1646), married Margherita de' Medici and had issue. Orazio Farnese (7 July 1613 – 28 February 1614), died in infancy. Maria Caterina Farnese (18 February 1615 – 25 July 1646), married Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and had issue. Maria Farnese (29 April 1618), died at birth. Vittoria Farnese (29 April 1618 – 10 Aug 1649), married Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena and had issue. Francesco Maria Farnese (19 August 1620 – 13 July 1647), Cardinal.