{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox royalty | name = Maria Caterina Farnese | image = Matteo Loves 1610-1662 - Maria Farnese - Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Geneva.jpg | succession = Duchess consort of Modena and Reggio | reign = 11 January 1631 – 15 August 1646 | reign-type = Tenure | spouse = Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena | issue = Alfonso IV, Duke of Modena<br>Isabella, Duchess of Parma<br>Eleonora d'Este<br>Maria, Duchess of Parma | full name = Maria Caterina Farnese | issue-link = #Issue | house = Farnese | father = Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma | mother = Margherita Aldobrandini | birth_date = {{birth date|1615|2|18|df=y}} | birth_place = Parma, Duchy of Parma and Piacenza | death_date = {{death date and age|1646|7|25|1615|2|18|df=y}} | death_place = Ducal Palace of Sassuolo, Modena, Duchy of Modena }}
'''Maria Caterina Farnese''' (18 February 1615 – 15 August 1646) was a member of the Ducal House of Farnese. She was Duchess of Modena as the first wife of Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena. In some sources she is known simply as ''Maria Farnese''.
==Biography== Maria Caterina was born in Parma to Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma and his wife, ''Donna'' Margherita Aldobrandini.{{sfn|Gamrath|2007|p=25}} Her mother was Margherita Aldobrandini, daughter of Gianfrancesco and Olimpia Aldobrandini.{{sfn|Williams|2024|p=162}}
Maria was engaged to Francesco I d'Este, Duke of Modena,{{sfn|Gamrath|2007|p=25}} son of Alfonso III d'Este, Duke of Modena and Princess Isabella of Savoy.{{sfn|Ward|Prothero|Leathes|1934|loc=Table 74}} She married Francesco on 11 January 1631 in Parma.
Maria died 15 August 1646, having given birth to a son.{{sfn|von Harrach|Keller|2010|p=288}} She died at the Ducal Palace of Sassuolo outside Modena, the summer residence of the Dukes of Modena.
==Issue== {{Unreferenced section|date=April 2026}} Maria and Francesco had: #Alfonso d'Este, Hereditary Prince of Modena (1632) died in infancy. #Alfonso IV d'Este, Duke of Modena (2 February 1634 – 16 July 1662) married Laura Martinozzi and had issue. #Isabella d'Este (3 October 1635 – 21 August 1666) married Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma and had issue. #Eleonora d'Este (1639–1640) died in infancy. #Tedaldo d'Este (1640–1643) died in infancy. #Almerigo d'Este (8 May 1641 – 14 November 1660) died unmarried. #Eleonora d'Este (1643 – 24 February 1722) died unmarried. #Maria d'Este (8 December 1644 – 20 August 1684) married Ranuccio II Farnese, Duke of Parma and had issue. #Tedaldo d'Este (1646) died in infancy.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Sources== *{{cite book |title=Farnese: Pomp, Power and Politics in Renaissance Italy |first=Helge |last=Gamrath |publisher=L'Erma di Bretschneider |year=2007 |isbn=9788882654269 }} *{{cite book |title=Die Diarien und Tagzettel des Kardinals Ernst Adalbert von Harrach (1598-1667): Kommentar & Register |first1=Ernst Adalbert |last1=von Harrach |first2=Katrin |last2=Keller |publisher=Böhlau Verlag Wien |year=2010 |language=de |isbn=9783205784616 }} *{{cite book |title=The Cambridge Modern History |volume=XIII |editor-first1=A.W. |editor-last1=Ward |editor-first2=G.W. |editor-last2=Prothero |editor-first3=Stanley |editor-last3=Leathes |publisher=Cambridge at the University Press |year=1934}} *{{cite book |title=Papal Genealogy: The Families and Descendants of the Popes |first=George L. |last=Williams |publisher=McFarland |year=2024 |isbn=9781476632278 }}
{{Princesses of Parma}} {{Ducal consorts of Modena}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Farnese, Maria Caterina}} Category:1615 births Category:1646 deaths Maria Caterina Category:House of Este Category:Nobility from Parma Category:Deaths in childbirth Maria Caterina Maria Caterina Category:17th-century Italian nobility Category:17th-century Italian women
Category:Daughters of dukes Category:Mothers of Italian monarchs