Marguerite Parme Duchess of Parma, illegitimate daughter of Charles V Date of Birth: 28.12.1552 Country: Italy

1. Biography of Margaret of Parma
2. Early Life and Education
3. Marriages and Family
4. Regency and Challenges
5. Downfall and Later Life

Biography of Margaret of Parma

Margaret of Parma was the illegitimate daughter of Charles V, the Duke of Parma. She served as the regent of the Spanish Netherlands from 1559 to 1567. Margaret was the daughter of Charles' mistress, Johanna Maria van der Gheynst, who hailed from Flanders.

Early Life and Education

Margaret was raised in Brussels, initially under the care of her grandmother, Margaret of Austria, and later under the guardianship of her aunt, Mary, the widow of the King of Hungary. Both Margaret of Austria and Mary had served as regents of the Spanish Netherlands at different periods. In 1533, with her father's permission, she was allowed to bear the name Margaret of Austria. At the age of seven, in 1527, she was engaged to Alessandro de' Medici, the Duke of Florence and nephew of Pope Clement VII, whom many researchers believe to be the son of the Pope.

Marriages and Family

On February 29, 1536, Margaret and Alessandro were married, but their union was short-lived when Alessandro was assassinated in 1537. In 1538, she married Ottavio Farnese, the Duke of Parma and grandson of Pope Paul III. Ottavio was thirteen years old at the time, while Margaret was sixteen. Their marriage was an unhappy one, and they had twin boys, one of whom died in infancy.

Regency and Challenges

Due to her familiarity with Dutch customs and her knowledge of the happenings in Brussels, Philip II appointed Margaret as the regent of the Netherlands in 1559. Initially, she was assisted by Granvelle. Like her predecessors, Margaret possessed strong leadership qualities and was intelligent in governing affairs. Additionally, she was devoutly Catholic. However, her task was made more difficult by the growing resistance to the Inquisition and Spanish despotism in the Netherlands.

Downfall and Later Life

In August 1567, the Duke of Alba arrived from Spain with extensive powers granted by Philip II, reducing Margaret's position to a mere formality. Faced with this, she resigned her post and returned to Italy to be with her husband. Margaret passed away in Ortona in 1586. She lived to witness her son, Alessandro, becoming the regent of the Netherlands in 1578.