From the battlefields of medieval Italy to the gilded halls of the Vatican and the grandeur of Renaissance courts, the Farnese family carved a legacy of power, ambition, and cultural patronage that shaped the course of European history.Rising from humble feudal origins, the Farnese ascended through strategic marriages, military prowess, and shrewd political alliances, embedding themselves at the heart of Italian and papal power. At the pinnacle of their influence, they produced a pope, commanded vast duchies, and commissioned some of the most celebrated works of Renaissance art and...