Duchy of Parma and Piacenza
The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza (Italian: Ducato di Parma e Piacenza, Latin: Ducatus Parmae et Placentiae) was an Italian state created in 1545 and located in northern Italy, in the current region of Emilia-Romagna.
Duchy of Parma and Piacenza | |||||||||||||||||||
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| 1545–1802 (1808) 1814–1859 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Motto: Dirige me Domine! (Latin) Lead me, oh Lord! | |||||||||||||||||||
The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza (green) | |||||||||||||||||||
Northern Italy in 1815. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Duchy | ||||||||||||||||||
| Capital | Parma Piacenza | ||||||||||||||||||
| Common languages | |||||||||||||||||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||||||||||||||||
| Demonym(s) | Parman | ||||||||||||||||||
| Government | |||||||||||||||||||
| Duke | |||||||||||||||||||
• 1545–1547 | Pier Luigi Farnese (first) | ||||||||||||||||||
• 1854–1859 | Robert I (last) | ||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||
• Creation and granting of the title of duke to Pier Luigi Farnese by Pope Paul III | 16 September 1545 | ||||||||||||||||||
• Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle | 24 April 1748 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1 November 1802 | |||||||||||||||||||
• Formal annexation by France | 1808 | ||||||||||||||||||
• Restored | 11 April 1814 | ||||||||||||||||||
• Italian unification | 3 December 1859 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Population | |||||||||||||||||||
• Estimate | 501,000 in the 19th century | ||||||||||||||||||
| Currency | Parman lira | ||||||||||||||||||
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| Today part of | Italy | ||||||||||||||||||
Originally a realm of the Farnese family after Pope Paul III made it a hereditary duchy for his son, Pier Luigi Farnese, it was ruled by the dynasty until 1731, when the last duke, Antonio Farnese, died without direct heirs. After a decade of Habsburg rule, the duchy passed to the House of Bourbon-Parma.
It was invaded by Napoleon and annexed by France, having its sovereignty restored in 1814 after Napoleon's defeat. Napoleon's wife, Marie Louise (Maria Luigia), then ruled as its duchess until her death. Parma was restored to Bourbon rule in 1847, and in 1859, the duchy was formally abolished as it was integrated into the new Italian state.