Farnese

Farnese, the name of an illustrious Italian family, three members of whom occupy a prominent position in history. ALESSANDRO FARNESE was raised to the papal see in 1534 as Paul III. (q.v.). He founded the duchy of Parma and Piacenza.—ALESSANDRO FARNESE (1546-92), son of the second duke, and one of the most skilful generals of his age, first distinguished himself at Lepanto (1571). Afterwards, as governor of the Spanish Netherlands, he captured Antwerp (1585) for Philip II., and compelled Henry IV. of France to raise the siege of Paris (1590).—ELIZABETH FARNESE (1692-1766) became the wife of Philip V. of Spain in 1714, and was a warm supporter of the policy of Alberoni, Philip's minister.—The three pieces of antique sculpture (the Farnese Hercules, Flora, and Bull) were removed about 1790 from the Farnese Palace at Rome to the national museum at Naples.