Claudia Colla Explained

Claudia Colla (died 1611), was the ducal mistress of the sovereign Ranuccio I Farnese, Duke of Parma, by whom she was murdered.

Colla belonged to the Parmesan merchant class. In 1599, her ducal lover Farnese married Margherita Aldobrandini. After a decade of childless marriage, Farnese accused Claudia Colla and her mother Elena for having caused the lack of offspring by the use of sorcery.[1] The accusation of sorcery was unusual for someone of her class.[2] She was judged guilty and sentenced to be executed by burning.

References

  1. Francesco Luigi Campari, Un processo di streghe in Piacenza (1611-1615), in: Bollettino Storico Piacentino, I, 1906, p. 70-75. Sur le procès en sorcellerie de Claudia Colla.
  2. News: Thousands of women, accused of sorcery, tortured and executed in Indian witch hunts . en-US . Washington Post . 2023-04-26 . 0190-8286.