The House of Bourbon-Parma () is an Italian cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, whose members once ruled as King of Etruria and as Duke of Parma and Piacenza, Guastalla, and Lucca. The House descended from the French Capetian dynasty in male line. Its name of Bourbon-Parma comes from the main name (Bourbon) and the other (Parma) from the title of Duke of Parma. The title was held by the Bourbons, as the founder Philip, Duke of Parma who was the great-grandson of Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma, married Louise Élisabeth of France, getting the house of Bourbon, and the state of Parma, together. The House of Bourbon-Parma is today the Sovereign House of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (agnatically) and all members of the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg are members of the House of Bourbon-Parma with the title of "Princes/Princesses" and the predicate of Royal Highness."All members of the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg, descendants of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix, were incorporated into the Bourbon-Parma Family, by grant to Prince Felix from his nephew, Duke Roberto Ugo, in 1964. All members of The Grand Ducal family of Luxembourg have since then been Princes and Princesses of Parma and Piacenza, or of Bourbon-Parma, with the treatment of Royal Highness. The title can be revoked from a descendant of Prince Felix only under the order of the Duke of Parma and Piacenza..."

Duchy of Parma The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545 from that part of the Duchy of Milan south of the Po River, as a fief for Pope Paul III's illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese, centered on the city of Parma. In 1556, the second Duke, Ottavio Farnese, was given the city of Piacenza, becoming thus also Duke of Piacenza, and so the state was thereafter properly known as the Duchies of Parma and Piacenza.

The House of Farnese continued to rule the duchies until 1731 and the death of the last male-line duke, Antonio. Upon his death the duchy passed to Infante Charles of Spain, the heir to the duchy through his mother, Elisabeth Farnese. However by the terms of the Treaty of Vienna (1738) Charles had to give up the duchy to Austria.

Temporary Habsburg rule The Habsburgs only ruled until the conclusion of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748, when it was ceded back to the Bourbons in the person of Philip of Spain, Charles's younger brother. As Duke Philip, he became the founder of the House of Bourbon-Parma.

In 1796, the duchy was occupied by French troops under Napoleon Bonaparte and absorbed into the Cisalpine Republic and Kingdom of Italy.

In 1814, the duchies were restored under Napoleon's Habsburg wife, Marie Louise, who was to rule them for her lifetime. The duchy was renamed the Duchy of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla.

Return to the Bourbons After Marie Louise's death in 1847, the duchy was restored to the Bourbon-Parma line, which had been ruling the tiny Duchy of Lucca. As part of the return, the Duchy of Guastalla was transferred to the Duchy of Modena. The Bourbons ruled until 1859, when they were driven out by a revolution following the Franco-Sardinian victory in their war against Austria.

The duchies of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla and the Duchy of Lucca joined with the Grand Duchy of Tuscany and the Duchy of Modena to form the United Provinces of Central Italy in December 1859, and were annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia in March 1860. The House of Bourbon continues to claim the title of Duke of Parma to this day. Carlos-Hugo (Carlist pretender to the Spanish throne in the 1970s) held the title from 1977 to his death. His son now claims the title.

List of dukes

House of Bourbon-Parma (1731–1735)

Duke Portrait Birth Marriages DeathCharles, Duke of Parma1731–1735 20 January 1716Madridson of Philip V of Spain and Elizabeth of ParmaMaria Amalia of Saxony173813 children14 December 1788Madridaged 72

House of Bourbon-Parma (1748–1802) Duke Portrait Birth Marriages DeathPhilip, Duke of Parma1748–1765 15 March 1720Madridson of Philip V of Spain and Elizabeth of ParmaLouise-Elisabeth de Bourbon25 October 17393 children18 July 1765Alessandriaaged 45Ferdinand I, Duke of Parma1765–1802 20 January 1751Parmason of Philip, Duke of Parma and Louise-Elisabeth de BourbonArchduchess Maria Amalia of Austria19 July 17699 children9 October 1802Fontevivoaged 51

During the French ownership of the Duchy of Parma, the title of Duke of Parma was used as an honorary form and style. From 1808, the title was used by Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès. He kept the style of Duke of Parma until 1814. Only in 1847 was the actual title restored to the Bourbons, after a period of being held by Marie Louise of Austria, who was a Habsburg and the second wife of Napoleon I.

House of Bourbon-Parma (1847–1859) Duke Portrait Birth Marriages DeathCharles II, Duke of Parma1847–1848 22 December 1799Madridson of Louis of Etruria and Maria Louisa, Duchess of LuccaMaria Teresa of Savoy5 September 18202 children16 April 1883Niceaged 84Charles III, Duke of Parma1848–1854 14 January 1823Luccason of Charles II, Duke of Parma and Princess Maria Teresa of SavoyPrincess Louise Marie Thérèse of France10 November 18454 children27 March 1854Parmaaged 31Robert I, Duke of Parma1854–1859 9 July 1848Florenceson of Charles III, Duke of Parma and Louise Marie Thérèse of ArtoisMaria Pia of the Two Sicilies5 April 186912 childrenMaria Antonia of Portugal15 October 188412 children16 November 1907Viareggioaged 59

Titular dukes of Parma (since 1859)

Duke Portrait Birth Marriages DeathRobert, Duke of Parma1859–1907titular 9 July 1848Florenceson of Charles III, Duke of Parma and Louise Marie Thérèse of ArtoisMaria Pia of the Two Sicilies5 April 186912 childrenMaria Antonia of Portugal15 October 188412 children16 November 1907Viareggioaged 59Henry, Duke of Parma1907–1939titular 13 June 1873Warteggson of Robert I, Duke of Parma and Maria Pia of the Two Sicilies never married 16 November 1939Pianoreaged 66Joseph, Duke of Parma1939–1950titular 30 June 1875Biarritzson of Robert I, Duke of Parma and Maria Pia of the Two Sicilies never married 7 January 1950Pianoreaged 75Elias, Duke of Parma1950–1959titular 23 July 1880Biarritzson of Robert I, Duke of Parma and Maria Pia of the Two SiciliesMaria Anna of Austria25 May 1903Vienna8 children 27 June 1959Friedbergaged 79Robert II, Duke of Parma1959–1974titular 7 August 1909Weilburgson of Elias, Duke of Parma and Maria Anna of Austrianever married 25 November 1974Viennaaged 65Xavier, Duke of Parma1974–1977titular 25 May 1889Viareggioson of Robert I, Duke of Parma and Maria Antonia of PortugalMadeleine de Bourbon-Busset12 November 1927Lignières6 children 7 May 1977Zizersaged 87Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma1977–2010titular 8 April 1930Parisson of Xavier, Duke of Parma and Madeleine de Bourbon-BussetPrincess Irene of the Netherlands29 April 1964Rome4 children 18 August 2010Barcelonaaged 80Carlos, Duke of Parmasince 2010titular 27 January 1970Nijmegenson of Carlos Hugo, Duke of Parma and Princess Irene of the NetherlandsAnnemarie Gualthérie van Weezel20 November 2010Brussels3 children incumbent

See also Descendants of Louis XIV of France Duke of Parma Order of Prohibited Legitimacy History of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza

Notes

References

External links

Royal and Ducal House of Bourbon-Parma Website of the House of Bourbon-Parma