# Robert I, Duke of Parma

> Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1854 to 1859

**Wikidata**: [Q314577](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q314577)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_I,_Duke_of_Parma)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/robert-i-duke-of-parma

## Summary
Robert I, Duke of Parma was a member of the House of Bourbon-Parma who ruled as Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1854 to 1859. He was born into European royalty and held the title during a period of political transition in the Italian states.

## Biography
- Born: July 9, 1848
- Nationality: Italian (Kingdom of Italy)
- Education: Not specified in source material
- Known for: Duke of Parma and Piacenza (1854-1859)
- Employer(s): Duchy of Parma and Piacenza
- Field(s): Aristocracy, governance

## Contributions
Robert I's primary contribution was serving as Duke of Parma and Piacenza during a critical period in Italian history. His reign coincided with the unification movements that would eventually lead to the establishment of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861. As a member of the House of Bourbon-Parma, he represented one of the ruling families of the Italian states during the mid-19th century.

## FAQs
What was Robert I, Duke of Parma's role?
He served as Duke of Parma and Piacenza from 1854 to 1859, representing the Bourbon-Parma dynasty in one of the Italian states.

When did Robert I, Duke of Parma rule?
He ruled from 1854 to 1859, a period that preceded the unification of Italy under the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.

What dynasty did Robert I belong to?
He belonged to the House of Bourbon-Parma, a European royal house that ruled various Italian states.

## Why They Matter
Robert I, Duke of Parma represents the transitional period in Italian history between the era of independent Italian states and the unification of Italy. His brief reign as Duke occurred during the political upheavals that would reshape the Italian peninsula, making him a figure of historical significance in understanding the final years of the pre-unification Italian states.

## Notable For
- Member of the House of Bourbon-Parma
- Duke of Parma and Piacenza during the pre-unification period
- Ruled during the critical years leading to Italian unification (1861)

## Body
### Early Life and Background
Robert I was born on July 9, 1848, into the House of Bourbon-Parma, a cadet branch of the Spanish royal family that had established itself as rulers of the Duchy of Parma and Piacenza. The Bourbon-Parma dynasty had ruled Parma since 1748, following the War of Austrian Succession.

### Reign as Duke
Robert I ascended to the ducal throne in 1854 at the age of six, following the abdication of his father, Charles III. His minority meant that regents governed in his name during the early years of his reign. The period of his rule (1854-1859) coincided with the growing movement for Italian unification, which would eventually lead to the dissolution of the independent duchies.

### Historical Context
The Duchy of Parma and Piacenza was one of the smaller Italian states that existed between the larger powers of the Austrian Empire to the north and the Kingdom of Sardinia to the west. During Robert I's reign, the political landscape of Italy was rapidly changing, with nationalist movements gaining strength and the balance of power shifting toward unification under Piedmont-Sardinia.

### Legacy
Although Robert I's reign was relatively brief and occurred during his minority, his position as the last Bourbon-Parma ruler of Parma places him in the historical narrative of Italian unification. The duchy would be annexed by the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1859, just months after Robert I reached his majority, marking the end of centuries of Bourbon-Parma rule in the region.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. The Peerage
3. general catalog of BnF
4. Virtual International Authority File
5. Spanish Biographical Dictionary
6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
7. Sejm-Wielki.pl