Alessandro Farnese (cardinal)

This article is about the cardinal from 1534 to 1589. For the earlier cardinal of the same name, see Pope Paul III.
His Eminence

Alessandro Farnese
Archpriest of Saint Peter's Basilica
Portrait by Titian, c. 1545-1546
ChurchRoman Catholic
In office1543–1589
PredecessorFrancesco Cornaro
SuccessorGiovanni Evangelista Palotta
Other post(s)Dean of the College of Cardinals (1580–89)
Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia
(1580–89)
Cardinal-Priest of San Lorenzo in Damaso (1564–89)
Previous post(s)Cardinal-Bishop of Porto e Santa Rufina (1578–80)
Archbishop of Monreale (1568–73)
Cardinal-Bishop of Frascati (1565–78)
Cardinal-Bishop of Sabina (1564–65)
Patriarch of Jerusalem
(1539– c. 1550)
Orders
Created cardinal18 December 1534
by Pope Paul III
RankCardinal-Bishop
Personal details
Born7 October 1520
Castello Valentano, Valentano
Died2 March 1589(1589-03-02) (aged 68)
Rome, Papal States
BuriedIl Gesù, Rome
NationalityTuscan
ResidenceAvignon, Rome
ParentsPierluigi Farnese
Girolama Orsini
ChildrenClelia Farnese
Occupation
  • Papal nephew
  • diplomat
  • administrator
EducationBologna (law)

Alessandro Farnese (5 October 1520[1] – 2 March 1589), an Italian cardinal and diplomat and a great collector and patron of the arts, was the grandson of Pope Paul III (who also bore the name Alessandro Farnese), and the son of Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma, who was murdered in 1547. He should not be confused with his nephew, Alessandro Farnese, Governor of the Spanish Netherlands, grandson of Emperor Charles V and great-grandson of Pope Paul III.

  1. ^ P. Rosini, Il Palazzo Farnese di Caprarola (2015), pp. 2-3, provides evidence to indicate that the actual birthday was September 27.