Flavia Peretti Damasceni

Flavia Damasceni Peretti, Duchess of Bracciano (1574, Rome – 14 September 1606, Republic of Florence) was an Italian noblewoman, niece of Pope Sixtus V and duchess consort of Bracciano as wife of Virginio Orsini. She is also known as the patroness of several poets, writers and musicians. Biography Flavia was born in 1574, Rome, as the daughter of Fabio Damasceni and Maria Felicita Peretti. She had a sister, Orsina, and two brothers, Alessandro and Michele. Her maternal grandmother was the sister of Cardinal Felice Peretti (future Pope Sixtus V, 1585-1590). Cardinal Peretti adopted Flavia and her siblings, gave them his surname and took care of their education, having them raised by Lucrezia Salviati, natural daughter of Cardinal Bernardo Salviati and wife of Latino Orsini. Orsina married Marcantonio Colonna, Duke of Tagliacozzo; Alessandro became Cardinal and Michele became Prince of Venafro. Flavia, described as a blonde girl of remarkable beauty, was asked in marriage by Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma; and by Charles I of Guise, Duke of Guise. However, Ferdinando de' Medici, brother of Francesco I of Tuscany, given her in marriage to Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano. Virginio's mother, Isabella de' Medici, was Ferdinando and Francesco's sister. The two were married by proxy on 20 March 1589. The ceremony was celebrated by Fabio Biondi, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and the bride's dowry was 100,000 scudi. At least two songs were composed for the occasion: Nelle nozze degl’ill.mi sig.ri il sig. don Verginio Orsino e la signora donna Flavia Peretta of Baldo Catani and Nelle felicissime nozze de… don Verginio Orsino… & donna Flavia Peretta of Giovanni Girolamo Fiorelli. The couple had twelve children, nine of whom survived.