Pope Paul III, born Alessandro Farnese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 October 1534 to his death, in November 1549.
Portrait of Pope Paul III, 1543
Pope Paul III and his Grandsons Cardinal Alessandro Farnese (left), and Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma (right), II Duke of Parma since 1547. A triple portrait by Titian, 1546
Ranuccio Farnese was made cardinal by Paul III at the age of 15.
The Farnese coat of arms or stemma on the facade of the Farnese Palace in Rome.
The Papal States, officially the State of the Church, were a conglomeration of territories on the Apennine Peninsula under the direct sovereign rule of the Pope from 756 until 1870. They were among the major states of Italy from the 8th century until the Unification of Italy, between 1859 and 1870.
The Quirinal Palace, 1777
Pope Gregory XVI
The Roman States
Roman States army