Margaret of Parma

Margaret of Parma
Portrait by Antonio Moro, circa 1562
Duchess consort of Florence
Tenure	18 January 1536 – 6 January 1537
Duchess consort of Parma
Tenure	10 September 1547 – 18 January 1586
Born	5 July 1522 Oudenaarde, Flanders, Holy Roman Empire
Died	18 January 1586(1586-01-18) (aged 63) Palazzo Farnese, Ortona, Naples
Spouse	Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence (m 18 January 1536) Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma (m 4 November 1538)
Issue	Carlo, Hereditary Prince of Parma Alessandro, Duke of Parma Ersilia, Countess of Arona
House	Habsburg
Father	Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Mother	Johanna Maria van der Gheynst
Signature

Margaret of Parma (5 July 1522 – 18 January 1586) was Governor of the Netherlands from 1559 to 1567 and from 1578 to 1582. She was the illegitimate daughter of the then 22-year-old Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Johanna Maria van der Gheynst. She was a Duchess of Florence and a Duchess of Parma and Piacenza by her two marriages.

First marriage

On 18 January 1536, she married Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence. They had no issue.

Second marriage

On 4 November 1538, she married Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma.

Issue

1. Hereditary Prince Carlo Farnese of Parma (27 August 1545 – September 1545), heir to the Duchy of Parma but died young.
2. Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma (27 August 1545 – 3 December 1592) married Infanta Maria of Portugal and had issue.
3. Violante Farnese married Torquato Conti and had issue.
4. Ersilia Farnese (1565–1596) married Renato Borromeo, Count of Arona and had issue.