The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza was created in 1545 through an act of nepotism on the part of Pope Paul III, who invested his son Pier Luigi Farnese with the title of Duke. The Farnese family was not connected to that territory. The new duke’s first acts aimed at concentrating power and reducing the prerogatives of the local aristocracy. Some of the measures he took against the nobles, for example the confiscation of feuds, caused a strong reaction on the part of some of the most illustrious families of Piacenza. In September 1545, several noblemen organized a plot against the Duke, secretly supported by Charles V. Pier Luigi Farnese was killed, whilst Piacenza was occupied by the Emperor’s troops. The most important among the conspirators, […] Landi, obtained a new State, the Principality of Bardi and Compiano, which was separated from the Duchy. The Farneses kept Parma, thus saving the dynasty and the State. The new Duke, mindful of his father’s errors, entered into a binding agreement with Spain (he had married Charles V’s natural daughter) and some years later he managed to regain Piacenza. Since then, however, the Farneses’ policy was strongly influenced by the events of 1545. Showing remarkable cunning, they exploited, both politically and instrumentally, the plots apparently organized by some of the greatest feudal lords (whose actual occurrence is dubious); thus the dukes managed to eliminate from the scene some of the most important families, confiscating their property. A consistent portion of this wealth was appropriated by the reigning family, increasing the resources available to the public purse. The Farneses also invested part of this money, with very good returns. A portion, however, was granted to new noblemen, thus creating a recent aristocracy that owed its high social standing to the dukes. The “policy of crime” therefore helped modify society in the Duchy of Parma, whilst strengthening the consensus towards its ruler.

Power and the elite in the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, between the XVI and XVIII centuries / Podesta', Gian Luca. - ELETTRONICO. - (2008), pp. 1-7. (Intervento presentato al convegno Comparative History of European Cities tenutosi a Lyon nel 27th-30th August 2008).

Power and the elite in the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, between the XVI and XVIII centuries.

PODESTA', Gian Luca
2008-01-01

Abstract

The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza was created in 1545 through an act of nepotism on the part of Pope Paul III, who invested his son Pier Luigi Farnese with the title of Duke. The Farnese family was not connected to that territory. The new duke’s first acts aimed at concentrating power and reducing the prerogatives of the local aristocracy. Some of the measures he took against the nobles, for example the confiscation of feuds, caused a strong reaction on the part of some of the most illustrious families of Piacenza. In September 1545, several noblemen organized a plot against the Duke, secretly supported by Charles V. Pier Luigi Farnese was killed, whilst Piacenza was occupied by the Emperor’s troops. The most important among the conspirators, […] Landi, obtained a new State, the Principality of Bardi and Compiano, which was separated from the Duchy. The Farneses kept Parma, thus saving the dynasty and the State. The new Duke, mindful of his father’s errors, entered into a binding agreement with Spain (he had married Charles V’s natural daughter) and some years later he managed to regain Piacenza. Since then, however, the Farneses’ policy was strongly influenced by the events of 1545. Showing remarkable cunning, they exploited, both politically and instrumentally, the plots apparently organized by some of the greatest feudal lords (whose actual occurrence is dubious); thus the dukes managed to eliminate from the scene some of the most important families, confiscating their property. A consistent portion of this wealth was appropriated by the reigning family, increasing the resources available to the public purse. The Farneses also invested part of this money, with very good returns. A portion, however, was granted to new noblemen, thus creating a recent aristocracy that owed its high social standing to the dukes. The “policy of crime” therefore helped modify society in the Duchy of Parma, whilst strengthening the consensus towards its ruler.
2008
Power and the elite in the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, between the XVI and XVIII centuries / Podesta', Gian Luca. - ELETTRONICO. - (2008), pp. 1-7. (Intervento presentato al convegno Comparative History of European Cities tenutosi a Lyon nel 27th-30th August 2008).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11381/2787296
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