Vittoria Farnese

Vittoria Farnese, also known as Vittoria, Princess of Parma , and by her married name Vittoria Farnese della Rovere (10 August 1519 – 13 December 1602), was an Italian noblewoman, Duchess consort of Urbino from 1548 until 1574 by marriage to Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino.

Life Family and early years Born on 10 August 1519 at the family castle at Valentano in Tuscany (current province of Viterbo), Vittoria was the first child and only daughter of Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Castro, Parma and Piacenza, and Gerolama Orsini. Her paternal grandparents were Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (who in 1534 became in Pope Paul III) and his mistress Silvia Ruffini; and her maternal grandparents were the Condottiero Ludovico Orsini, Count of Pitigliano and Giulia Conti. Vittoria grew up in the castle of Gradoli and was mainly raised by her mother, almost not seeing her father, who was on military campaigns. She received a good education at home. During her marriage, Vittoria gave birth to nine children, of whom only three survived infancy: Costanza (born and died 1553). Alessandro (born and died 1556). Federico (1557–1560). Lavinia Feltria (16 January 1558 – 7 June 1632), married in 1583 with Alfonso Felice II d'Ávalos, Marquis del Vasto. Vittoria (1561–1566).

In addition to her children, Vittoria raised her nieces Clelia (illegitimate daughter of her brother Cardinal Alessandro Farnese) and Lavinia (illegitimate daughter of her other brother, Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma). She also took care of the upbringing and education of Ippolito and Giuliano, the illegitimate sons of her brother-in-law, Cardinal Giulio della Rovere. According to contemporary sources, the Duchess was well aware of all matters in the possessions of her husband and used this in favor of her grandfather-pontiff to strengthen the position of the Duchy of Urbino. She acted as a mediator in resolving disputes between family members. In 1569 she managed to convince her brother-in-law, Cardinal Giulio della Rovere, to cede the Duchy of Sora to his nephew Francesco Maria, Vittoria's son. In 1579, Francesco Maria sold this feud to the Boncompagni family to pay off part of the debts he inherited from his late father. and the other a copy of this one made by Camilla Guerierri who is currently at the Civic Museum of Palazzo Mosca in Pesaro.