Parma

(păr'mah,) a p. and former duchy of N. Italy, bet. N. Lat. 44° 20′-45° 7′, E. Lon. 9° 23′-10° 40′, b. N. by Lombardy, E. by Modena, and S. and W.by Tuscany. Area, 3,766 sq. m. Surface diversified, with a fertile soil, watered by the Po and other rivers. This p. after the fall of the Roman empire became annexed to the Lombardy kingdom, then taken by Charlemagne, and incorporated with the Holy See in 774. In 1543, it became, along with Piacenza, elevated into a duchy under the rule of the Farnese family; and, in 1815, was reconstituted in favor of Maria Louisa, empre of Napoleon I., with a reversion in favor of the Duke of Lucca. In 1859 the dynasty of the latter was dethroned, and the country finally became incorporated with the kingdom of Italy in 1860. Pop. 256,029. -A fort if. city, C. of above p.,72 m. S.E. of Milan, with some fine public buildings, and manu fs. of textile goods, lace, cutlery, gla , and musical instruments. Pop. 47,067. [s. 686]