Duchy of Parma and Piacenza

Duchy of Parma and Piacenza Ducato di Parma e Piacenza (Italian) Ducatus Parmae et Placentiae (Latin)
1545–1802 (1808) 1814–1859
Top: 1545–1731 Bottom: 1851–1859 Coat of Arms under the Farnese Coat of Arms under the Bourbon-Parma
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	Emilian Italian Latin
Religion	Roman Catholicism
Demonym(s)	Parman
Government	Absolute monarchy Duchy
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
• French administration	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
Preceded by Succeeded by Papal States Taro (department) Duchy of Guastalla Kingdom of Etruria Taro (department) Kingdom of Etruria United Provinces of Central Italy
Today part of	Italy

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.^[1]

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.^[1][2] 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.^[1]