Maria Caterina Farnese

Maria Caterina Farnese (18 February 1615 – 25 July 1646) was a member of the Ducal House of Farnese. She was Duchess of Modena as the first wife of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena. In some sources she is known simply as Maria Farnese. Biography Born in Parma to Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma and his wife, Donna Margherita Aldobrandini, she was the couple’s sixth child and second daughter. Her older brother Odoardo Farnese was later the Duke of Parma. Her mother was Margherita Aldobrandini, daughter of Gianfrancesco and Olimpia Aldobrandini who in turn, was a member of the House of Aldobrandini of Rome, and the sole heiress to the family fortune.