Margherita Aldobrandini

Margherita Aldobrandini (29 March 1588 — 9 August 1646), was an Italian noblewoman member of the Aldobrandini family and by marriage Duchess consort of Parma and Piacenza during 1600–1622. She was also Regent of both Duchies during 1626–1628 on behalf of her minor son. Life Family and early years Born in the castle of Capodimonte in the Duchy of Castro on 29 March 1588, Margherita was the eldest child and daughter of Gianfrancesco Aldobrandini and Olimpia Aldobrandini, niece of Cardinal Ippolito Aldobrandini, who became in Pope Clement VIII in 1592. In 1593, at the invitation of her uncle, the pontiff, Margherita's parents moved to Rome. The Pope wanted to strengthen the position of the Aldobrandini family in the Papal States and provided patronage to his relatives. Margherita's father enjoyed special confidence in the pontiff, who bestowed on him the titles of Count of Sarsina and Meldola (later elevated to the rank of Prince in 1597), and her mother was his favorite niece. The pontiff also patronized the children of the spouses: he elevated their eldest son Salvestro to the rank of Cardinal, and for the eldest daughters Margherita and Elena began to look husbands of sovereign houses. As suitors for Margherita, the Pope considered the candidacies of princes from the Houses of Savoy and Medici, and even King Henry IV of France. However, the candidates were not interested in the proposal. From 1598, the Pope began negotiations for the marriage of Margherita with Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza. This marriage was supposed to stabilize the relationship between the Houses of Aldobrandini and Farnese and lead to a political alliance between the Holy See and the Duchy of Parma. In the course of lengthy and difficult negotiations, the parties came to an agreement on the amount of the bride's dowry, most of which was paid from the treasury of the Papal States. The marriage agreement was signed in Rome with the active participation of Spanish diplomats and Cardinals Pietro Aldobrandini and Odoardo Farnese.