HOLOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED by RANUCCIO I FARNESE, DUKE OF PARMA expressing his condolences to ALBERT VI, DUKE OF BAVARIA on the passing of his sister MARIA ANNA OF BAVARIA, the Archduchess and late wife of Ferdinand, Archduke of Inner Austria who was to become King and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza (1569-1622).

Published by Parma: May 30th, 1616., 1616

About this Item

Parma: May 30th, 1616., 1616. Very good. - Over 170 words penned in Italian in a secretarial hand on 11-1/8 inch high by 7-3/4 creamy white laid paper with an integral attached address leaf. Ranuccio Farnese, Duke of Parma expresses his condolences to Albert VI, Duke of Bavaria following the death of his sister Maria Anna of Bavaria, Archduchess consort of Inner Austria. Crudely translated, Ranuccio writes ["By no one more than me, are felt the misfortunes of this Most Serene House, and of Your Highness yourself. The displeasure therefore that I feel now, of the loss, of Madame Most Serene Archduchess of Gratz, who lives in heaven, Sister of Your Highness."] Boldly signed by Ranuccio Farnese. Period annotations are penned on the verso of the address leaf with paper over the red wax seal. Folded both horizontally and vertically with the seal partially adhering to the verso of the letter and to the address leaf. There is a small hole above the Duke's signature and another to the left edge, both a result of the seal. Very good. The fourth Duke of Parma and Piacenza, Ranuccio I Farnese (1569-1622) was the son of Alessandro Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza and Maria of Portugal. He was thus first heir to the throne of Portugal when, at 11 years old, his great uncle Henry I of Portugal died triggering a struggle for the throne. For political reasons, his father, an ally of the Spanish King, did not contest Ranuccio's rights to the throne. As Duke, he annexed the territories of Colorno, Sala Baganza, and Montechiarugolo and guided a cultural renewal in the City of Parma, building the 4,500 seat Farnese Theater. The recipient Albert VI, Duke of Bavaria (1584-1666) was the son of William V, Duke of Bavaria and Renata of Lorraine. The German Princess Maria Anna of Bavaria (1574-1616) was married to her first cousin Ferdinand, Archduke of Inner Austria, reaffirming the alliance between the House of Habsburg and House of Wittelsbach. Though she was Archduchess of Gratz, she died before her husband's coronation as King of Bohemia and of Hungary and his assencion as Holy Roman Emperor.

Seller Inventory # 100903

Bibliographic Details

• Title: HOLOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED by RANUCCIO I FARNESE, DUKE OF PARMA expressing his condolences to ALBERT VI, DUKE OF BAVARIA on the passing of his sister MARIA ANNA OF BAVARIA, the Archduchess and late wife of Ferdinand, Archduke of Inner Austria who was to become King and Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
• Publisher: Parma: May 30th, 1616.
• Publication Date: 1616
• Condition: Very good
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
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