MARGARET OF PARMA (1522-1586) Also known as Margaret of Austria. She was Duchess of Florence and Duchess of Parma by her two marriages and later Governor of the Netherlands 1559-67 & 1578-82. Margaret was the illegitimate daughter of the then 22-year-old Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Rare L.S., `Margarita´, one page, folio, L´Aquila, Italy, 5th June 1573, to Martio Faralio, in Italian. Margaret refers to her correpondent´s letter dated 27th May, and states in part `...non occorre altra risposta, se non replicarni, ese continuasse con sollecitudine alla speditione della lite, si come havete fatto sin qui,...´ (Translation: "...no other answer is needed, except to reply to you, if you continue with promptness the dispatch of the litigation, as you have done up to now...") With address leaf, bearing a paper seal affixed. G to VG

In 1527, when Margaret turned five, she became engaged to the nephew of Pope Clement VII, Alessandro de´ Medici, becoming Duchess of Florence 1536-37. Charles V was trying to gain influence in Italy, and in 1529, Margaret was acknowledged by her father and allowed to assume the name Margaret of Austria. Alessandro was assassinated in January 1537, and a year later, in November 1538 in Rome, the 15-year-old widow married Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma, the 14-year-old grandson of Pope Paul III.

In 1567, Margaret retired to L´Aquila in Italy. She was appointed Governor of Abruzzo and Viceroy of Naples.