Gerolama Orsini

Gerolama Orsini (1504–1569) sometimes Girolama Orsini was the Duchess of Parma as the wife of Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma. She served as Regent (Governor) of the Duchy of Castro in the name of her son Orazio, Duke of Castro between 1550 and 1553. Biography Born in Pitigliano, she was the daughter of Lodovico Orsini and Giulia Conti. In 1513, an engagement contract between Orsini and Pier Luigi Farnese was drawn up, and in 1519 the wedding was celebrated at Valentano. Her husband was the illegitimate son of Pope Paul III and Silvia Ruffino. The couple had five children, three of whom would have further progeny. When Cardinal Alessandro Farnese became Pope Paul III in 1534, he made his son Pier Luigi captain-general of the Church, in 1537, Duke of Castro, and finally in 1545, Duke of Parma and Piacenza. Gerolama remained in Rome and maintained the family presence at the court of the Pope. She was described as a sensible person capable of making important decisions when necessary, close to the Pope and the interests of her sons. She lived a retired life, but was always actively engaged in maintaining the political interest of her sons.