Duchy of Parma

Duchy of Parma Ducato di Parma  (Italian)
1545–1802 (1808) 1814–1859
Flag Coat of arms
The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza (green)
Status	State of the Holy Roman Empire (until 1806)
Capital	Parma
Common languages	Italian, Emilian
Religion	Roman Catholic
Government	Principality
Duke of Parma
• 1545–1547	Pier Luigi Farnese (first)
• 1854–1859	Roberto I (last)
History
• Imperial Diploma	16 September 1545
• Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle	24 April 1748
• French administration	1 November 1802
• Formal annexation by France	1808
• Restauration	11 April 1814
• Italian unification	3 December 1859
Currency	"Parman lira"
Preceded by Succeeded by Duchy of Milan Taro (department) Taro (department) United Provinces of Central Italy

The Duchy of Parma was created in 1545 from that part of the Duchy of Milan south of the Po River, which had been conquered by the State of the Church in 1512. These territories, centered on the city of Parma, were given as a fief for Pope Paul III's illegitimate son, Pier Luigi Farnese. The state was originally ruled by the Farnese family before eventually falling to the House of Bourbon by inheritance. Following the creation of the state of Italy in 1859 the duchy was abolished. It was also a state of the Holy Roman Empire till 1806 and had various links with its neighbour the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.