Ranuccio I Farnese

Ranuccio I
Duke of Parma and Piacenza
Reign3 December 1592 – 5 March 1622
PredecessorAlessandro
SuccessorOdoardo
Born28 March 1569
Parma, Duchy of Parma and Piacenza
Died5 March 1622(1622-03-05) (aged 52)
Parma, Duchy of Parma and Piacenza
Burial
SpouseMargherita Aldobrandini
Issue(illeg.) Prince Ottavio
Odoardo, Duke of Parma
Maria, Duchess of Modena and Reggio
Vittoria, Duchess of Modena
Cardinal Francesco Maria
HouseFarnese
FatherAlexander Farnese, Duke of Parma
MotherMaria of Portugal
ReligionRoman Catholicism

Ranuccio I Farnese (28 March 1569 – 5 March 1622) reigned as Duke of Parma, Piacenza and Castro from 1592. A firm believer in absolute monarchy, Ranuccio, in 1594, centralised the administration of Parma and Piacenza, thus rescinding the nobles' hitherto vast prerogative.