Editing Charles III of Spain (section)

===Arrival in Italy===
[[File:Dorothea Sophia of Neuburg, duchess of Parma.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Countess Palatine Dorothea Sophie of Neuburg|Dorothea Sophie of Neuburg]], mother of Elisabeth Farnese and Charles's guardian and regent of Parma]]
After a solemn ceremony in Seville, Charles was given the ''épée d'or'' ("sword of gold") by his father; the sword had been given to Philip V of Spain by his grandfather [[Louis XIV]] before his departure to Spain in 1700. Charles left Spain on 20 October 1731 and traveled overland to [[Antibes]]; he then sailed to [[Tuscany]], arriving at [[Livorno]] on 27 December 1731. His cousin [[Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany]], was named his co-tutor and despite Charles being the second in line to inherit Tuscany, the Grand Duke still gave him a warm welcome. En route to [[Florence]] from [[Pisa]], Charles was taken ill with [[smallpox]].<ref name="p46-48">Gleijeses, ''Don Carlos'', Naples, Edizioni Agea, 1988, pp. 46–48.</ref> Charles made a grand entrance to the Medici capital of [[Florence]] on 9 March 1732 with a retinue of 250 people. He stayed with his host at the ducal residence, the [[Palazzo Pitti]].<ref name="p46-48"/>

Gian Gastone staged a fête in honor of the Patron Saint of Florence, [[John the Baptist|St. John the Baptist]], on 24 June. At this fête Gian Gastone named Charles his heir, giving him the traditional Tuscan title of ''Hereditary Prince of Tuscany'', and Charles paid homage to the Florentine senate, as was the tradition for heirs to the Tuscan throne.
When [[Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Charles VI]] heard about the ceremony, he was enraged that Gian Gastone had not informed him, since he was overlord of Tuscany and the nomination should have been his prerogative. Despite the celebrations, Elisabeth Farnese urged her son to go on to Parma, which he did in October 1732, where he was warmly greeted. On the front of the ducal palace in Parma was written ''Parma Resurget'' (Parma shall rise again). At the same time the play ''La Venuta di Ascanio in Italia'' was created by [[Carlo Innocenzo Frugoni]]. It was later performed at the [[Teatro Farnese]] in the city.<ref>{{in lang|it}} Harold Acton, ''I Borboni di Napoli (1734–1825)'', Florence, Giunti, 1997, p. 18.</ref><ref name="V48"/>