The Duchies of Parma, Moderna and Lucca The rapid growth of the
Risorgimento during the 1840s in the duchies,
typical of Italy as a whole, was encouraged by a complex
diplomatic transaction in late 1847. The powers had agreed that
Parma should be ruled by Napoleon's wife, the Habsburg
Archduchess Marie Louise, but that at her death it would be
transferred to the Bourbon Duke Carlo II of Lucca; Lucca would
then be joined to Tuscany, while several transfers of territory
among Tuscany, Parma and Moderna would simplify their borders.
These arrangements went into effect when Marie Louise died in
December 1847, arousing much discontent: the Luchese resented the
loss of their independence, while those of territories
transferred to Moderna dreaded the rule of its Duke Franscesco V,
the most reactionary of the Italian princes, and there was
general indignation at transfers carried out without the consent
of the peoples concerned. In consequence, discontent and liberal
agitation grew rapidly.
News of the revolt in Lombardy arrived in both Duchies on March
19, 1848, and provoked increasingly violent demonstrations.
Francesco V tried to resist, but was driven out on March 21.
Carlo II attempted to conciliate liberals with promises of a
constitution and other concessions, but he, too, was forced to
flee on April 13. In both duchies, liberal provisional
governments were set up which joined in the war against Austria
and held plebiscites in early May which voted for union with
Piedmont. However, Piedmontese defeat at Custozza and the
subsequent armistice allowed Austria to reoccupy the duchies in
August. Francesco V returned to take charge of the restoration,
but Carlo II never returned, preferring to abdicate in April,
1849, in favor of his son, Carlo III. In both states, the old
order was restored, accompanied by severe repression.
Nonetheless, the old order had been fatally undermined, for
public opinion was firmly opposed to the restored dukes, who were
kept in power only by Austrian support.
The best overview of the Duchies is provided by:
Antonio Archi, capitale (Modena, 1961).
Franco Boiardi, Lineament storici del Risogimento modenese
(Modena, 1961).
______. Gli ultimi Asburgo e gli ultimi Borboni in Italia (1814-1861) (Bologna, 1961).
On the individual states, see:
Cesare Sardi, Lucca e suo Ducato dal 1814 al 1859
(Florence, 1912).
Glauco Lombardi, Il Ducato di Parma nella Storia del
risorgimento italiano (Parma, 1911).
JGC revised this file
(http://www.ohiou.edu/~chastain/ip/parma.htm) on
October 25, 2004.
Please E-mail comments or suggestions to
chastain@www.ohiou.edu
© 1999, 2004 James Chastain.
Alan J. Reinerman
Bibliography