Farnese

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Farnese Italian family who ruled (1545–1731) the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza. In 1534, Alessandro Farnese (1468–1549) became pope as Paul III. His grandson, Alessandro Farnese (1545–92), was a general in the service of Philip II of Spain. In 1578, he was appointed governor general of the Spanish Netherlands. He captured Antwerp (1585), and secured possession of the s Netherlands.

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