Robert I and his 24 Children: The Story of the Last Duke of Parma

The Family of Robert I, Duke of Parma. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Robert I could have gone down history as the last reigning Duke of Parma, but thanks to his prolific progeny, he is best remembered to this day as the royal who fathered 24 children.

Roberto I Carlo Luigi Maria di Borbone, Duca di Parma e Piacenza, was born on July 9, 1848 in Florence,Tuscany, Italy, the elder son of Charles III, Duke of Parma, and his wife, Louise Marie Thérèse d'Artois. Following his father’s assassination in 1854, Robert ascended to the ducal throne at six years old. His mother served as regent all throughout his minority. However, Robert was never to rule on his own since he was deposed at the age of 11 years old after Piedmontese troops annexed other Italian states, which eventually led to the creation of the Kingdom of Italy.

Robert married his first wife, Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, on April 5, 1869 while in exile in Rome. The union produced 12 children: Princess Marie Louise (1870-1899), who married Ferdinand I, Prince and later Tsar of Bulgaria and had issue; Ferdinando, Prince of Piacenza, who died in infancy; Princess Luisa Maria (1872-1943), who died unmarried; Henry (1873-1939), pretender to the Duchy of Parma from 1907 until 1939, although his brother, Elias, took up the role as head of the family due to Henry's incapacity; Maria Immacolata (1874-1914);  Joseph (1875-1950), pretender to the Duchy of Parma (1939-1950), although Elias continued to serve as the head of the family; Maria Theresa (1876-1959);  Maria Pia (1877-1915); Beatrice (1879-1946), who married Count Pietro Lucchesi-Palli; Elias, Duke of Parma (1880-19590) from 1950 until his death; Maria Anastasia, who died in infancy; and a still born child. Among the 12 children, only three—Marie Louise, Elias, and Beatrice—possessed normal intelligence, the rest were considered mentally incapacitated, while two of whom died in infancy.

After Maria Pia died in childbirth, he married Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal on October 15, 1884. Considering that the mental incapacity of his children was caused by inbreeding, Robert made sure that he was distantly related to Maria Antonia. Their marriage resulted to 12 children, all grew up to be normal: Maria della Neve Adelaide (1885-1959), who served as a Benedictine nun at St. Cecilia's Abbey, Solesmes. Sixtus (1886-1034), who Married Hedwige de La Rochefoucauld and had a daughter, Isabelle; Xavier, Duke of Parma (1889-1977) ; Francesca (1890-1978), a Benedictine nun at St. Cecilia's Abbey, Solesmes; Zita (1892-1989), who married Charles I, the last Emperor Austria; Felix (1893-1970), who married Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg; Rene (1894-1962), who married Princess Margrethe of Denmark and has issue; Maria Antonia (1895-1977), a Benedictine nun at St. Cecilia's Abbey, Solesmes; Isabella (1898-1984), died unmarried; Louis (1899-1967), who married Princess Maria Francesca of Savoy and had issue; Henrietta (1903-1987), who died unmarried and Gaetano (1905-1958), who married Princess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis, daughter of Alessandro, 1st Duke of Castel Duino.

 Robert was known to be a wealthy man. He was also the principal heir of his fabulously wealthy uncle, the Comte de Chambord. His grandfather, Charles II of Parma, also left him a considerable number of properties as well as a valuable collection of religious books, as well as the infamous Farnese blue diamond.  Some of Robert’smost significant properties were the Chateau de Chambord in France, Chateau Schwarzau-am-Steinfeld in Austria, Chateau Wartegg in Switzerland, and the Villa delle Pianore in Italy. So wealthy was he that he reportedly possessed his own suite of private railroad carriages!

 Robert I died on November 16, 1907 in Viareggio, Italy. He was 59 years old. He was the last Duke of Parma and Placenza. His death eventually plunged the family into inheritance problems.