MARGHERITA of Parma. – Daughter of Charles V, born in Audenarde in 1522, died in Ortona on 18 January 1586. She married Alessandro de’ Medici in 1536 and Ottavio Farnese in 1538, by whom she had a son, Alessandro, in 1545.
In 1559 Philip II entrusted her with the government of the Netherlands. M. succeeded in securing the recall of Granvelle, and in 1566 she suppressed the revolt of the Protestants. The following year, replaced by the Duke of Alba, she retired to Italy. After the death of John of Austria, she returned to the Low Countries in the hope of regaining the governorship, but since this was given to Alexander, she left the country for good and remained in Italy until her death.
BIBL.: F. Rachfahl, M. von P., Stathalterin der Niederlande, Munich 1898; L. Van der Essen, Alexandre Farnese, I, Brussels 1933, passim.