Sanvitale conspiracy

Barbara Sanseverino, portrait by an unknown painter, now in the Palazzo Ducale of Colorno

The Sanvitale conspiracy (Italian: Congiura dei Sanvitale) was a plot to assassinate Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza, and members of his family at the baptism of his new-born son Alessandro in 1611. The conspiracy may also be referred to in Italian as the congiura dei feudatari, "conspiracy of the feudal lords", or as the congiura del 1611, "conspiracy of 1611".[1]

The plot was exposed and the conspirators were arrested and tortured.[2] They were found guilty of lèse-majesté and ten of them were publicly executed in Parma on 19 May 1612; the event was called the gran giustizia, or "great justice", and attracted attention throughout Italy and abroad. The gran giustizia brought immediate advantages to the Farnese, who were at the same time rid of troublesome rivals and enriched by the appropriation of their money and lands. However many, including some in powerful foreign courts, believed that the plot had been entirely fabricated by Ranuccio for exactly these purposes. Ranuccio's reputation was seriously and permanently damaged. The question of whether the plot was real or a fabrication is still open.[3]

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