Ferdinand, Duke of Parma

Ferdinand
Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Guastalla
Reign	18 July 1765–9 October 1802
Predecessor	Philip
Spouse	Archduchess Maria Amalia of Austria
Issue
Princess Caroline of Parma Louis of Parma Princess Marie-Antoinette of Parma
House	House of Bourbon-Parma
Father	Philip, Duke of Parma
Mother	Princess Louise-Elisabeth of France
Born	20 January 1751(1751-01-20) Ducal Palace of Colorno, Parma, Modern day Italy
Died	9 October 1802(1802-10-09) (aged 51) Fontevivo, Modern day Italy

Ferdinand Maria Philip Louis Sebastian Francis James of Parma (20 January 1751 – 9 October 1802) was Duke of Parma from 1765 to 1802. He was the second child and only son of Philip, Duke of Parma and Princess Louise-Élisabeth of France, eldest daughter of Louis XV of France and Maria Leszczyńska. His paternal grandparents were Philip V of Spain (in turn a grandson of Louis XIV) and his second wife, Elisabeth of Parma.

Life

Born at the Ducal Palace of Colorno, he was considered to be the favorite grandson of his maternal grandfather King Louis XV of France. As a grandson in the male line of King Philip V of Spain, he was also an Infante of Spain.

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  His father

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  His mother as Duchess of Parma by Louis-Michel van Loo

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  (L-R) Ferdinand; Maria Luisa; Mother; Father and Isabella is to the right

Marriage

As the heir to one of the largest collection of sovereign duchies, Ferdinand was an attractive candidate for many royal ladies of Europe. Probable candidates included the heiress Princess Maria Beatrice Ricciarda of Modena, daughter of Ercole III of Modena and (like Ferdinand) an in law of Marie Antoinette. His possible marriage to Princess Maria Beatrice was, however, very unlikely since the latter had been engaged to Archduke Leopold of Austria (later Emperor Leopold II)at a very young age and later on to Leopold's younger brother, Archduke Ferdinand, upon the death of an older brother, Archduke Charles. It is likely that a union between Parma and Modena was only promoted in vain by Parma's Minister, Du Tillot, since the engagement of Modena's heiress to an Austrian Archduke was already agreed very early on. Another candidate was Louise Marie Thérèse Bathilde d'Orléans who offered a very large dowry; she was the only surviving daughter of Louis Philippe d'Orléans, duc d'Orléans. She was the sister of Philippe Égalité.

The decision of who his future spouse would be, was sealed by his mother's close correspondence with the powerful Empress Maria Theresa of Austria who had promised Ferdinand's parents the throne of the Netherlands, which had been returned to Austrian rule under the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. This never occurred and, as a result, an alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire was used to cement the two nations. This alliance was also encouraged by the Parmese Prime Minister Guillaume du Tillot who had worked at Versailles and had been exiled by Louis XV of France due to his liberal ideas which were not looked upon with much enthusiasm by those at Versailles.

The Prime Minister was again used during Ferdinand's reign when he lost his father in 1765 aged 14. Negotiations and ideas were passed from Vienna to Parma and in 1769, Ferdinand was to marry the Archduchess Maria Amalia of Austria; the eighth child of the Empress and older sister of the Queen of Naples and Sicily and the future Queen of France. Maria Amalia had a marriage by proxy in Vienna on 27 June and left her home on 1 July. The future duchess would meet her husband at Mantua on 16 July. His wife was with her brother Joseph II, Holy Roman Emperor and Ferdinand with members of the Sforza family. On 19 July there was a formal ceremony for all at the Ducal Palace of Colorno where Ferdinand had been born. During many festivities, the couple made their official entrance to Parma on 24 July. They had the following children:

Children

• Princess Carolina Maria Teresa Giuseppa of Parma (22 November 1770–1 March 1804), married Prince Maximilian of Saxony
• Prince Louis Francis Philibert of Parma (5 July 1773–27 May 1803). Married his cousin born Maria Luisa Josefa Antonietta Vicentia of Spain and had issue; was the first of only two Kings of Etruria.
• Princess Maria Antonia Giuseppa Walburga Anna Luisa Vicenza Margherita Caterina of Parma (28 November 1774–1841), who became an Ursuline abbess.
• Princess Carlotta Maria of Parma (7 September 1777–1812), who became a prioress.
• Prince Felipe of Parma (22 May 1783–1786)
• Princess Antoina Luigia of Parma (21 October 1784)
• Princess Luigia Maria of Parma (17 April 1787–1789)
• Princess X of Parma - Stillborn Daughter ( 21 May 1789) (twin)
• Prince X of Parma - Stillborn Son ( 21 May 1789) (twin)

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  His wife

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  Duke Ferdinand of Parma with Maria Amalia

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  Prince Louis Francis Philibert of Parma

Ferdinand ceded the Duchy of Parma to France in the Treaty of Aranjuez (1801).

The Treaty of Aranjuez was signed on 21 March 1801 between France and Spain. The overall accord confirmed the terms presented in the Treaty of San Ildefonso. Moreover, Ferdinand agreed to surrender the Duchy of Parma (with Piacenza and Guastalla) to France. Ferdinand's son Louis received the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, which became the Kingdom of Etruria. Ferdinand III, the Habsburg Grand Duke of Tuscany, was compensated with the secularized territories of the Archbishop of Salzburg.

He died in Parma at age 51, suspected to be poisoned although French authorities cited another reason for his death. On his deathbed, however, he named a regency council with his wife Maria Amalia as its head, clearly still opposing the terms of the Treaty of Aranjuez regarding his duchy. The regency lasted only for days and the Duchy of Parma was annexed to France.

Ancestry

Titles and Styles

• 20 January 1751 - 18 July 1765 His Royal Highness Prince Ferdinand of Parma^[1]
• 18 July 1765 - 9 October 1802 His Royal Highness the Duke of Parma, Plasencia and Guastalla

References

1. ^ http://www.heraldica.org/topic Style of HRH and further information on Princes of the Blood

Ferdinand, Duke of Parma House of Bourbon-Parma Cadet branch of the House of Capet Born: 20 January 1751 Died: 9 October 1802
Regnal titles
Preceded by Philip	Duke of Parma, Plasencia and Guastalla 1765–1802	Succeeded by Annexed by First French Republic

Titles and Succession
Persondata Name Ferdinand, , Duke Of Parma Alternative names Short description Date of birth 20 January 1751 Place of birth Ducal Palace of Colorno, Parma, Modern day Italy Date of death 9 October 1802 Place of death Fontevivo, Modern day Italy