Gerolama Orsini (1504–1569) sometimes Girolama Orsini was the

Duchess of Parma Consorts of Parma House of Farnese, 1545–1731 House of Bourbon-Anjou, 1731–1735 :None House of Habsburg, 1735–1748 House of Bourbon-Parma, 1748–1802 House of Habsburg, 1814–1847 House of Bourbon-Parma, 1847–1859 ...

as the wife of

Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma Pier Luigi Farnese (19 November 1503 – 10 September 1547) was the first Duke of Castro from 1537 to 1545 and the first Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1545 to 1547. He was the illegitimate son of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (who later became ...

. She served as Regent (Governor) of the Duchy of Castro in the name of her son Orazio, Duke of Castro between 1550 and 1553.

Biography

Born in Pitigliano, she was the daughter of Ludovico Orsini, Count of Pitigliano, and Giulia Conti. In 1513, an engagement contract between Orsini and

Pier Luigi Farnese Pier Luigi Farnese (19 November 1503 – 10 September 1547) was the first Duke of Castro from 1537 to 1545 and the first Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1545 to 1547. He was the illegitimate son of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (who later became ...

was drawn up, and in 1519 the wedding was celebrated at

Valentano 250px, View of Valentano. Valentano is a town and ''comune'' of the province of Viterbo, in the Lazio region of central Italy. It is from the provincial capital, Viterbo. left, 220px, Rocca Farnese in Valentano. The placename is of uncertain ori ...

. Her husband was the illegitimate son of

Pope Paul III Pope Paul III (; ; born Alessandro Farnese; 29 February 1468 – 10 November 1549) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death, in November 1549. He came to the papal throne in an era follo ...

and Silvia Ruffino. The couple had five children, three of whom would have further progeny. When Cardinal Alessandro Farnese became

in 1534, he made his son Pier Luigi captain-general of the Church, in 1537, Duke of Castro, and finally in 1545,

Duke of Parma and Piacenza The Duke of Parma and Piacenza () was the ruler of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza, a historical state of Northern Italy. It was created by Pope Paul III (Alessandro Farnese) for his son Pier Luigi Farnese. It existed between 1545 and 1802 ...

. Gerolama remained in Rome and maintained the family presence at the court of the Pope. She was described as a sensible person capable of making important decisions when necessary, close to the Pope and the interests of her sons. She lived a retired life, but was always actively engaged in maintaining the political interest of her sons. She was widowed in 1547 and remained in Rome. When Pope Paul III died in 1549, Gerolama unsuccessfully attempted to work for the candidacy of a Pope beneficial to the Farnese family. In 1550, Gerolama was appointed the regent-governor of the Duchy of Castro in the absence of her son. Castro was occupied by Papal troops the same year. Gerolama maintained her regency by not resisting, and yet continuing to exert her authority while working for the end of the Papal occupation, and finally managed to achieve the end of the Papal occupation in 1552. Her regency ended when she was informed of the death of her son Orazio in 1553, and she departed for Parma, where she settled for the rest of her life. She died at the

Palazzo Farnese Palazzo Farnese () or Farnese Palace is one of the most important High Renaissance palaces in Rome. Owned by the Italian Republic, it was given to the French government in 1936 for a period of 99 years, and currently serves as the French e ...

Piacenza Piacenza (; ; ) is a city and (municipality) in the Emilia-Romagna region of Northern Italy, and the capital of the province of Piacenza, eponymous province. As of 2022, Piacenza is the ninth largest city in the region by population, with more ...

, July 1569. She was buried at the Farnese crypt at the

Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata The Shrine of Santa Maria della Steccata is a Greek-cross design Renaissance church in central Parma, Italy. The name derives from the fence () in the church. A Nursing Madonna is enshrined within, crowned on 27 May 1601 by a Marian devotee, Fra ...

Parma Parma (; ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, Giuseppe Verdi, music, art, prosciutto (ham), Parmesan, cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,986 inhabitants as of 2025, ...

Issue

# Vittoria Farnese (10 August 1519 – 13 December 1602) married Guidobaldo della Rovere, Duke of Urbino and had issue. # Alessandro Farnese (5 October 1520 – 2 March 1589) never married. #

Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma Ottavio Farnese (9 October 1524 – 18 September 1586) reigned as Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1547 until his death and Duke of Castro from 1545 to 1547 and from 1553 until his death. Biography Born in Valentano, Ottavio was the second so ...

(9 October 1524 – 18 September 1586) married

Margaret of Parma Margaret (; 5 July 1522 – 18 January 1586) was Duchess of Parma from 1547 to 1586 as the wife of Duke Ottavio Farnese and Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands from 1559 to 1567 and from 1578 to 1582. She was the illegitimate daughter of Ch ...

and had issue. # Ranuccio Farnese (11 August 1530 – 1565) died unmarried. #

Orazio Farnese, Duke of Castro Orazio Farnese, Duke of Castro (Valentano, February 1532 – Hesdin, 18 July 1553) was the third Duke of Castro. Biography He was the son of Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma, and his wife, Gerolama Orsini. He married Diane de France on 14 ...

(1532 – 18 July 1553) married Diane de France no issue.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Orsini, Gerolama 1504 births 1590 deaths Gerolama House of Farnese Gerolama 16th-century Italian nobility 16th-century Italian women Duchesses of Castro Burials at the Sanctuary of Santa Maria della Steccata Nobility from Rome People from Pitigliano 16th-century women rulers 16th-century regents Mothers of Italian monarchs Regents in the Holy Roman Empire