Margaret of Parma (1522–1586)

Duchess of Parma. Name variations: Margaret of Austria; Margaret or Margherita de Medici; (Italian) Margherita de Parma; (German) Margarete von Österreich; (Spanish) Marguerite of Spain. Born sometime in 1522 in the Netherlands; died in 1586 in Italy; illeg. dau. of Charles V (1500–1558), Holy Roman emperor (also known as Charles I, king of Spain) and Johanna van der Gheenst; half-sister of Philip II, king of Spain, and Joanna of Austria (1535–1573); m. Alexander also known as Alessandro de Medici, in 1534 (died 1535); m. Ottavio Farnese, duke of Parma, in 1540; children: (2nd marriage) Alessandro Farnese (also known as Alexander).

Illegitimate daughter of Charles V, who ruled the Netherlands as regent for 8 years, was educated in the Netherlands by 2 female regents: Margaret of Austria (1480–1530) and Mary of Hungary (1505–1558); lived in Italy after 1st marriage; appointed regent of the Netherlands by Philip II (1559); frugal in her habits, intelligent and good natured, was well liked, but Philip's indecisiveness severely undercut her ability to govern as effectively as possible; efforts to govern successfully were also thwarted by Philip's intransigence over enforcing the heresy laws, since her policy was to follow public opinion, which was lenient towards heretics as long as they did not disturb the peace; when Philip sent the duke of Alva to establish a "new order" which would not tolerate any dissent, abdicated as regent (1567); returned to Netherlands for short regency (1580); died in Italy (1586).

See also Women in World History.