Virginio Orsini, Duke of Bracciano

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Virginio Orsini, the second Duke of Bracciano by unknown Florentine painter

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

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 11 children.[1] 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.[2] 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."[3] Queen Elizabeth danced a galliard for him to show the "vigour of her old age".[4][5]

He died in Rome in 1615.

References[]

  1. ^ Eleanor Herman: Murder in the Garden of God: A True Story of Renaissance Ambition, Betrayal, and Revenge. Createspace. ISBN 9781492183013. p. 407
  2. ^ Elizabeth McClure Thomson, The Chamberlain Letters (London, 1966), pp. 29-30.
  3. ^ The First Night of Twelfth Night by Leslie Hotson, p. 15. 1954: HMC 3rd Report: Duke of Northumberland (London, 1872), p. 51b.
  4. ^ John S. Brewer, The Court of King James the First by Godfrey Goodman, vol. 1 (London, 1839), pp. 17–8.
  5. ^ Sarah Williams, Letters of John Chamberlain (London, 1861), p. 99
Preceded by
Paolo Giordano I Orsini 		Duke of Bracciano
1585–1615 		Succeeded by
Paolo Giordano II Orsini
Retrieved from ""