The Duchy of Castro was a fiefdom in central Italy formed in 1537 from a small strip of land on what is now Lazio's border with Tuscany, centred on Castro, a fortified city on a tufa cliff overlooking the Fiora River which was its capital and ducal residence. While technically a vassal state of the Papal States, it enjoyed de facto independence under the rule of the House of Farnese until 1649, when it was subsumed back into the Papal States and administered by the House of Stampa di Ferentino.

It was created a duchy by Pope Paul III (1534–1549) in the bull Videlicet immeriti on 31 October 1537, with his son Pier Luigi Farnese and his firstborn male heirs as its dukes. It lasted approximately 112 years and was eclipsed by the Farnese's possessions in Parma. It stretched from the Tyrrhenian Sea to the Lago di Bolsena, in the strip of land bounded by the river Marta and the river Fiora, stretching back to the Olpeta stream and the lago di Mezzano, from which the Olpeta flows. The duchy of Latera and county of Ronciglione were annexed to it.

Duchy of Castro

The title of Duke of Castro has been held since the late 1860s by the claimant to the headship of the House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, since the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was annexed to the newborn Kingdom of Italy. Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro currently holds the tile.

Duchy of Castro

Wars of Castro

List of Dukes of Castro

1537-1545: Pier Luigi Farnese

1545-1547: Ottavio Farnese

1547-1553: Orazio Farnese

1553-1586: Ottavio Farnese

1586-1592: Alexander Farnese

1592-1622: Ranuccio I Farnese

1622-1646: Odoardo Farnese

1646-1649: Ranuccio II Farnese

References

1537 establishments in the Papal States

1649 disestablishments

Castro, Duchy of

Papal States

States and territories established in 1537

House of Farnese

Former monarchies of Europe

Former duchies

Duchy of Castro