Farnese Alessandro Duke

Farnese, Alessandro (Duke), great-grandson of the above, and third Duke of Parma, was born in 1546, succeeded his father Ottavio in 1586. He h'ad already distinguished himself as a soldier at the battle of Lepanto (1571), and had been entrusted by Philip II. with the government of the Netherlands. In 1590 he was sent to raise the siege of Paris, and defeated Henry IV, whom he again worsted two years later before Rouen. At Caudebec, however, he was mortally wounded, and died at Arras in 1592, never having taken possession of his principality.