Married to Dorothea Sophia of the Palatinate, his brother Odoardo's widow, to avoid the return of her dowry, Francesco curtailed court expenditure, enormous under his father and predecessor, Ranuccio II, while preventing the occupation of his Duchy of Parma, nominally a Papal fief, during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Francesco married Dorothea Sophia of the Palatinate, Odoardo's widow, in order to avoid having her dowry repaid. He then reduced court spending, which had been excessive under his father Ranuccio II, while preventing the occupation of his Duchy of Parma, a Papal territory that was at risk during the War of the Spanish Succession.