Marriage and issue
In 1845, as the duchy of Lucca was in great financial need, Ferdinando's father decided to marry him to a princess with a large dowry. The bride chosen was Princess Louise d'Artois (1819–1864), the only sister of the Legitimist pretender to the throne of France, the Comte de Chambord. She was the daughter of Charles Ferdinand, Duke of Berry and the granddaughter of King Charles X of France. Ferdinando Carlo, who was 22 years old at the time, was initially reluctant to marry her. She was four years older than him; she was his close relative; and he disliked the ideology of her entourage, the legitimist party. He would have rather waited three more years to marry, finding then a bride more of his liking. However, as his father threatened to cut his privy purse, leaving him completely destitute, Ferdinando ended up agreeing with the idea.
Ferdinando Carlo and Louise were cousins and they had known each other since they were children in Vienna. Their wedding took place on 10 November 1845 at Schloss Frohsdorff, Chambords's home in exile, near Lanzenkirchen in Austria, some 30 miles outside of Vienna. Their honeymoon took them to castle Urschendorff in Austria, and afterwards to England, a country where Ferdinand Carlo felt most at ease. The couple's married life was happy for some years. Their first child was born thirteen months after the wedding and three more children followed in quick succession:
Princess Margaret of Bourbon-Parma (1 January 1847 – 29 January 1893): she married Carlos, Duke of Madrid, on 4 February 1867. They had five children.
Robert I, Duke of Parma (9 July 1848 – 16 November 1907): he married Princess Maria Pia of Bourbon-Two Sicilies on 5 April 1869. They had twelve children. He remarried Infanta Maria Antónia of Portugal on 15 October 1884. They had twelve children.
Princess Alice of Bourbon-Parma (27 December 1849 – 16 November 1935): she married Ferdinand IV, Grand Duke of Tuscany, on 11 January 1868. They had ten children.
Prince Henry, Count of Bardi (12 February 1851 – 14 April 1905): he married Princess Maria Immacolata of Bourbon-Two Sicilies on 25 November 1873. He remarried Infanta Adelgundes of Portugal on 15 October 1876.
Louise was described at that time as a pretty blonde, fair complexioned with golden hair and blue eyes, but not very tall. She was reserved, cold, insensitive and lacked charm. Like most legitimists, her political ideas were those of the preceding century. However, for the first years of their married life, Ferdinando was happy with her.
Until he became duke of Parma, Ferdinando was known as il Duchino, the little Duke, a reference to both his stature and his status as his father's heir. Although he was tall, he was slight built. His hair was thick and dark and he had big prominent eyes. A large nose, a long neck and a receding chin completed his face. He had a trimmed, finely proportioned figure, of which he was very proud. He was a dandy who dressed smartly and was very fastidious about his clothing. Ferdinando Carlo travelled a great deal. Outside Italy, he often used the title Marchese di Castiglione; in Italy, he often used the title Conte di Mulazzo.
