House of Farnese
Spain, France, Great Britain, Austria and the Dutch Republic provided for the Parmese male-line succession failure in the Treaty of London (1718), agreeing that the heir to the duchy would be Elisabeth Farnese's elder son with Philip V of Spain, Infante Charles. Believing the treaty would not remain in force, Elizabeth obtained in 1729 France's permission to install 6,000 Spanish troops in Parma. France further agreed to repudiate the Holy Roman Emperor Charles VI's claim of suzerainty over the duchy. An incensed Charles VI responded by stationing 40,000 soldiers in his Duchy of Milan, north of Parma. In the midst of the diplomatic fray Antonio died, ostensibly from a boil, caused, according to a contemporary, by often sporting "a wig that was too hot for him". Thus ended the House of Farnese, who for 184 years had served as sovereigns to Parma and Piacenza.