Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano

Virginio Orsini (11 September 1572[1] – 9 September 1615) was the second Duke of Bracciano, member of the Orsini family and knight of the order of the Golden Fleece.

Virginio Orsini
Virginio Orsini by unknown Florentine painter
Duke of Bracciano
Reign1585–1615
PredecessorPaolo Giordano I Orsini
SuccessorPaolo Giordano II Orsini
Born(1572-09-11)11 September 1572
Died9 September 1615(1615-09-09) (aged 42)
Rome
Spouse
(m. 1589; died 1606)
Issue
Among others
Paolo Giordano II Orsini
Alessandro Orsini
Maria Felicia Orsini
HouseOrsini
FatherPaolo Giordano I Orsini
MotherIsabella de' Medici

He was the son of Paolo Giordano I Orsini and Isabella de' Medici, and inherited his father's titles and fiefs after his death in 1585. In 1589 he married Flavia Peretti, a niece of Pope Sixtus V, by whom he had 12 children.[2] His son Paolo Giordano became a prince of the Holy Roman Empire through his marriage with Isabella Appiani, princess of Piombino.

Virginio Orsini was a supporter of the Earl of Essex and visited the English court for the Christmas revels in December 1600.[3] He was entertained by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night and the play opens with the character of Duke Orsino saying the famous line "If music be the food of love, play on."[4] Queen Elizabeth danced a galliard for him to show the "vigour of her old age".[5][6]

He died in Rome in 1615.

Issue

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By his wife, Flavia Damasceni Peretti, he had twelve children, eight sons and four daughters:[7]

References

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  1. ^ "MEDICI, Isabella de' - Treccani". Treccani (in Italian). Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  2. ^ Eleanor Herman: Murder in the Garden of God: A True Story of Renaissance Ambition, Betrayal, and Revenge. Createspace. ISBN 9781492183013. p. 407
  3. ^ Elizabeth McClure Thomson, The Chamberlain Letters (London, 1966), pp. 29–30.
  4. ^ The First Night of Twelfth Night by Leslie Hotson, p. 15. 1954: HMC 3rd Report: Duke of Northumberland (London, 1872), p. 51b.
  5. ^ John S. Brewer, The Court of King James the First by Godfrey Goodman, vol. 1 (London, 1839), pp. 17–8.
  6. ^ Sarah Williams, Letters of John Chamberlain (London, 1861), p. 99
  7. ^ "PERETTI DAMASCENI, Flavia in "Dizionario Biografico"". www.treccani.it (in Italian). Retrieved 3 January 2023.
Preceded by Duke of Bracciano
1585–1615
Succeeded by