Farnese, Alessandro (1545–1592)

Alessandro Farnese was the son of the Duke of Parma and grandson of Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. He was a soldier and diplomat who fought ably in the service of Philip II, the king of Spain. In 1571, serving under his uncle, John of Austria, he fought the Ottoman Turks at the naval Battle of Lepanto. A few years later he accompanied his uncle to the Netherlands, at this time a possession of Spain that was in full-scale rebellion. Farnese defeated the Protestant opponents of Catholic Spain at Tournai, Bruges, Ghent, and other important cities. After winning a crucial victory at the Battle of Gembloux, he was appointed governor of the territory. In 1579 he persuaded the Catholic nobles of the southern provinces to form the Union of Arras, which banished all non-Catholic sects and supported Philip and his local ruler, Don Juan of Austria. This agreement inspired the formation of the Union of Utrecht, a union of seven northern provinces that renounced their allegiance to Spain. Farnese set out with his army to reconquer the rebellious provinces, finally besieging the wealthy port of Antwerp and starving the citizens into submission in 1585. Farnese was unable to conquer the rest of the rebellious territory, however, and eventually Spain was compelled to recognize their independence.

Farnese invaded France at the head of a Catholic army in 1589, after the assassination of King Henry III. His army fought in support of Catholic opponents to Henry IV, and in 1590 lifted a Protestant siege of Paris. Wounded at a siege of Rouen in 1592, he died a few months later, having lost his title of governor through the machinations of his rivals in Spain.